Era Writes.

Hi Anon! As with most career paths, it’s smart to weigh your options, do a lot of research and see if you have the right skills for the job/are willing to learn the right skills/or have skills that you can easily transfer to a few other jobs within the same career path.

I do think it is a realistic job but it all depends on so many things. For one, your education. Will your college prepare you well? Will you have the drive and ambition to seek out and work at an internship? Are there even opportunities for internships? This all also depends on your location. Bigger city, bigger opportunities, bigger job market. 

Also take a look at other journalists you admire. How did they do it? Or even find any working journalist and go to their LinkedIn and scroll through their job experience. You’ll see their journey and see what kind of internships and work they’ve done throughout their career. Does it look like a career track you’d want YOUR resume to look like?

We still have journalists. We always will. It’s not a mythical career. 

A GUIDE TO CAPE TOWN WITH BEATENBERG

*My interview with Beatenberg for Global Yodel

Beatenberg has played music together since 2008 but their 2014 collaboration with South African producer DJ Clock landed them at the top of the local music charts for a consecutive 14 weeks with their single, “Pluto (Remember Me)”, a song that was written and recorded in one day.

A GUIDE TO BROOKLYN WITH RA RA RIOT

*My interview with Ra Ra Riot for Global Yodel

Originally formed on the campus of Syracuse University in early 2006, indie band Ra Ra Riot has gone on to produce three studio albums as well as tour with bands Death Cab for Cutie and Tokyo Police Club. Their earlier albums have a chamber pop music effect (thanks to the string arrangements of a cello and violin), but their most recent album, 2013’s Beta Love, is an experiment with synth and electronic beats that added a whole new element to their sound and turned their songs into dancefloor-worthy jams.

Don’t Look Away [new photo series]

Can you imagine being here at this moment? What a shot. What a reality.

Foreign correspondent, Sudarsan Raghavan, brings us this image from Gaza City. You can read the story behind the photo here. Foreign correspondents are brave souls, I’ll tell you that.

Stephanie is here to help you…and herself. Her blog is a jackpot of inspiring and helpful posts and tips about the post-grad life. It’s tough out there, especially for a journalism graduate, but what Stephanie brings to the table is undeniable positivity and hopefulness. Follow along as she navigates the world of job-hunting in the modern age from dressing your way to employment to nailing a job interview.

Name: Stephanie Azzopardi

Who are you? Steph Azzopardi: an Australian wannabe journalist and blogger

Three of your favorite things: Breakfast, writing and Veronica Mars.

What consumes your time? Work takes up a lot of my time, I work in a factory full time whilst trying to get my first paid journalism job. When I’m not at work you can usually find me working on my blog, watching really trashy reality TV or reading magazines in the sun.

If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be? Pasta, and then as much ice cream as I could eat. If it’s my last meal I may as well eat all of the carbs and fat that I want.

What keeps you sane? Catching up with my friends. I’ve found that a good balance between work life and social life is key.

What’s your favorite memory? I have a lot of favourites, but coming from a perspective of my writing, my mum comes to mind. Every time I’ve achieved something in my life, from my first written story as a 6-year-old to my university graduation, she has always been there cheering me on. My favourite memories are of when I see that she is proud. I know that’s pretty corny but it’s true

Do you have any idols or role models?

Professionally, Lisa Wilkinson is my idol. She was the editor of Australian magazines,DOLLY at 21, CLEO at 25 and is a journalist that I really admire. I’m 23 so I’ve missed the boat a little to follow in her footsteps, however if I can achieve half of what she has in my career I will be happy.

In my day to day life I really admire my friends and family who have worked hard, sacrificed a lot and had to face a lot of challenges to achieve their goals. They push me to keep working hard at achieving mine.

Oh and when I was younger I kind of wanted to be JK Rowling when I grew up.

What’s on your bucket list? I want to write a book and travel the world.

Your online homes:

Poor Girl’s Modern Life, a blog about my journey as an unemployed journalist:www.poorgirlsmodernlife.com

Twitter: @StephAzzopardi

A question from the previous featured blogger: How and why did you begin blogging? What aspect of blogging most appeals to you? 

I graduated from university last year and after 6 months of not being able to get a paid journalism job I decided I needed to do something. I wanted to start a blog to keep my writing skills sharp and to have an online presence that may attract potential employers. I also wanted to sharpen my job hunting skills as obviously mine were pretty lacklustre. That’s how the idea for Poor Girl’s Modern Life formed.

The thing that I like most about blogging is that my blog is completely my voice. It’s all me, all of my dorky jokes and ideas are on the screen, uncensored. For every other assignment or publication that I have written for I have had to write to a certain style and write about a certain topic. It’s very freeing to write whatever and however you like.

A question you’d like to ask the next featured blogger: Who in the world would you most like to have dinner with, living or dead and why?

Taken from their website, Beatenberg is “Matthew Field, who also has a beautiful voice and plays the guitar, Ross Dorkin, who has beautiful hands that play the bass, and Robin Brink, who has a beautiful life-force and plays the drums like a nutcase.”

The boys have been playing music together since 2008 but The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg is their first studio album. I like how South African online culture magazine,Platform calls their music “silky smooth and ultra cool pop.” That’s exactly right.

