Rory Sherring

I'm a reporter at a regional channel. My path: I did BA English (Hons) and then a 1-year PG Diploma in Journalism. What they don't teach you in class: you need thick skin and curiosity. Start NOW. Follow news religiously—not just headlines but understand how stories are structured. Practice writing 200-word summaries of daily events.

Apply for internships aggressively in your second year of college. Don't wait for placements. Small digital news startups often take interns. Learn video editing basics with DaVinci Resolve (free) and audio editing with Audacity. Build a presence on Twitter/X by intelligently commenting on current affairs (professionally). Your first job might be covering municipal meetings or writing obituaries—that's normal. The money starts low but if you love it it's worth it. Also consider learning a regional language; it opens more doors in Indian media.