Santa Susana High School

Getting Published as an Aspiring Journalist

The challenges of getting published as a beginning writer

Bari Cashman
AP English 12 Period 2
Mrs. Bradley
30 October 2016

I have always been interested in writing, whether it is a journal entry or a

newspaper article. I went from writing poems, to trying my hand at a novel, childrens
books, and finally, journalism. English was, and still is, my best subject; and from this
love of English, grew my passion for journalism. I knew that it was what I wanted to do
for a living; provide people with news, heartwarming stories, or harsh truths. The senior
project gave me the perfect opportunity to give journalism a try and see if it really is the
career I want to pursue. As well as answering the question of the hard work and low
pay being worth it or not. It is also allowing me to certify in Humanities, which I have
wanted to do since freshman year. By certifying, it is allowing me to have one extra
thing to add onto my resume. The outcome of my project will be a published article in a
professional news source as well as a stronger ability to write.
To back me up on completing this process are a strong will to accomplish my
goals, the knowledge of how to write, and the ability to communicate. However, it will
not be easy, as everything I have written is either kept for myself or turned in for a
grade; nothing that could have been published in a newspaper. I am also not
completely familiar with how to write in Associated Press style, which all newspaper
articles must be written in. This style of writing is unbiased and very factual, something
that I am not used to. Getting published is something I have always wanted to do, and
have dreamed of it happening, but have been afraid of it not being possible. With no
real journalism experience, it is extremely hard to get published. Emerging writers are
often turned down due to this, or because a paper has many staff writers, and may not
need, or have room for, any outside articles. My goal is to gain the experience needed

to be published in other sources, as well as to gain credibility in the field and knowledge
about how the process of getting published in a newspaper works.
Journalism is not an easy field to go into; there are a lot of good writers. To make
it in journalism, however, you must be an excellent writer, along with having exceptional
communication and researching skills. A great journalist must be able to talk to people
and communicate it in an engaging way that readers would be attracted to. In some
cases, in order to move up in the field, a journalist needs to bleed story ideas and
execute them well (Goudreau). A Journalist should come prepared, persist lightly
and should not settle for adjectives and generalities when interviewing a source (G.
Freedman). As well as being able to communicate with sources, one must be able to
work well with other writers and editors. It is important to be respectful, mainly, dont
harass people. Getting a response from editors takes a while, roughly four to eight
weeks as they receive several requests every day, so patience is key to the process.
In order to grab an editors attention one must be as specific as possible and start
small in regards to the story itself (American Library Association). Often, beginning
writers believe they can start out working at the Los Angeles Times, but it is important to
gain experience first. Most likely, a journalist's entry level job is found at a small town
publication (Ashford University).
Another important factor is finding a paper or journal that publishes the type of
articles you would like to write as well as figure out the style of writing that the paper has
(S. Clark). Its also important to know the ins and outs, meaning the tone and scope of
articles that they publish. By knowing the papers style along with who runs it will allow
for a better organized and focused pitch that is more towards the specific publication

you are looking to be published in (American Library Association). However, only write
what you know, including topic and style, instead of writing to fit the style of the
publication. By doing this, its easier to write and increases the chance of getting
published (S. Clark).
When writing the article, finding the right topic is crucial. Choosing a topic that is
too broad is the most common error in literature (S. Clark). One should write a story
that contains new ideas, or is interesting and unusual; something people havent seen
before. A story about people is also something that often provides a refreshing human
interest story for readers (Henshall, Ingram). Providing information on why you are
qualified to write on the topic is a factor that may get the article in over someone elses;
this is also another way to explain credentials (Hume).
Regarding the content of the article, being accurate and checking sources for
information allows for readers to get the whole story (Timokhina). Taking out all bias
and views on the writers end is also vital to making sure a truthful story is written. While
some publications may want to include an authors voice, having too much of it
damages the integrity of the story (S. Clark). As a journalist, serving the public without
underlying agendas is part of the job, along with making sure that relevant news is
provided (Timokhina). Journalists follow a moral code specified by the Associated
Press. One of the most important guidelines is to avoid inaccuracies, carelessness,
bias, or distortions in any article, story, or book written. While interviewing, many
sources will only agree to speak to a journalist if they are guaranteed confidentiality,
which must be kept, although it may cause issues. In some cases, these sources
provide indispensable information (Associated Press).

