My Experience With JTP
I am here to share my experience with the Journalist Training Program, otherwise known as "JTP." For the first week, I was feeling excited and ready to begin my new path on a hopeful career as a video game journalist. After the first week came to a close, my family pushed me in another direction involving me in their petty issues and then my computer crapped out to which, I then began to feel discouraged and unworthy of doing it. Seven weeks go by, as I have no way of working and it turns out I missed the entire first round of JTP.
At this point, with beginning the second round soon, I am still discouraged and feel I should step down and allow someone better deserving of it get in the program. I feel I should just become a shadow on GameSkinny until I feel good enough about working towards the career. With my personal goal of moving to California and hitting a bunch of ups and downs, needing to tap into a career as soon as possible, all of these pitfalls are not helping me. I wanted to complete the entire first round with no issues, but some unseen force just didn't want that to happen.
I know you may think I am just rambling on being a negative nerf herder, but really I am just sharing my experience as I have seen others do. I will say that JTP is an amazing program for the little I got to do. I met some great people including our jedi master Katy Hollingsworth, Lauren Puga, and many more (Too many to actually list). Amy White has also been of great help with my journey.
I am also thinking of returning to school to work on a degree for game design, which gets me even closer in this world of games. While I am still contemplating joining the second round or not, I do appreciate the opportunity to join and learn even more. The program will teach you a lot about being in this business, and I obviously didn't have what it took to continue. If you wish to learn more and get better at your craft, this is the place to be.
I strongly suggest you to do it, only with the mindset that you love writing as much as, if not more than video games. Always be on search mode for news, and be prepared to work day in and day out until Katy tells you you have a day off. My failure and mistakes is another writer's gain. Enjoy your time with JTP.
- This is Delta Squad Reaper signing off.
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Don't be so hard on yourself. Life throws us many curve balls, trust me I know from experience. It's how we react to those throws is what makes us. Just because something didn't work out the first time, doesn't mean you should give up, give it another shot, then another and then another. Failure is only when you STOP trying, that's how I feel anyway.
Here at GameSkinny, esp. in JTP, we're a family and we do our best to support one another.
If you want it... make it happen. -
This really bothers me because you called your attempt a "failure."
You only fail when you don't try. As life goes on, the only things you really regret are the times when you never even made an attempt.
I won't dissuade you from your goal of game design because in truth, it's a more realistic goal. It will pay better and offer more stability than that of a game journalist. At the same time, you shouldn't say you "obviously didn't have what it takes to continue." That may not be true at all; extenuating circumstances got in the way.
Don't get down on yourself for giving it a shot. That's all I'm saying. :) -
I won't even get into why I am always down on myself, because it will turn into a 7th heaven, my father never cared moment haha. I am allowing myself 24 hours to think on it and I will be giving Katy my answer to let her know whether to count me in for JTP 2 or not. I don't take anything you said wrong or dissuasive, because it's at least you trying to help me out. I appreciate the kind words.
Considering I am fairly new to the whole world of video game journalism, I understand it wouldn't be a home run in my first time at bat. It's just with me needing to make a career for myself to get back on the road for my move, it got a little too stressful when it went wrong. If I do get accepted into a school for game design, I will still be writing, because I couldn't just abandon this. I do thank you and Venisia for the help.
The way it is looking, I will be going back to JTP for round two. I lost sight of myself and the fact I never gave up on anything before, so why should I start now? I will also be here and willing to help any newcomers as days go on. :) -
Well, speaking as someone who approached things in the reverse order (did things on the developer side first), know that even if you do go after game design, you're only going to get better as a game critic. A lot of what better informed my reviews was from experience learning about the development process. That knowledge is priceless in this field.
I don't want to be discouraging either, but I feel I should point out that you're going to need more than game design to get into the development field. You'll need either a wide set of useful skills (programming, level design, anything to do with art, animation, etc.) to make you an attractive option, or you'll need experience on mod or indie projects beforehand. Showing you can do the job will get you in to the position you want far more quickly. Otherwise, expect to start in a lower department, like Quality Assurance, and work your way up the ranks.
If you can balance both sides of things though, you'll be able to refine your writing while also helping make games happen from the front lines.
Best of luck man, and hang in there. -
While in school for the degree I would be up for finding new sets of skills to do the job as best I can, or refining skills I already have. I don't take any you have said as discouraging, because it helps me see what I need to do to accomplish the goal. I wouldn't mind working my way up, because, it also means I started from the lowest (Private) to possibly highest (General). I know that may sound stupid, but with being a soldier for a short time before being sent home due to health, I believe in working my way up instead of just going straight to the top. It gives me a better appreciation for the other positions in the business.
I would find a way to make the balancing work, because I can't give up. I see so many people wanting to become reviewers for the sake of just scoring free promo copies of games and as someone who wants to work on the developing side of the games, it baffles me. I take this as a passion instead of just a money making career. I thank you for the advice and will look into which skills to refine and to discover. -
That is a really good way to look at things. You've got a great head on your shoulders man.
Yeah, I know. I never came into this thinking "ooh, free stuff", but so many people seem to go in thinking that's what it's all about, or they go in but can't devote the time. It is baffling, but all the weaker attempts clean away the further you go. The troubles you'll see now will be long gone once you're up there, just got to get there first.
