Slave labour? A pain in the neck? Our guide on how to get a journalism work placement.

We all know how work experience is generally seen as a must for people wanting to get into journalism more than ever before.

That’s why universities are so keen to organise placements, which in turn leads editors to demand to see your cuttings, which fuels the need for work experience… and so on.

If you want to work in newspapers, online journalism or magazines, your fortnight of work experience can be either rewarding, a waste of everyone’s time – or help you crystallise what you really want to do next.

There are many facets to work experience. Some companies won’t take anyone who isn’t on a recognised journalism course, for example.

Others will only take experienced hopefuls on paid shifts, while many won’t even consider covering expenses like phone calls or mileage.

The National Union of Journalists has started a campaign to pressure companies into paying people on work plecements, unless they are on a college-organised course.

So whether you’re a student or a hopeful aiming for a change of career, what’s the best approach to getting experience on a newspaper?

Not all newspapers will take people on work experience. Newsrooms are busy places and in some cases bad experiences with know-it-all or unreliable candidates have deterred them from offering placements.

You probably have the same chance to get involved at a weekly or daily newspaper – and both have advantages and disadvantages for people on placements. Whichever you are successful with, you should be able to cover most kinds of story inside a couple of weeks.

You could end up in a council meeting, at a murder trial in court, at an inquest, doing a vox-pop, writing news in brief items or interviewing a reader at the newspaper’s front counter. It’s all good experience, great fun and brilliant if your work gets published.

But read the newspaper before you even apply – and demonstrate what you know about it when you get the chance.

Applying in writing is best, but first telephone the newspaper and ask for the name and job title of the person who deals with work experience applications so you can send your letter to them personally. And check the spelling (even if it sounds obvious, Smith could be Smyth or Smythe) and make sure you get it RIGHT!

Send a letter of application, a CV and any cuttings. If you’ve never had anything published enclose other examples of writing, or pictures, which show your ability.

If you can’t find anything suitable, write something specially… a review of a film, book, TV programme or concert. You could try writing a comment piece about a subject which has been running in that newspaper. It’s the effort that counts and you have to show you’re interested and not just a time-waster.

And when you apply, please bear in mind that the very last thing the newspaper wants to hear is that you’re looking for a two-week placement because your uni course stipulates you need to do it.

Include the dates you are available. Most papers will only be able to offer you a week – or two at the most. If at all possible avoid asking for the popular summer months.

If you don’t hear anything after a couple of weeks, follow the letter up with a telephone call. Check politely if your letter has been received and if there is anything else they need, or anything you can do to help. Ask if you can come in and speak to someone about the work they do.

But remember you haven’t a divine right to be offered work experience. If they do offer you a place THEY are doing YOU a favour – not the other way around. Occasionally a newspaper might want to interview you or see you for an informal chat before offering you a place. If they do call you in, dress smartly and be punctual. They won’t expect you to be a mastermind with the specialist topic being their paper.

They just want to see someone bright, interested and keen to make the most of their placement.