Laura Oliver, editor of journalism.co.uk and supporter of B2B journalism.
Target specific publishers: If you think you've found somewhere you'd like to work, try to get a placement with them as a taster so you can see if your expectations meet reality. I'm not sure of any internal networks but it is worth looking at individual companies' websites as they often have recruitment sections that might not be advertised on larger job sites.
Add a speciality to your journalism skills: I think there are some really big opportunities out there for journalists with specialist training in business and finance, and those who are more numerate. But knowledge of the markets or a specialism should be built around the basic tenets of journalism, particularly being able to communicate something complicated clearly and simply without losing its meaning. The one will of course aid the other.
Mark Say, senior editor of Kable and editor of GC Magazine.
Get some experience in B2B: It would provide the beginnings of an understanding of how to keep the focus on a readership with specific interests. This can take the form of highlighting the most relevant aspects of a story picked up the wider media, or searching for information that will be newsworthy for the specialised readership. It provides a demonstration of how to adjust your thinking to cater for those readers.
Looking to the future: If you spend a few years writing on a business you can acquire a degree of stature that can lead to other opportunities. The obvious area is communications — representing the large companies or industry/professional organisations active in the field. Some journalists become analysts, which may not be as sexy but can provide its own satisfactions and is likely to be better paid. Others, especially those who show some commercial savvy, go into the management side of the media.
On shorthand #1: I have my own hybrid shorthand that does the job for me but is not as good as a proper command of teeline. It's never stopped me from getting a job, and I've never had a serious question raised about my records of conversations; but it would be a handicap in some areas, especially court reporting or if dealing with a person or organisation likely to call in the lawyers. Always best to acquire a solid command of shorthand. It's one of the things that a lot of employers didn't ask for when I began in the business (mid 1980s), but they expect much more from starters these days.
Emilie Reymond, online editor at healthcarerepublic.com.
You need skills beyond a neat turn of phrase: I am a French national so it is always a challenge to compete with other journalists in terms of writing style. But in healthcare/medical journalism, facts, thoroughness, precision and knowledge of your area of expertise are more important. Also with online publishing now it's crucial to write well for the web, in a keyword/SEO friendly way to get your stories picked up by search engines.
Knowing your sector: As to how long it would take to know the area inside out, that's a work in progress and even senior editors learn every day. But I would say if you have a curious mind and are a good reporter, make key contacts rapidly and get out reporting as often as possible, it would only take a few months for you to be comfortable with any topics your news editor throws at you.
Show an interest: If you have no experience in a specific area but showed keen interest (this can be by setting up a personal blog for example, or writing some pieces for a similar magazine on a freelance basis, or attending related media events etc) in the area the magazine in question focuses on there is no reason why they wouldn't consider your application.
Alex Masters, business intelligence editor for Foodnews magazine.
Stand out from the crowd: A lot of journalists avoid the finance/numeracy side of things and just want to focus on the writing side, so any insight in that department will put you in good stead. Another thing that will really give you the edge is if you can prove you have a more detailed knowledge of (or at least genuine interest) in the sector you want to work in. I remember one interviewee who turned up with a 'mock' article she'd researched and written for the magazine and that made her stand out from the others who all had similar qualifications. Suffice to say she got the job.
On shorthand #2: Journalists are very much divided on shorthand. The likes of John Humphrys would spit but I've spent almost ten years in journalism and survived without it and, as Mark said, you end up creating your own hybrid version. I've never heard of it being essential for B2B work, but if you did choose to take a course it wouldn't be time wasted.
Suzanne Kavanagh, publishing sector manager for Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Creative Media.
Be prepared to explain your interest: It's always a good idea to research which sector you are interested in, show any prospective employer that you understand their business and markets, and if you have a passion for a particular publisher, be able to explain why and show what research you have done.
Cover all bases: A combination of a qualification AND work experience will give you a fighting chance. But if you are going to take a qualification, make sure it counts and go for one that is accreditated by the industry body relevant to the area you are interested in working in.
Daniel Thomas, Financial Times property correspondent, he has also worked for Property Week & Marketing Week.
Look for signs of quality: There are certainly some mags better than others — one way is looking to see which have won awards in the past few years, either for their news, features or design, as they will tend to have the most proactive and ambitious editors and supportive publishers.
Steve Harris, representing the NUJ Professional Training Committee.
Find a specialised course: We are now seeing a lot of sports journalism courses, international journalism, health journalism is another developing area, there is an excellent new science and environmental journalism at City Univeristy — not yet accredited — and obviously finance and business journalism. All these are well worth considering because they will certainly help you get entry into B2B, because most of these magazines cover specialist areas, and if you come ready prepared and trained in those areas it is going to give you a real head start — plus, of course, all that work experience you'll already have racked up.
Don't stick to one genre: Another home truth, this is an multi-platform world and even if you are operating for a broadcaster, you are going to have to be able to reversion material for web pages — and reversioning should mean re-writing properly in a style appropriate for the web and the organisation for whom you are working.
On shorthand #3: A useful skill, particularly if you are likely to do courts and other places where electronic devices are forbidden, frowned on or impractical, but otherwise buy yourself a good recorder, it'll serve you so well in so many ways.
