Party like a Journalist

I recent read a series (of tweets … you know, on Twitter) from an ESPN writer on advice he would give to incoming student journalists who are trying to make it big in today’s economy.
Here is the best of that advice (which means most of it), courtesy of Don Van Natta, Jr. (@DVNjr on Twitter):

• Read Everything. Write Every Day. 
• Ask Smart Questions. Listen carefully to the answers (and watch carefully, too). 
• Challenge yourself. Challenge your editor. Challenge your readers. 
• Work hard. Never coast. Never give up. 
• Reinvent yourself (often). 
• Assume your readers are smart (many are) [EDITOR'S NOTE: But don't read the comment sections; that's usually where the less-smart readers hangout]. 
• Have fun — because you won’t get rich [More true now, than ever]. 

Another piece of advice, courtesy of ESPN’s Jemele Hill: “Go into sports journalism because you love journalism, not because you love sports.” Sports will burn you out; good journalism never will.