Their songs are sweet and a touch romantic. They’ve got groove but are still uplifting. My ears are perfectly content putting them on repeat. Their album hasn’t been internationally released yet but Hillydilly has seven songs of the album’s 16 and each one is awesome.

I spend hours upon hours every day clicking through the digital world and I stumble on some great things almost daily.

What I’ve learned lately:

This is what a marble quarry looks like (whoa)

The really cool Home Food project in Italy gives you the authentic experience of an Italian dinner cooked at the house of a real “Italian mama”

These before-and-after photos show you exactly how much water the West has lost during the drought

King Zog of Albania is the only member of royalty to ever return fire during an assassination attempt – and reportedly he survived over 50 of them

Sweet summer is over and it’s back to the grind. It’s only the second week and my head is already spinning with all the readings and projects I have to work on for this semester. Although two of my classes require I keep a journalism related blog, I can already tell that this one will fall a little behind. Probably a lot. There no longer is a schedule, posts will come as they may. I have to focus on work that will actually give me a passing grade…just until this school thing is over ;)

I’m finally a senior and I’m as excited as I’m nervous to graduate. Although there is no doubt as to how excited I am to put an end to weekly readings, class presentations and finals weeks. Not like I will ever stop reading, writing and learning but the environment of a college setting is very stressful. In a few months, I’m glad to be rid of that…and dive into the other stress of job hunting :P It never stops, does it.

I’m looking for new bloggers to feature in my Meet a Stranger series. Know someone who would get a kick out of submitting their own interview? Nominate or tag them in the comments or just let me know who I should reach out to next.

What about you reading this? Do it. Email me at [email protected] and we’ll chat.

Two months ago I pitched an article idea to the USA Today’s College Blog and I was very excited when I got a positive response.

The article is my top eight tips on how to succeed at an online internship. This summer I’ve been a virtual intern for Global Yodel. It was my first time doing an online internship but I’ve really enjoyed it…and its convenience (not having to commute is awesome!).

Being a virtual intern can be a new experience but it’s not too different from a regular location-based internship. I had a good time writing this and I hope you enjoy reading it. Let me know what you think!

On Repeat #14 – Pacific Air

In spring 2012, three days after putting their music on  Bandcamp, Pacific Air was getting calls from record labels. That should tell you something about how cool their sound is. The band is formed by brothers, Ryan and Taylor Lawhon (and two touring members on guitar and bass). I first saw them when they opened for Atlas Genius last summer. They really impressed me with the way they could energize the crowd and they remain one of the best opening bands I’ve ever heard.

Emily has “lived among the cornfields” in a small Midwestern town her entire life but now she’s a sophomore in college and through her blog she writes about the ups and downs of small town living, of being an English and History major, of having male relatives who don’t believe in feminism and one of my favorites, the ups and downs of running ;)

There’s something for everyone (even cat lovers!).

Name: Emily Cardwell

Who are you? I’m an introverted college student with a passion for the written word. I’m also a runner, a book-smeller, and of course, a blogger!

Three of your favorite things: Beaches, ice cream (particularly cookies ‘n’ cream), and books.

What consumes your time? Well, during the school year, I’m busy with homework and paper-writing (tons of paper-writing – I’m an English and history major). But this summer, I’ve been working, spending time with family and friends, reading all the Jane Austen and F. Scott Fitzgerald that I can, and (attempting) to do some writing of my own here and there.

If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be? Pierogies with lots of sour cream, broccoli (I really like broccoli, which is weird, apparently), and a giant tub of ice cream.

What keeps you sane? Lots of things, really. I tend to be a very anxious person, so I’ve developed all kinds of coping mechanisms. The three main ones are journaling, listening to music, and running. 

What’s your favorite memory? This one’s tricky, but I think this is one of them: It was the first week of college and I was walking back from class. My school has lots of trees and flowers so I was looking at those and soaking in the sunshine and all of a sudden, I thought, “I can’t imagine that I’ll ever be unhappy here.” Of course, my freshman year had just as many downs as ups, but whenever I’m feeling badly at school, I like to go back to that memory and tap into the joy I felt in that moment.

Do you have any idols or role models? I don’t think I have one person who’s constantly my role model, as we’re all human and we all make mistakes. But when I see someone do something admirable, I’ll take note of it and try to incorporate that spirit into my own life somehow.

What’s on your bucket list? I want to travel to Italy, write a book (or three), live in a city, find a career that I love, get a cat and dog named Sherlock and Watson, and have a family.

Your online homes: My blog (cardwords.wordpress.com) and Twitter (follow me@cardwords)

A question from the previous featured blogger: If your personality was a country, what country would it be and why? Well, the only foreign country I’ve visited is Canada, so I don’t have personal experiences with many places outside the United States. But my friend and I are big fans of BBC’s Sherlock and we’ve decided that we’re basically Sherlock and Watson, so my personality might be described as British!

A question you’d like to ask the next featured blogger:  How and why did you begin blogging? What aspect of blogging most appeals to you?

