305: How to Break Into New Media Journalism w/ George Anders, LinkedIn [Espresso Shots]

George Anders is a senior editor at large at LinkedIn. He’s authored five business books including the New York Times bestseller Perfect Enough: Carly Fiorina and the Reinvention of Hewlett Packard, and most recently You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Degree. After earning his undergraduate degree at Stanford University, George started his career as a journalist at the Wall Street Journal where he was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. He has written for several magazines and digital properties on topics ranging from Wall Street to the rise of the digital economy. Today, George works with a global editorial team at LinkedIn that consists of more than 60 people who operate from outposts in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, China, Japan, Australia, the United States, Brazil and more. When he’s not writing or shaping editorial strategies, George supports his team in developing new community-based products for LinkedIn users.  Are you a curious storyteller with a knack for creating community-driven content, but aren’t sure how to get your foot in the door? Check out this episode to learn tips from George on how to break into the world of storytelling. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE: What entry level positions can help you break into the field of journalism How a focus on community, experience leading organizations and volunteer work can help you land a journalist job at LinkedIn Why to check out the 2-year rotational program at LinkedIn before you graduate Why curiosity is an asset for finding success in this field Why your major isn’t a dealbreaker, but a lack of storytelling and writing experience might be What about editorial jobs can seem tedious but necessary to produce quality works What the perks of being a journalist are, including the joy of constantly learning new things, meeting new people and having the chance to write stories for good  Why you should read George’s most recent book You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Degree. Why you should watch The Front Page to get a visual understanding of the sometimes difficult relationship between reporters and editors, which George described as an “eternal truth.”