|
Work for a newspaper at 13?
13/F
California
I am interested in working for the OC Register newspaper that is published in Santa Ana, California. I want to be part of the press who interview/take pictures at concerts. I have already looked over California's child labor laws and it says I am eligible for a working permit only if I work in the entertainment field.
My questions are:
1. Is working in the "Show" section of a newspaper qualify you as working in the entertainment industry?
2. Are newspapers allowed to hire 13 year olds?
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Job Searches?
Working for a newspaper writing entertainment pieces means you are working in the journalism industry. You aren't working in the entertainment industry though. It's too vastly different things.
Can newspapers hire 13-year-olds? That depends on whether you have any aptitude for writing and if you can be taught to write in the style they need. They have a lot of reporters and entertainment writers but perhaps being 13 is your angle.
Maybe they'll be interested in something from a teen's perspective especially on concerts. They may not pay you for doing it but you'll get experience.
What you should do is call the entertainment editor or managing editor of the paper. Tell them that you are 13 and want to be an entertainment reporter and was wondering if they'd let you volunteer in the newsroom and learn more about the newspaper business.
I know what I'm talking about because I started freelancing at 14. As long as you have drive, ideas, creativity and an aptitude for writing and asking intelligent, though provoking questions age doesn't matter.
It may be easier to try to write for a local paper (the ones with fliers that come to the door) than a daily as they always need pieces.
There are a lot of publications out there that use teens as reporters. Teenink.com puts out a magazine and web site totally by teens with help from professional editors. Ypress.org is limited to Indiana but if you ask an editor about options they'll point you towards them.
There's also teentalknetwork.com It's Internet radio done by a professional outlet with teen hosts on a wide range of topics. If you e-mail the owner and start talking about your ideas you may wind up with something. It's worth a shot.
Newspapers will publish people regardless of age but will not hire you to a full-time gig as you aren't an adult. They'll let you volunteer and perhaps tag along or print your material but you won't be a staff reporter. You need a degree and tons of clippings.
TV stations may allow you to tour the newsroom or go on ride alongs to scenes of different stories and see what it takes to get them on the air. You can call one and ask for the newsroom and what they can do to help a kid who one day wants to do their job.
You don't need a work permit for any of this or to have your words published by others.
]
Unfortunately for you, you'll need a high school diploma, possibly a college degree to get a job working for the press.
Your age is also an issue. Generally if you're under 16 there are very limited hours you can work and very limited conditions as well.
Concerts would be considered hazardous for someone under 18, and getting a job in photography usually requires work experience in the field, a portfolio, possibly education in that area.
Its unlikely you could get a job there doing anything serious before you're 18, and even then its a tiny almost infinitesimal chance purely because you're 18 and won't have a degree or job experience in the field prior to that.
Oh, last note, working for the press is most likely not in the "entertainment" field. The "entertainment" field refers most likely to actual entertainers. Work permits exist so that 13 year olds can act, sing, whatever.
Being part of a newspaper isn't entertainment its press/media, so I doubt you could get a waiver for it anyway.
]
More Questions: |