A few weeks ago, Amelia included my blog  in her Virtual Blog Tour post. It was a really nice surprise and I’m happy to invite my readers into a peek of my own writing process. While I also have a creative writing/poetry blog, this one is more focused towards short musings and a more “journalistic” approach towards writing, and I use that term very loosely.

The Questions

1. What are you currently working on?

I’m always trying to come up with interesting posts. I have a lot of drafts, trust me. I want my writing to be relevant to others and current events but I also want it to be a very big interpretation of myself. I want my posts here to be an archive of my growth and journey as a writer. I don’t do it purely for the views.

2. How does your work differ from others in the same genre?

I blog like everyone else. There is no special niche. My blog writing is very simple. I have a blogger series (which I’m sure there are a handful of out there) and I do weekly music posts (again, not that unique although I hope readers discover a new band that way). I also try to mix in some personal posts about personal thoughts, memories, travel and again, music.

3. Why do you write (create ) what you do?

To share my thoughts with others and hope they either agree/relate or learn something new.

4. How does your creative process work?

I write whenever I’m inspired by a personal, cultural or social event. If it’s not something I don’t mind reading over and over or again in a few weeks, months or years then I don’t write it.

The Writers

I follow a lot of diverse bloggers. No one is obligated to write their own Virtual Blog Tour but I nominate these three and their great blogs.

 theoceaninsidemyhead - I like reading her posts because they’re always about something interesting and thoughtful. It’s her place to figure herself out but she poses questions and thoughts that can make everyone else want to figure themselves out, too.

nonsenseshenanigans - She writes with such honesty. I admire that.

On Repeat #13 – Young the Giant

Most of you might know this band by now but if not here is a chance to get to know them. Their most popular tracks are “Cough Syrup” and “My Body” but recently I’ve really been digging “My Apartment”.

Their second album, released earlier this year, comes three years after their debut album. While most of their popular songs are from their first album, their sophomore one, Mind Over Matter, has a few gems of its own, like “Teachers” and “Eros”. Lead singer Sameer Gadhia’s voice is so gorgeous.

Fun fact: They used to be called The Jakes, back when they first started in 2004.

One thing I like about Riahta’s blog is that her posts are fun. She writes about everything – her life, music, opinions on social and cultural issues, inner musings, books and movies. Here are a few of my favorites: the ultimate study playlist, 10 childhood books you’ve probably forgotten about it, 10 foreign films that every film enthusiast should watch.

She also has a really cool series called “Getting Personal” where she finds unsigned singers/musicians/bands and interviews them on their creative process. There’s a new post every Friday so take a look because you might discover some good tunes.

Name: Riahta. I thought a pseudonym would make me unique, don’t ask.

Who are you? I’m a halfie: part Indonesian and part British. I drink a lot of tea. I dance with myself sometimes.

Three of your favorite things: Sleep. Any TV series with comedy and a terrible soapy dramatic plot line, you know, the stuff that makes you gasp. And tea, preferably Earl Grey.

What consumes your time? Right now, it would be Revenge. That television show has taken over my life. But other than that, I just moved house and I’m studying counseling and family therapy, but the dream is to get to Uni again to do English Lit.

If you had to choose your last meal, what would it be? An Indonesian dish my aunt makes: rendang with fried rice. Rendang is basically a spicy beef dish. So good.

What keeps you sane? Sanity is boring. But I do find splurging my money to fly to Bali lifts my depression. Try it sometime. Technology fasts are just awesome, no more baby shower pictures blocking up your news feed. Paradise.

What’s your favorite memory? I have lots and lots of blanks in my memory but it might have to be the time my Dad accepted my apology of ten years and now we’ve come such a long way.

Do you have any idols or role models? There’s no one I idolize really. I sometimes wish I could’ve met Audrey Hepburn, but that’s more of an obsession. God would have to be my biggest role model because He’s brought me so far. Oh, and maybe Lena Dunham, she’s cool.

What’s on your bucket list? Travel, just everywhere. Going on a safari. Publish a book. Make an album, even if it’s only for me and a few friends. Write my Mum’s memoir, because it’d be a doozy.

Your online homes: For my music https://soundcloud.com/vintagebears and my bloghttp://shapelesstruth.wordpress.com/

A question from the previous featured blogger: “If you were king/queen for a day – that’s an entire day – what pyjamas would you wear before going to sleep and leaving your kingdom behind?“ Silk. Everything. Silk shirt, silk bottoms, silk socks. Just silk.

A question you’d like to ask the next featured blogger:  If your personality was a country, what country would it be and why?

On most days I feel like I’m wasting my time online. Whether I’m reading yet another listicle (why is that even a word?), a news article or someone’s blog posts, I am spending (sometimes, wasting) valuable time. But one click leads to another, curiosity gets the better of me and most days I find myself reading about topics I never knew existed. That is one aspect in which the Internet is brilliant.

They don’t teach us a lot of things in school so with the help of the technology you are using right now as you read these words on this blog post, you can learn about anything, anytime, anywhere. Care to add to your knowledge? Do what we all do best and click away!

What I’ve learned lately:

What it means if a medicinal drug has orphan status

The Matamata turtle is a real thing

What a sommelier is

What a Monte Cristo sandwich consists of