Emmita's travels through Latin America

 
I'm a professional photographer and photojournalist from Skegness UK and have this advice for anyone trying to break into journalism

It's probably useful to study journalism at college. I did (and later taught it), but it isn't essential if you are interested in freelance journalism as opposed to being employed as a journalist by a newspaper.
The ability to write fluently and interestingly, often at high speed, plus determination, a certain amount of courage and the ability to communicate with people from different social and economic backgrounds are iimportant in both cases.  
Try to develop an instinct for journalism, an instinct for a good story. To do thiis, look around you, look at what's happening, and try to look at it from someone else's point of view. Ask yourself if they might be interested in it too.
Never reject an idea for a story, never forget about it. Let it simmer in your mind. You'll almost certainly find a use for it at some point.
If you write about something from one person's viewpoint, try to write about it from another person's viewpoint as well, so that you are presenting two (or more) different opinions to your readers. In other words,  try to write a balanced article.
Use good grammar. Don't think that it doesn't matter because it does. If you aren't grammatical it can damage your credibility as a journalist.
Vary your style of photography and vary the composition of your photographs. If you take any any more pictures like the one in the article, take some where you are half turned towards the camera so that people can see your face. People are interested in people; it would have been interesting to see your expression when you were confronted by that long lonely road. Were you apprehensive, confident, or what?
Hope this helps,

Paul Gooch