[originaltext]M: Today we have journalist Jane Young on our shows. Glad to meet

M: Today we have journalist Jane Young on our shows. Glad to meet you, Jane.
W: Me too.
M: Being a journalist is really hard work. What inspired you to be a journalist? Was it family or did you just enjoy story writing at school?
W: I’ve always loved writing since I was a kid. It took me a while to work out what sort of job I could do that I could use some sort of creative writing in. It was only when I left university that I realised journalism would provide that opportunity. Interestingly enough, it was only after qualifying as a journalist that I found out my great uncle was a reporter for the paper that is now the Evening Standard.
M: Would I be able to go straight into working for a national paper after getting a suitable degree?
W: It is possible but only if you’re in the very lucky 1% who are accepted onto a graduate training programme run by a national newspaper. You’ve just got to apply. I’m not sure how many they take on but it’s a very small amount. Some newspapers have scrapped these schemes altogether. A lot of people who get on these schemes tend to be from Oxford or Cambridge.
M: If someone wants to be a newspaper journalist, what subjects should he be taking in school?
W: Newspapers want people from all walks of life and with all different skills and areas of expertise, because obviously they want to reflect the society they’re writing about so there’s no particular subjects you should take. A lot of journalists would have studied English because they like the written word, but I know people who have studied all sorts like politics and history. They’re all good background knowledge as you have to write stories about many different things. It’s only progressing in your career that you become a specialist writer. There’s a common misconception that a media studies course of some kind will help, but that’s not always true.
M: Is it useful to work on school newspapers if you want to be a journalist?
W: Definitely. Any kind of work experience you can get will help you get on to your training course and help you get your first job. It gives you something to talk about in an interview. You’ll always be competing against a lot of people. It will give you a little edge. You’ll learn of course, and you’ll have cuttings—stories that have been printed—to show everyone.
1. What is the reason for Jane Young to be a journalist?
2. According to the interview, what do we learn about the national paper?
3. According to Jane Young, what subjects should be taken in school in order to be a journalist?
4. Which is a requirement of a journalist?
5. What do we learn about work experience during school time?