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Hey! I'm interested in being a Politician or at the very least a Journalist.

How would you start beginning the process of becoming a good speaker and a great Journalist. I was thinking about starting off by maybe starting off getting on a Podcast and speak whatever comes to mind that way. Any recommendations?

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Zach’s Answer

Where you start this journey depends on what's available and your age, but exploring the different roles and jobs in politics is a good start (campaign roles, phone banks, city council, etc.) and confirm your interest in the field. In high school you can consider joining activities that involve politics ( joining/starting debate team, mock trial, student council, school newspaper, criminal justice club) and/or signing up for classes that give you knowledge about history, politics, speaking, and serving others. Getting involved in your local community is also a great way to explore politics and see the impact politicians can have on their communities. Explore your local city gov't and consider attending city council meetings. As a base, ensure you're reading and keeping yourself aware of politics and history. Some careers lend themselves to becoming politicians easier than others, like being an attorney or any gov't jobs.

Zach recommends the following next steps:

Read political news and events, develop and explore perspectives on those events
Take classes on Political Science & History
Volunteer for a campaign, phone bank, etc. - (You can use volunteer match to find opportunities in your area: https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/orgs.jsp?r=20.0&aff=&l=Rock+Hill%2C+SC%2C+USA&k=government&o=distance )
Reach out to a local politician or rep to ask about their work and how they got started
Attend a local city council meeting (& consider contacting a local official to ask what they do for work) - https://www.cityofrockhill.com/government/city-council
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Laura’s Answer

As a student, you can start by gaining certain skills and experiences in public speaking by joining teams such as Model United Nations or your school's debate team. These are two great ways to get involved with a group of students and have the ability to practice your speaking skills. If your university doesn't offer any of these organizations, you can also create your own. In addition, you can get in the habit of hosting mock interviews with your friends and family or reading through your papers/speeches to help you become more comfortable with your speaking abilities. With journalism, doing your research and obtaining information on the types of opportunities available to you as a student is crucial. You can join your school's newspaper if they have one to gain writing, reporting, and editing experience, join a podcast or local radio station, or even volunteer with news organizations. If your school offers a journalism course that requires ample participation, this can also be a great way to gain experience in an academic environment.

Laura recommends the following next steps:

Join clubs like Model United Nations or Debate to gain speaking skills
Take courses specific to speaking or reporting/writing
Host mock interviews with your friends or practice reading papers/speeches to gain more experience
Join your school's newspaper for writing, editing, and reporting experience
Do research on opportunities outside of your school for experience (ex: newspaper internships)
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