Sree Sreenivasan, new media professor at Columbia University

Columbia journalism school's Sree Sreenivasan says young journalists should look online for opportunities to build their portfolio.

"Online publications, which often pay less than print publications (if they pay at all) are an option for beginning journos," says Sreenivasan, who runs the Columbia Journalism School's new media program and is WNBC's tech reporter. "Depending on the site's visibility, it may be a good way to get clips. As someone who did volunteer work for years (and still writes gratis, on occasion), anything that gets you clips is worth considering."

He adds: "Another tip is to start blogging. Having a smart, reporter's notebook-type blog is a way to show an editor your writing and your THINKING skills."

From time to time, I like to ask journalism experts and practitioners what tips they have for young journalists. I spoke with Sree in the spring for an article I wrote for Quill on how to get bylines. If you'd like to submit tips or share experiences, please e-mail me.