Making sure that a story is complete and there are no missing details is very
important for reader comprehension. Giving as much detail as possible is especially
important in newspaper articles so that readers are left with knowing the full, unbiased
story (Henshall, Ingram). Although there is a small amount of space that journalists
have to cover complex issues, fitting in all the facts is imperative. To do this, one must
keep in mind the timeliness, significance, proximity and human interest of what is
being put into the story. These aspects determine whether or not someone will read the
story, everyone is busy and they want to read to-the-point stories (University of
Illinois). When writing a human interest story, it is easy to get caught up in the details of
the events. The story must tell the full truth, making sure that all bases are covered but
isnt offensive towards the person the story is about. As a moral journalist there are
often many lines that are almost crossed, and there will be a time when they must
stand before Thoth [the Egyptian inventor of writing] to be judged. Often, readers
provide criticism on published stories, whether its due to a belief system, or simply not
their taste (G. Freedman).
The introduction is what will hook the readers; its what makes them want to
continue reading. Keeping it simple throughout the entire article prevents a story from
being overloaded with complicated grammar (Henshall, Ingram). Another way to catch
a reader's attention is to write provacative[ly] and argue on subjects that are
dominating the headlines. However, it should not present background material that
readers are already aware of, but provide a new insight into a topic. After all, the point
of these news sources is to provide people with relevant, breaking news. One must

answer the question of Who cares? in order to judge whether or not the article is
would be worth the read (University of Illinois).
While journalism seems fun and exciting, as it can be, there is a darker side to it.
It is paramount to be careful what you sign in order to prevent your work from being
published unknowingly, or plagiarized (Smith, J.D). Journalists are required to avoid
activities that may compromise the ability to report the news fairly and accurately and
not misidentify in order to get a story. There is a tremendous responsibility to provide
vital information from knowledgeable and reliable sources (Associated Press). In
order to truly succeed in such a harsh, fast-paced field, one must have independence,
drive and attention to detail (Goudreau).
Editing and re reporting are inevitable tasks. Often, a young journalist becomes
a believer in the single draft which, in reality, doesnt exist. Even experienced writers
dont get it quite right the first time. If, or when, someone produces a publishable article
in a single pass it could be seen as the definition of a pro (G. Freedman). In fact,
revisions is a word that is well known by writers and journalists, and it often becomes
tedious, but its important to stick with it (S. Clark). However, this can be lessened by
identifying the essential theme of an article before actually sitting down and writing it.
This may seem unnecessary to many, however, by deciding on a single objective and
theme for the article as well as outlining before writing it will make for a more clear
direction and a concise piece. By writing like this, it gives the ability to turn chaos into
cosmos creating a masterly piece (G. Freedman).
I have never written in AP style before this senior project; the only exposure
being reading the newspaper. Thus, the reason for spending a lot of time going through

the Associated Press Stylebook; it provided information on how to structure the article,
which I wasnt sure how to do before starting the project. I read the Los Angeles Times
in the mornings, and admired how they made the stories flow; the book provided the
means to learn how to write fluid and in a concise manner (Associated Press). In the
next phase of my research, I read Letters to a Young Journalist. The book has
reassured me during the stressful parts of the project, such as being unsure if it really is
supposed to take a few weeks for an editor to reply. I had no clue what the journalism
world was like, but I likened it to that of what the Yale Daily News room in Gilmore Girls;
the book painted a realistic picture of that world for me. I had wanted to know any
advice that an experienced writer could give, in order to make sense of the process of
getting published (G. Freedman). I wanted to further my knowledge of the overall
process, so I researched the steps of getting published in a national paper. Anticipating
that I would feel unsure about where to go, finding out how it worked, step-by-step,
would allow for me to be more informed and professional while dealing with editors
(Hume).
The publishing world is unknown to me; I know that there is self-publishing and
being published by a company or paper. However, I know nothing of how to get an
article, that I, an inexperienced writer, wrote published in a newspaper. In order to get
an article published, I needed to know how to write a professional pitch for a story. After
researching, I was able to be clear and direct, giving a brief overview of what I planned
to write (American Library Association). As well as this, I researched what makes a story
worthy of being published; my original plan was to simply write what I thought I would
read. By knowing the steps of finding a worthy topic, such as choosing a topic that is

