Yolanda Said:

Journalism, Writing Jobs?

We Answered:

It is tough out there for print media. Most newspapers are on the way out.Fewer young people read anymore, and then just a bit, because of impaired attention span, caused in part by the thing you are on now-the internet.
In the old days (like five years ago!!) I would have said yes, there might be an outfit in some biggish city that might take you on, given a degree of enthusiasm on your part that might impress them. But today, I can't think of who that might be. This is the age of semi-illiteracy and multiple handphones on idle chatter mode.
I am trying not to sound negative, because the opportunities are more than before, but they are a little elusive if you think in old fashioned terms like "jobs" (and pay at the end of the week, food in the staff canteen, and the chance of a date with the girl in reception) etc.
An arts graduate friend, went to Australia some months ago and is on more than a hundred grand a year, driving heavy goods vehicles. He is out for adventure. A year of that and he plans to buy out a thriving business in Manila, for his girlfriend and her family to run while he writes a novel or something. Radical but fun.
Finally, if you feel inclined to continue with studies please do, but you will need to cultivate a sort of global guerrilla approach to running small businesses, that are lean and mean.
In some ways I wish I could do this kind of thing myself. I am stuck in a global family concern with others in our family. Predictable
and very successful, so there's no adventure or insecurity, which brings real wisdom.
Good Luck.

Clinton Said:

need help with ideas for writing samples?

We Answered:

The best way forward would be to study the paper and see what they write about.

Most regionals cover human interest stories, police and court cases, neighbourhood concerns i.e. dumped rubbish, broken street lights, unfixed, etc. people who are starting new businesses, people who have won something, etc, etc.

You need to understand exactly who the reader of the paper is and you can do this by studying the advertisements they run i.e. what age group are they aiming at, what economic group?

You can tailor your article to this type of person.

A quick story idea would be to interview a few neighbours about a concern they have about your area (Trust me everyone has one)

Put together a short piece (no more than 300 words) and use lots of quotes - quotes maketh the story and bring it alive!

Good luck.