Rumaging through our Blip.tv archives, I came across this video I shot with Dwayne Yancey from the Roanoke Times (posted in early 2007). #

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It reminds me of a conversation I had with an editor for a Chicago metro magazine who spoke at EIU last year. She said one of the big impressions students make on her when they are applying for a writing position is their web presence. She specifically mentioned weblogs, but with the rise of social media tools like Twitter, I imagine there will be soon be even more of an emphasis on the use of these tools. A student journalist who has shown at least a familiarity – hopefully mastery – of those tools will have a much better portfolio to present to potential employers. #

Will that make the difference? Perhaps. I’m sure there will still be hiring editors who are stuck in the 20th century. But their tribe is decreasing. In a tight job market, anything you can do that makes you more valuable to your employer is going to be crucial. It’s not just about coding, or the more elitist “raising the bar“. It’s about spreading the truth through available channels, and doing so in a web-first manner. #

Just sayin’ #

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