13.3 Turning Journalism into a Writing Career

Exploring Community Journalism

If you’re someone who likes writing, asking questions, or finding out what’s really going on, journalism could be a great career path for you. Journalists are writers who tell true stories. They report on the news, interview people, and explain events or issues that affect others. If you enjoy using writing to inform, connect, or even challenge people’s thinking, journalism might be a perfect fit for you.

Journalism is a writing career with many options. You could write for a digital newspaper, magazine, podcast, YouTube channel, or website. While some journalists focus on national or global news, others write about politics, entertainment, the environment, health, or science. There are also journalists who focus on things happening in their neighborhoods. That’s called community journalism, and it’s one of the best places to start.

Community journalists cover local stories that matter to people in their community. With your smartphone, you could interview and photograph the owner of a new small business opening in your neighborhood. By reporting from where you live, you can help people understand what’s going on around them—and often, they inspire change. There are probably numerous digital media platforms in your community looking for reporters and they may provide free community journalism training.

Solutions Journalism

Solutions journalism is an example of a newer type of local reporting. You know the problems that need to be solved and the people or programs that need to be celebrated in your community. Instead of just reporting on problems, these journalists look at how people are trying to solve those problems. They ask: Is this solution working? Could others learn from it? This kind of journalism is growing fast, and it’s great for writers who want to focus on positive, fact-based change. You can learn more at the Solutions Journalism Network.

Documenters

Another exciting way to get involved in community journalism right now is through Documenters. This program trains everyday people—like students, workers, and others—to cover public meetings in their cities. You don’t need experience. You will get paid to take notes, live tweet, or write summaries of government meetings like school boards, city councils, or housing commissions. Some documenters go on to write for their local digital media platforms. You can learn more and see if there is a program available in your city by visiting documenters.org.

A career in writing—especially journalism—begins with asking good questions, writing clearly, and staying curious. With time and practice, your writing can do more than fill a page or even a report. You can inform people, tell important stories, and even help create change. If you want your writing to make a difference, this is a path worth exploring.

Works Cited

OpenAI. “Image of careers and writing beyond the classroom generated by ChatGPT.” ChatGPT, 5 June 2025, https://chat.openai.com/. Accessed 5 June 2025.

“Solutions Journalism: The Whole Story.” YouTube, uploaded by Solutions Journalism Network, 18 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF3s_eOQsKo.