Only roughly 1.1 percent of all media workers in the United States are post-9/11 veterans, and the team at Military Veterans in Journalism thinks this needs to change.
"We are vastly underrepresented," said U.S. Navy veteran Zack Baddorf, founder of Military Veterans in Journalism. "We think at this time in history, in particular, it's critical that we have more veteran voices. We've been at war for more than 18 years. We've lost thousands of our brothers and sisters in these various conflicts and tens of thousands have been wounded. We've spent billions."
"And what's going on with our Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are issues that should be at the forefront of our public conversations and our public life," Baddorf said. "Sometimes they are — it ebbs and flows. But I think what veterans do is they bring a certain nuance and understanding and technical skills to the conversation that is invaluable."
But Baddorf, as a Navy journalist, knows first hand that transitioning into civilian newsrooms isn't as easy as it may seem.
"It was an amazing experience, and I put together a pretty decent portfolio. While I was in the military I got my journalism degree and I won a few awards and thought, hey, this will be an easy transition for me —taking these very translatable skills into the civilian world to become a journalist," Baddorf said.
"After my enlistment ended in 2006, I started applying for dozens and dozens and dozens of jobs across the country in journalism to work full time — and I didn't hear a peep."
Looking back, Baddorf knows now where he could have used some help, where he should have adjusted his resume, how he could have better marketed himself to the civilian career field, and the importance of having a mentor.
Now, Baddorf offers that exact assistance to other aspiring veteran journalists with Military Veterans in Journalism.
The organization, founded in May of this year, pairs veterans with professionals in the industry for the mentorship that Baddorf learned is crucial. It's also offering an immersion experience in New York City in May of 2020 and working to establish relationships with media outlets in order to offer internships and fellowships.
"I think veterans find a lot of value in journalism and its connection to service," Baddorf said. "I look at journalism as a form of national service — sometimes international service — where you're putting in a lot of time and effort for typically not a lot of pay for the national good. And veterans also see it as a way to continue serving."
To learn more about Military Veterans in Journalism, click here.
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