You don't see how spending 3 years training under experienced professionals, learning how to interview, learning the legal aspects of slander, defamation and contempt of court, honing your writing, learning shorthand, understanding how press conferences work, learning to work to tight deadlines, learning how to work under an editor, learning how to use the very specific (and ever changing) technology, experiencing the pressure first hand, dealing with breaking news and everything else that goes with it would be of benefit?
Fair enough.
The wires will be buzzing and they will have hundreds upon hundreds of applicants, it's an incredibly competitive industry and the one that gets it will have CV that is ridiculously full.