In regards to the debate over students being encouraged to keep a blog whilst at university course studies and after they have graduated, I tend to agree with what
Paul Bradshaw said and what
Neil McIntosh said last month in their own respective blogs. I think it is more than obvious that whilst you are studying online journalism that you have to keep a blog of some sort. Otherwise, you're sort of defeating the objective of the course itself.
There's also other reasons to keeping a blog during the course. If you maintain a blog well over the typical three years at uni then you will:
- Get regular feedback and suggestions to improve it.
- The writing quality will get better and better.
- As you find a placement, you will have a portfolio blog with lots of entries that show off your skills as an online journalist.
That's what I would like to get out of the course I am doing anyway - the oppurtunity to improve my skills and to be in a position a couple of years down the line where I am in an employable position. People like
Dave Lee have put hard work into their blogs and have found ultimately found a new career, whilst studying at university. That is because they used their time at university effectively, and have thus built quite an extensive portfolio, which would easily impress any potential employer.
As for what employers look for, I still think that the actual writing side is the most important aspect. At least, that's what I'd like to think anyway. But other skills that they look for is:
- Use of the media that is available to them (video, podcasts etc)
- How aesthetically pleasing their blogs look
- Blog maintenance skills (and by that I mean updating regularly, making sure everything on the blog works and isn't broken).