simple, and interesting; one that isnt broad (S. Clark). I also researched how to hook a
reader, because if they arent hooked in the first few sentences, they wont finish the
article. I wanted to model my intro after that of a larger publication, with a catchy phrase
or groundbreaking fact that would keep readers interested (University of Illinois).
I wanted to know about every aspect of journalism, even the bad, because I
believe that challenges and setbacks are inevitable. As well as knowing about any
important lessons to be learned, such as copyright issues, and who owns what once an
article is published (Smith). I also researched what to expect competition-wise, as the
amount of writers in the field may limit where I could be published (Goudreau).
As far as the article, I was curious as to what is required in an article, as well as
what key elements editors were looking for. I had a general idea, but no true outline of
the basics of a good article, and a good journalist (Timokhina). As I was aware that the
journalism field was moving in a new direction, I researched what that entailed as so
that I could better adapt to it. I researched what is required from writers, such as who is
in charge of the photographs, or the layout of the piece in the paper (Ashford
University). Overall, it was crucial o know how the overall publishing process worked
and what a journalist's role looked like in the ever evolving industry, as well as what to
expect when working full-time as a reporter.

Works Cited
Ashford University staff. Top 10 Tips for Aspiring Journalists Ashford University, 2016.
Web. Accessed 27 September 2016.
Associated Press. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2015.
Basic Books. 2015. Paperback book.
Clark, Lynn Schofield. How to get an article published in 20 Easy Steps. Denver
University. Web. Accessed 25 September 2016.
Freedman, G. Samuel. Letters to a Young Journalist: Revised and Updated Edition.
Basic Books. 2011. Paperback book.
Henshall, Peter, Ingram, David. The News Manual: Volume 1. Basic Techniques,

2008. Web. Accessed 24 September 2016.

Hume, Tracy. How I got my First National Magazine Article Gig: Step by Step. Make
a Living Writing, 2014. Web. Accessed 25 September 2016.
Smith, Kevin JD. What I learned getting published by Taylor & Francis. Scholarly
Publishing: Duke University Libraries, 2013. Web. Accessed 24 September
2016.
Timokhina, Ekaterina. Missouri School of Journalism Faculty Identify 10 Tenets of Good
Reporting in Today's Convergent News Environment. University of Missouri,
2012. Web. Accessed 23 September 2016.
Woman's Day Magazine staff. How to Get Published in a Magazine. American Library
Association, 2016. Web. Accessed 24 September 2016.
University of Illinois. Op-Ed writing and guidelines. Illinois News Bureau. Web.
Accessed 26 September 2016.
Bibliography
Associated Press. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2015.
Basic Books. 2015. Paperback book.
The book teaches AP (Associated Press) writing style, and can be used as a
reference when writing articles. Its a dictionary for how to write for Journalists. It
also provides guidelines for writing on politics, social media, international
relations, etc.
Associated Press, founded in 1846, provides news and information all around the
world. It is used by many journalists for writing and editing. The book is
extremely thorough in explaining every topic desired.

