AT this time of year, quite literally thousands of wide eyed and bushy tailed graduates pour out onto the World of Work.
And this wonderfully sincere reflection from Alison Gow just had to have a mention.
It is true that so many graduates want to go off and fulfill their dreams of journalism - despite the fact that in its structured form it is so clearly falling apart.
I too fear that, without the necessary 'first job', it is so difficult for wannabe journalists to cut their teeth. As notorious as it was, that first job in the local rag was where you learnt it all! It was the essential springboard for so many - even the likes of Kate Aidie who I had the pleasure of interviewing way back when (I even wore my best suit).
While I am a staunch advocate of blogging and freelancing - the fragmented news world we all have become empowered by - I think it is a lot to ask for 20somethings to take it on. There must be more we can do to help? Should every blogger who has 'been there done that' be offering a bit of work shadowing.
Could every blogger/retiree/ freelancer offer a bit more work experience?
So I think we should reflect on starting a website where volunteers from the journo world, who have some experience, offer to have someone shadow or write on their websites for a week or two. It would be invaluable. It would also fill that yawning gap of who to learn from.
If there are millions of us out here blogging, who already have experience as a journo in mainstream, then it is up to us to pass on the torch - the essence of journalism
