What qualifications do you need to be a journalist?

Top-notch communication skills are key for any journalist. If you plan on entering broadcast journalism, for example, polish your verbal communication skills.

Regardless of the type of media you're interested in, your written communication skills need to demonstrate excellent grammar and spelling and that you can write about a subject clearly and concisely.

To land a job as a journalist, you're going to need to have some professional experience. Many employers won't even look at your resume unless you have an internship listed.

Moreover, if you are interested in being a broadcast journalist, it's a good idea to have a portfolio of writing clips to demonstrate you understand how to report on the news.

To build your work portfolio, consider joining your college newspaper staff and look for summer employment with small, local newspapers, television, or radio stations. Another option is to begin freelance writing for online publications or local media outlets.

Finally, being comfortable with people and conducting interviews, either on-screen or for a print article, is necessary. Your interview subjects won't always be cooperative, so patience and tenacity are helpful.

Logic and judging a potential story using critical thinking skills will help you improve your interviewing skills and avoid potential mistakes.