Hi Alix,

I'm assuming from the way you posed your question that you're looking at print journalism. If so, my first bit of advice is to forget it, unless you've got a trust fund or something. The work is intrinsically interesting, but it's hard to make a living at it.

However, for the record, as you seem to rightly surmise, you need to have written something to get a job writing things. If you have a Communications degree, I'm guessing you took at least one writing/reporting course, so you aren't starting at the very beginning.

There are plenty of community newspapers that will let you take a stab at writing for them, either for free or for minimal pay. These are the free newspapers you see in distribution boxes and also weekly community papers that you might find at a newsstand. Alternatively, you can sign on as an intern at a slightly bigger publication, swapping free labor for some assignments (which may be paid) and guidance. This would be something like a daily newspaper in a small city or a magazine (where you might also get an entry-level editorial assistant's job based on a 2003 Communications degree).

You could write almost anything, but I'd suggest finding a topic that interests you and that you know a little bit about, but not so much that you'd be biased. An interview with somebody who was once famous and happens to be living where a newspaper you'd like to write is one low-risk way to get started.

Hope that helps...