How to make the leap from journalism to nonprofit PR
Do you dream of making a successful jump from news to nonprofit communications? This advice will help.
What does it take to switch from journalism to nonprofit PR?
To answer how I landed in the nonprofit world, I borrow a sentiment from a former co-worker who also started in news. He said, “Kathy, we used to write about these things and photograph them, and then we would sit and hope someone would do something about it. Now, we find these stories and we also have the power to do something about it.”
That’s it, I thought—that’s what I want to do.
How do you make the leap, though?
Most of us who pursued journalism did so because we felt we were going to change the world with our words and images. Concerned parents and counselors warned us that the pay was bad, the hours were obscene and that the gratitude would not be free-flowing, but we believed in the noble pursuit of truth.
You need a similar drive, commitment and belief to find a happy home in the nonprofit realm. Volunteer for a while, if you can, to see what cause captures your heart.
Once you discover your passion, use the skills that helped you succeed in the first place. If you’d like to pursue a career in nonprofit PR, I’d recommend cultivating these abilities:
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