Clark, Lynn Schofield. How to get an article published in 20 Easy Steps. Denver
University. Web. Accessed 25 September 2016.
The article explains the publishing process, and how to approach it. She goes
through the necessary steps towards getting published in a professional
publication. The article also gives tips on how to handle each step of the way.
Lynn Schofield is an associate professor for Journalism at the University of
Denver. She is extremely well versed in the publishing process and how it all
works. The article is very factual with some added helpful tips from the author.
Freedman, G. Samuel. Letters to a Young Journalist: Revised and Updated Edition.
Basic Books. 2011. Paperback book.
The main purpose of the book is to pass on trade secrets from a highly achieved
editor to an aspiring journalist. It also tells of the editors own career, and what
challenges the industry brought his way. The book gives a realistic expectation
of what it is like to work in journalism.
Samuel G. Freedman has worked in journalism for about 30 years. Over the
years, he has worked for the New York Times and Rolling Stone. He is currently
a professor at Columbia University teaching Journalism. The book was first
published in 2006, and then updated and published in 2011. It is very well
researched and covers the topic thoroughly.
Henshall, Peter, Ingram, David. The News Manual: Volume 1. Basic Techniques,
2008. Web. Accessed 24 September 2016.
The manual covers all aspects of journalism; finding reliable sources, writing a
clear article, and other techniques. The purpose is to give beginning journalists a

handbook on how to write, interview, and check sources. It also talks about how
to go through press conferences and media releases.
David Ingram specialized in broadcasting, and has worked in the industry for
several years. He also established the first journalism degree program at the
University of PNG. Peter Henshall worked in the journalism and teaching field for
many years; he joined Ingram at the University of PNG to teach journalism there.
Hume, Tracy. How I got my First National Magazine Article Gig: Step by Step. Make
a Living Writing, 2014. Web. Accessed 25 September 2016.
The article talks about one writers experience with getting published. It talks
about how she got to the point of being published in a National Magazine. She
also talks about what her experience was like, and what to expect.
Tracy Hume is an experienced writer who has been published many forms,
including the Weight Watchers Magazine. The article was published recently and
gives relevant information. The article is not published through a university or
government, but by a freelance writer.
Smith, Kevin JD. What I learned getting published by Taylor & Francis. Scholarly
Publishing: Duke University Libraries, 2013. Web. Accessed 24 September
2016.
The article discusses the response of a writer to getting published in a scholarly
journal. It also talks about what their experience taught them. It goes over some
of the things to watch out for in the publishing world.
Kevin Smith is the Director of Scholarly Communications at Duke University. He
is well versed in the academic publishing world and knows many things about it.

The article explains what a writer needs to caution themselves of and how to
learn from it.
Timokhina, Ekaterina. Missouri School of Journalism Faculty Identify 10 Tenets of Good
Reporting in Today's Convergent News Environment. University of Missouri,
2012. Web. Accessed 23 September 2016.
The article goes through the ten tenets of respectable writing. It gives tips and
insights into what makes a good reporter, and how to be one. It aims to provide
an updated list of important things for aspiring writers to know.
The article was written by a Fulbright masters student. Timokhina has several
years of communication and media analysis experience behind her. The
University of Missouri published this article, and they are a trusted university to
provide scholarly sources.
Woman's Day Magazine. How to Get Published in a Magazine. American Library
Association, 2016. Web. Accessed 24 September 2016.
The purpose of the article is to provide helpful tips on getting published in a
Magazine. They give insider information as to what magazine editors look for.
They also describe the process of publishing an article in a magazine.
Since 1937, Womans Day Magazine has been putting out issue after issue.
They are a widely recognized magazine across the country. The American
Library Association is a nonprofit formed in 1876 that promotes many different
libraries and education.
University of Illinois. Op-Ed writing and guidelines. Illinois News Bureau. Web.
Accessed 26 September 2016.

The article discusses writing guidelines for Op-Ed articles. It goes through the
different types, such as newspaper, and how to write it. It gives an insight into
what an Op-Ed article is and how to go about writing one.
The article was published through University of Illinois, a trusted university. It
gives factual information that is also helpful. The article is very thorough on the
topic and clearly shows how to write it.