How To Get A Job As A Foreign Correspondent
Foreign Correspondents must be hard-working, dedicated, determined, independent, resourceful, aggressive, and fearless. They must be willing to tolerate inconvenience and discomfort, willing and able to travel on a moments notice, and above all they must be interested in the area of the world in which they work.
Foreign Correspondents must be willing to make personal sacrifices, and also be aware that, in some parts of the world, theirs is a potentially dangerous career. In some areas, Correspondents may be involved in bombings, shootings, kidnappings and possible prison terms if suspected of spying. Western Correspondents are becoming the most targeted by insurgent groups. Due to cultural traditions and taboos, the profession is especially dangerous for women.
Foreign Correspondents work in all parts of the world to keep the public at home informed about the latest world news. They may be freelance correspondents or may be employed by television stations, radio stations, or newspapers. They may work alone, or may be accompanied by other correspondents, photographers and producers. Some Foreign Correspondents specialize and remain in one area, while others go where they are sent or, in the case of freelance Correspondents, where they feel news is breaking.
Foreign Correspondents must first become journalists. This means completing a four year college degree in journalism. While still in high school, it would be advantageous to take any courses that are offered in English, history, geography, foreign languages, and political science. Also, it would be advantageous to get some experience, whether paid or volunteer, working at a television or radio station, or on a newspaper. You will need at least several years of experience as a journalist before you can expect to become a successful Foreign Correspondent.
To be a Foreign Correspondent, it is not enough to be a good observer, a good researcher, a good speaker, and a good journalist. You must also be knowledgeable about international affairs, the changing global environment, and the politics and culture of the area in which you may be working.
Before, while, and after you are training as a journalist, travel all you can. Learn all you can about the world around you, and if you have an area that is of special interest to you, make sure you spend several months there even before you make any final decisions.
Starting out as a Foreign Correspondent can be expensive. You will need good a quality camera, cell phones, lap top, tape recorder or cassette recorder, and lots of batteries. You will need to invest in excellent health insurance that will cover you in foreign situations. If you have family, you may also want to invest in life insurance. Again, make sure this applies to the type of life you are going to lead. You will also need sufficient funds to cover living expenses until your services begin to pay off. Make sure you have all the required travel documents, and inoculations.
It is wise to get support from places you have been employed. Here you can learn from the pros. Establish all the contacts you can and find out from local media if unsolicited submissions are accepted.
The areas of least competition, are usually the ones that present the greatest dangers, such as war zones, and sites of natural disasters. If you are up to the challenge, travel directly to one of these areas. Try to find employment, volunteer or otherwise, get up-to-date on local developments, and set out to establish relationships with local workers and other correspondents. At the same time, set to work on your own groundbreaking reports.
This can be a very profitable career but it takes time and hard work to become established.
