Journalism

Becoming a Motoring Journalist

Below are some basic pointers to get you started on your way towards being a motoring journalist.

To many people motoring writing seems the perfect job. They see the role as basically involving driving great cars all day long in often exotic locations and getting royally treated by the world’s car manufacturers.

There is an element of that, but only an element and for no means all motoring journalists. Far more time is spent sitting in close proximity to a computer screen with deadlines ever looming. But yes, it is a great job.

Competition

Motoring journalism is also a very competitive profession, but if you are sufficiently determined and equally importantly sufficiently skilled there is no reason why you shouldn’t succeed – the market is bigger than you might think. Every newspaper from the humblest free weekly to the national broadsheets uses regular motoring material, as do general interest magazines. There is an ever-changing array of specialist magazines dealing with all aspects of motoring, from sport to off-roading, Audis to Triumphs, classics to modified boy racers. Then there are industry titles, technical titles, websites. . . the list goes on.

The Craft

So what skills do you need? Well several would-be motoring journalists will be surprised to hear that the ability to drive a car at its very limits, cornering at opposite-lock just like Tiff Needell does on the TV is NOT the number one requirement. Knowing the subject inside out, being able to list every MG paint code and the European car of the year for the last four decades might be useful, but again is by no means essential. The one skill you must possess is the ability to write.

You do not need to be a wordsmith to the level of Tolkien or Dickens, but you do need to be able to put your thoughts down on paper to a level that the reader will want to keep reading. You also need to get your grammar and your spelling correct – many applicants to motoring magazines fail to do this even in their first letter to the editor, and then wonder why they are never asked to attend an interview.

Of course being able to write is only half the story. Getting published is a major hurdle that frightens off many a potential journalist. There is no easy way to get your words into print but you can tip the odds in your favour by following a few simple rules.

The most important of these is study your market. It would be no use sending an illustrated event report of the local classic car club’s annual get-together to the likes of Autocar and Auto Express – they simply don’t use such material. Sounds obvious but receiving totally inappropriate material is one of the biggest bugbears of magazine editors. Secondly, watch your length. It is very easy to over-write, especially on a subject that you enjoy, but for example if you are sending an event report to a magazine and it is clear from looking at said title that it only uses reports of 500 words or less, don’t send them one of 1000 words, even 750 words. If an Editor asks for a feature of 1500 words and he receives 3000, it means more work for him and a writer who won’t be at the top of his favourites list.

Thirdly, get your grammar and your spelling right, as has already been mentioned, and crucially get your facts right. If your piece results in a correction in the following issue then it’s likely to be the only time you appear in that particular title.

Basic Pointers

In the space available here we can only give some basic pointers towards becoming a successful motoring journalist, and of course we haven’t covered photography and broadcasting, roles as equally valid as the written word. For those seriously interested in becoming a journalist, the Guild of Motoring Writers has produced a booklet in association with BMW. ‘So You Want to Be a Motoring Writer’ is written by Simon Taylor, currently Chairman of Haymarket Magazines, publisher of among others Autocar, Autosport and What Car? so he knows a thing or two. For your free copy simply contact the Guild General Secretary – click on the Contact box at the top of this page.

There is no one path to success as a motoring journalist, but all those that do succeed get there through attention to detail, determination and dedication. Best of luck.