News-Record.com

For the record, I didn't attend journalism school. I didn't attend a single journalism course. I have a liberal arts education and I have no regrets.

I look for:
* Brightness, innate curiosity, tenacity, strong ethics, good listener -- They are really just the ante's just to get into the game.
* Innovative thinking -- The last thing we need are traditional thinkers. Want to write long series on "important" issues of the day. Get in line. Those journalists are vital, and we have them. Want to help create new and different ways of speaking to readers? See a new way to marry our desire to commit journalism and the public's desire to get news and information how, when and where it wants it? Batter up!
* Online skills -- You don't need to be a geek, but you need to know that the present -- not the future -- the present is developing content online. So, if you know Flash, Photoshop, video, audio, any programming skills, you're bringing valuable skills to the table.
* A well-rounded education -- Please know a little history. Go online and take some of those surveys that indicate that only one in 10 Americans can name their senator (but seven of 10 can recite the family tree of Homer Simpson). If you rank with the majority of Americans, study up.
* Read newspapers. You'd be surprised at the number of applicants who readily acknowledge that they don't read a newspaper. I know that young people get much of their news online -- and I do expect you to be able to name the journalism bloggers you read -- but, really, you need to be reading a paper version of the product if you want to come and work for one. I'm old fashioned in that way.
* A good attitude -- The HR people kill me when I mention this one. Yet, now more than ever, we need people who can make lemonade out of lemons. Cynicism is vastly over-rated. The ability to listen to bad news, process it and say, "OK, so, let's figure this out," is what we need. Can't get this covered because our staff is too busy? Hmmm, would you, Mr. John Q. Public, like to write about it for us and we'll publish it? Don't have enough money to hire a videographer to add video to the Web site? No problem, give me the camera and I'll shoot. Eager to hear what your audience is telling you? That's what I'm talking about! These are the folks who make good things happen. These are the folks who understand that journalism seeking solutions is better than journalism seeking problems. These are the folks I need.
* Understands community. Don't plan to get involved in the community? Don't plan to go to church or temple or join a book club or volunteer or sample the downtown night spots or build a Habitat House or serve food at the soup kitchen? Well, to cover the community right you need to be part of it. And when you talk with and listen to readers on your blog, on the comment section of the stories you write, on the telephone, you'll have a clue.

This isn't a complete list; it's just top-of-mind on a rainy Wednesday night. I'm sure the other hiring managers here can add to it. Thanks, Jan, for inspiring me to put down on paper some of the attributes that are important for new journalism hires.

This list isn't exhaustive, but it's a top-of-mind start.