I was so much a part of CNN's non-stop worldwide coverage. My advice to aspiring journalists is to do a lot of what I did not do. Mine was not a normal entry into the news business. It sounds glamorous but after seeing it up close, you may decide it stinks. If you want to be a good tennis player, you have to go out and hit some balls.
Journalism is the same.
You've got to work at it and spend time reporting and writing. Just do it. Write as much as you can so you can craft a well-written piece. I see some young people today who are more interested in their make-up and think journalism is a glamor competition, like Miss America. News organizations aren't interested in that.