Missouri School of Journalism: Profiles in Success: James Litke '74

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Name: James Litke
Degree and Year: BJ '74 (News-Editorial)
Company: The Associated Press
Title: National Sports Columnist
City and State: Chicago, Ill.

What do you do?
I travel around the United States, Europe and occasionally Asia to write about sports for the world's largest news syndicate.

How did you get your job?
I worked three years for the New Haven (Conn.) Register (1974-77) and joined the AP in 1978 after receiving a master's in English literature from the University of Chicago. I was promoted to columnist in 1989 after covering news, politics and features.

Best professional lesson learned at the J-School?
Competing against the Columbia Tribune simulated real-world experience.

What would be your best advice to current students?
Get as many internships as possible. Once you have a sense what corner of journalism you want to work in, keep focusing in on it.

What is one thing you wished you had done?
Received more guidance from the J-School, from information about internships to contacts with people working in the business.

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	Revised: 20 April 2007. Copyright © 2008 The Curators of the University of Missouri \| Contact the J-School