Over the last few months I have got to know, via twitter, an accomplished F1 journalist over twitter. It is a job sector which I could only dream of getting and I know a lot of other people aspire to an F1 journalist as well. I asked Jordan Irvine, freelance journalist, to write a piece for my website explaining his experiences and advice on getting a foot in the door of the industry.
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Take it away Jordan...
A friend, and aspiring Formula 1 journalist Jack Leslie, asked me to write a quick piece for him on how to get into Formula 1 journalism for everyone out there with that same question and goal. Although there is no “clear cut” answer to this question, the path to success in Formula 1 writing, as well as journalism as a whole, can be a completely different experience for all.
When I tell people about what I do, and how I do it, I am flooded with the obvious questions; “What does it take?”, “Is it all glitz and glamour?!”, “How often do you hang out with Lewis Hamilton?” and so forth. Obviously, these are eventual perks of the job… But the build up to it, the story on how I personally started in a career in Formula 1 journalism, is far from what people expect…!
A career in journalism, especially in Formula 1 and motorsport in general, is a tough grind, hardworking, tedious task, with a LOT of rejection along the way. Yes, you can write a thousand articles, and yes, you can “study” journalism, writing etc. until you are blue in the face… But until you write a piece that shows your passion and soul, a real article that makes the person reading it not just connect with you, but with the sport, you will find yourself getting nowhere fast. And if you can’t take a couple of rejections, I advise you look for another career right now, because they will come. Your first piece, no matter how well written, will not be a masterpiece; it will not be the “missing link” that a news source has been searching for. Ask for advice on what can be changed going forward – adjust and adapt.
My first piece of advice would be simple – start writing. Get some ideas on paper, write a lot, but also write a small amount. See what works and what doesn’t; create your own “style”. If you try to write in the manner of another person, or in the style of an article you yourself have read, you will fail. The simple reason is, that style is already out there, it’s been done. Journalism is like music – unless you create something unique, nobody is overly interested. It’s harsh, but it’s reality.
When starting to write, there are a few points one should look out for. Write with passion; write what comes from the heart. But do not write in a bias manner towards one particular team, because unless you are working for that team, motorsport news pages are not interested in your personal opinions of how good / bad a team or driver is. They are looking for truthful, factual information. Tied to this, refrain from letting your emotions get in the way of what you are writing. You don’t want to be that person in the paddock who everyone dislikes because you can’t hold your tongue. Making enemies in the world of Formula 1 journalism is not a good idea..! However, you must also not be afraid to push the boundaries to a certain degree – if something is deemed “controversial”, but you believe in what you are writing, do not be afraid to publish it. Just make sure you stand up for what you believe in and have the evidence to back it up.
Once you’ve found your style and are happy with the way you want to work, get yourself out there. And I don’t mean just Tweet a lot and hope someone sees you and your blog… You need to actively go after the news sources you are interested in writing for. Sure people may get in touch over Twitter and try to help out, but emailing specific people personally is a much better way of getting noticed. Tell them why you want to write for them, what kind of things you write, where your specialities lie, and so forth. Offer to write content for free to start off – after all, you are looking to establish yourself as a serious player in a hugely competitive world.
Finally, when you are starting to get some stuff out there, you need to make sure you’re 110% dedicated to what you are doing. Becoming a journalist is hard work, especially if you go Freelance. You are going to have to spend your money to get to races – flights, cars, trains, planes, taxis, food and accommodation, are all on you. Of course, the benefit of Freelance is that when you start getting paid to contribute articles, you will be able to cover these costs. However, when you are starting up, the amount of time and effort you personally put in is what counts. The more you put in at the beginning, the more you get out in the long term. If you need to sleep in a tent in a field, that’s what you have to do. Don’t complain about it, because everyone you will be around 99% of the time you are at a race will have some point been through the same as you. Believe me when I say, it is not easy to start out if you are on a limited budget, but it will be an experience, and it will give you the want to succeed in what you do even more!
To end on a positive, after you have ‘toughed it out’, you can then reap the rewards. Life as a successful journalist, signed or freelance, can be a terrific career. As well as getting to travel all over the world and experience different ways of life and cultures, you get to follow around and be present at every single event of the thing in life you are truly passionate about. Interviewing teams, drivers, and associates alike, over the course of a year, can lead to amazing contacts and even more amazing friendships. Journalism in Formula 1 can open a new world of opportunity, and I would not hesitate in recommending it as a truly amazing experience!
And yes, you get to meet Lewis Hamilton…!
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