This was in my email when I got home:

Hello,

I plan to apply to (a) journalism program and their admission process requires me to interview three journalists.

May I please ask you some questions?

1. Besides school what else did you do to get journalism experience?

2. What did you learn outside of school in the field to become a good
journalist?

3. What advice do you have for someone wanting to pursue a career in
journalism?

Thank you,

The answers are as follows ...

1. I didn't go to journalism school, although I did take two writing classes at night and do have a university degree. I worked at a student newspaper, first as a reporter, then as an editor. My first professional job came soon after with a weekly newspaper.

2. Again, I didn't go to j-school. But what I would say in general is that school gives you the basics. You get taught some practical and more intellectual skills. Hopefully you cultivate some more general ones, like social and people skills along with good work habits.

In the working world, the stakes are a bit higher than school -- you're being paid to do a job, rather than paying to be taught. Really screwing up a story doesn't mean a failing grade on that particular assignment. It could mean losing your livelihood and reputation. Without your reputation, you have nothing.

The more you use school to come out with a mature, professional attitude, the better off you'll be.

But if I could sum up the biggest thing you'll refine outside school, it's judgment, which is an absolutely crucial characteristic of good journalists.

You'll require good judgment in a number of areas: Determining whether something is newsworthy and worthy of pursuit, deciding when to quit on a story, evaluating sources and managing your superiors, to name but a few.

3. I knew from the moment I did my first interview that this was what I wanted to do. If you're passionate about being a journalist and have some talent, pursue your dream.

If you're lukewarm about it and don't think you're particularly good, don't bother trying.. It's a highly competitive field, and you'll waste money and precious time that could be spent on something you are passionate about.

If you do want to go for it, work hard, be tough and tenacious, display a good attitude and always strive to learn and improve. That means working on not only your journalism, but developing your mind in general -- I don't know any journalists who I respect that are dumb.

Good luck.