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Promote your media talents May 21, 2012

Posted by Kirsti Burton in : Media, The Careers Group Blogs , add a comment

Originally posted at QM Jobs Blog

Are you a student journalist, reporter, photographer, editor, broadcaster or blogger?  Would you like some work experience at a major newspaper or a music magazine?  Then read on.

The Guardian Student Media Awards 2012 asks students to submit their entries to one or more of the categories below

There is an opportunity for every contributor to your publication or  station to win – so make sure you enter as many categories as possible.

However limited your resources, the experienced judging panel will recognise the kind of imagination and energy that will drive a successful career in media. Judges include media representatives from the Guardian, Channel 4 News and NME.

There are two deadlines to enter the competition:

Website of the Year - Friday 1 June 2012
All other categories - Friday 29 June 2012.

Winners will be awarded experience at the Guardian and NME.  The shortlist will be announced in the supplement MediaGuardian in September. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in November.

For more information please see the website.

As well as networking, working on projects is a key thing to do to get into media careers.  If you do have such experience come to go to your careers service for advice about how to market it and if not visit us to gather ideas about getting relevant experience.  For more information about working in media see the Prospects website.

Getting into Publishing and Writing February 6, 2012

Posted by Andrew Falconer in : Publishing, The Careers Group, entrepreneurship , 1 comment so far

Writing and publishing careers are linked but are seperate professions. A good writer will understand the publishing industry as a commissioning editor should understand their writers.

There are lots of career options in writing - from ad hoc articles for magazines, through novels to technical writing.

Likewise the publishing industry is varied with so many different roles and divisions.

On 21 February we are running a day course to introduce you to these career options and help you explore writing and publishing. Visit the course page for full details of the event and how to register to attend.

The journalist’s journalist December 27, 2011

Posted by Andrew Falconer in : city jobs, entrepreneurship, further study and training , add a comment

Royal Holloway Physics alumnus Andrew Michael is perhaps the journalistic equivalent of a B2B manager. He is the editor of HeadlineMoney.co.uk, a website used by over 1500 financial journalists in the UK. The work he does is targeted at well known journalists that we read on a daily basis. However he has worked in various journalistic capacities in order to become editor of HeadlineMoney.

Journalism can be a fascinating career choice as Andrew has demonstrated. You do not necessarily need to do a masters to get into the profession – there are a range of courses, including the NTCJ, that can be an alternative route. There are also courses available that may have amazing marketing but may not deliver in education or outcome – so be wary consumers.

Andrew spoke at Royal Holloway’s Creative Careers event in March this year, where he shared his thoughts on the industry and gave tips on how to progress in it.

Our Careers: BBC Web Editor February 16, 2011

Posted by TCG Info in : Our Careers, arts administration, employability and skills , add a comment

****Be aware this content is over two years old****

The Careers Group was very lucky to have attracted former BBC web editor Lakshmi Hughes to become our Head of Content and Information. Lakshmi continues our series where colleagues share their career experience.

How do you get a job with the BBC within nine months of leaving university with a 2:2 in history?

Answer: You don’t… unless you have some luck, some passion and you’re prepared to put in some self-effort.

So luck first:

I had a family contact working in a CD-Rom Children’s publishing company. She needed some casual work so after university I was able to get some useful work experience and a small income. Here I learnt to do basic research, word processing skills and adjust to working a five-day week in an office.

The role was temporary so the clock was ticking to find a job. I had a vague idea about going into media but I wasn’t too sure how. I thought the only way people got jobs was through networking and word-of-mouth. I didn’t really understand how this worked so was very relieved when a friend had applied for (and got) a job advertised in The Guardian as a press officer at the National Theatre.

Shortly afterwards a role came up at the BBC looking for an online editorial assistant. The description looked interesting and matched some of my skills. I persuaded myself to apply and told myself that it was better to try and fail than not to try at all!

Following my interest:

The BBC job wanted a person with an interest in education and the internet.

I’d always loved learning and the children’s publishing house had learning outcomes for its products.  I also had an addiction to BBC television. The internet was still new in the mid-nineties so my interest was based solely on a book called “The Virtual Community”. It described a digital network where people shared ideas and problems/solutions with others all over the world.   It sounded amazing and something I wanted to work in.

I also realised electronic media was a less competitive area than mainstream television and that I stood a better chance of getting a “foot in the door”.

Self-effort:

It took a lot of time to fill out the application form. I concentrated most effort on the part about what made me suitable for the role and the previous employment sections. I weaved their words and requirements into these sections and highlighted the skills I had that met these.

When I got the news I had an interview I read through my application and found out more about the skills I didn’t have, such as HTML. I remember spending an afternoon in front of a computer trying to get to grips with it. I also splashed out on a suit for the interview.

Pre-interview test: my nerves were the real challenge, after much crossing out I finished the task!

At the interview three people quizzed me.  After putting me at ease I was able to answer the questions spontaneously.

Outcome:

I got the job and was given an amazing opportunity to work with intelligent, skilful people for the next 15 years. I never stopped learning and worked on some extraordinary projects including setting up a Schools Online service, GCSE Bitesize, BBC Four online and even the BBC Homepage.