Journalism
From CareersWiki
Contents |
Sector Overview
| Is it right for me? - further information on this career area, including skills/attributes required and tactics for success (pdf) |
Journalists can work in a number of settings, the most popular being print journalism (newspapers and magazines) and broadcast journalism (radio and television). Increasingly, journalists also work for internet-based publications, within organisations producing in-house publications, for press agencies, public relations and in media liaison. Journalists can be hired or freelance.
Journalists cover many topics: news, politics, culture, sport and science. They write about local and national events, entertainment, lifestyle and human interest stories. Correspondents cover specific geographical areas and feature writers produce more personal in-depth articles.
Print Journalism: Newspapers
Many would-be journalists aspire to work on a national paper although it is common to begin on a local or regional paper before moving to a national. Some nationals do offer trainee positions including:
- The Financial Times
- Thomson Reuters
- The Guardian sponsors two students to take a one year postgraduate course and also has occasional one year journalism trainee posts
Most national newspapers do not recruit annually nor publicise their schemes so your investigative skills will be required to track the openings down! Regional newspapers frequently have trainee journalist positions, although some require candidates to already hold a pre-entry NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) qualification.
Print Journalism: Magazine Journalism
Consumer magazines occasionally advertise for trainee journalists but you can expect few, if any, such opportunities to feature on our online vacancy database, with most publishers advertising in their own publications or websites, advertising in The Guardian (Monday), Press Gazette or just recruiting people who have undertaken (usually unpaid) work experience with them first. The specialist financial press recruit actively but often look for graduates in economics or politics. Some magazines and journals also look for writers with specialist knowledge, for example New Scientist has recruited trainees for six month internships. Specialist postgraduate courses exist in periodicals journalism.
Broadcasting Journalism: TV and Radio
The BBC Journalism Training Scheme is designed for people who don't necessarily have journalistic qualifications but who have some relevant work experience. Sky News offers a number of short editorial placements to help launch a broadcast journalism career. See also the TV and Radio wiki page for further information about this sector.
Press Agencies: journalism openings
Independent press agencies - also known as news wires - supply general interest or specialist news, features or pictures to news media. There are several leading press agencies, including Agence France Presse (based in Paris), Associated Press and United Press International (both based in the U.S.), Reuters and the British-based Press Association. See the National Association of Press Agencies for further details.
Online Journalism
While online journalism is no longer enjoying the phenomenal growth of recent years, it does provide some opportunities. Postgraduate courses specialising in online journalism are available. Generally, paid opportunities in this sector are for experienced professionals, or those with a relevant postgraduate qualification and suitable work experience.
How to get experience
It's essential to have relevant work experience and there are many ways to improve your skills and increase your chances of getting a journalism job:
- Get involved in student media at St Andrews - write for student publications (eg The Saint) or contact STAR - St Andrews Radio
- The Byre Theatre, St Andrews runs a Press & PR Internship
- The BBC advertises work experience opportunities.
- Sky offer a wide variety of internships and work experience.
- New Scientist recruits trainees for 3-6 month internships.
- The Guardian News & Media offer a variety of internships and traineeships, including insight into journalism newsroom days.
- Seek out experience on newspapers, magazines, websites or in the broadcast media during vacations. Remember that many opportunities will not be advertised, so don't underestimate the value of making speculative applications. The Guardian Media Directory (available at the Careers Centre), is a useful resource to identify newspapers and magazines.
- Talk to someone doing the job. Use the Careers Alumni Network- a database of St Andrews graduates who have volunteered to offer careers information to existing students.
- Most editors look for evidence of sustained interest in and commitment to journalism. Offering articles to local or free newspapers is one way in which you can build up your cuttings file - any employer is going to want to see what you have already had published. Think of ideas for new stories or new angles on familiar stories. Test them out by submitting copy.
- Pick a specific theme on a topic that interests you and write a regular blog.
The following websites include listings of relevant internship opportunities:
How to find a job
Make sure your CV is up-to-date, and, if, necessary, have it checked over by a careers adviser. Remember that many journalism jobs are never advertised, but are filled by speculative approaches from prospective journalists.
To start your job search
- Find out more about journalism jobs on the Prospects website.
- Use The Guardian Media Directory (available at the Careers Centre), to find contact details for media companies.
- Talk to someone doing the job. Use any contacts you have to visit an agency or talk to individuals. Use the Careers Alumni Network- a database of St Andrews graduates who have volunteered to offer careers information to existing students.
Jobs online
The following websites publicise vacancies in the journalism and media sectors:
- Prospects
- Bloomberg
- Gorkana Jobs
- Guardian Media
- Hold The Front Page
- Journalism.co.uk
- BBC jobs
- Jobs4journalists
- Media UK
- Grapevine
- The Radio Magazine
- MediaWeek
Postgraduate Study
The best known one year courses are at City and Cardiff Universities and both have good post-course employment records. Closing dates for applications are normally in February.
Many other courses are also available, some of which are recognised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
If you're interested in taking a course, weigh up what you may gain from such a course before committing yourself to considerable expense and ask questions about how successful these courses have been in gaining jobs for their students.
| For further information on researching and planning for a postgraduate qualification, please visit the postgraduate study page. |
Key Links and Resources
Careers Centre resources
Books:
- Contacts - Stage, TV, Film & Radio
- Writers & Artists' Yearbook
- A Career Handbook for TV, Radio, Film, Video & Interactive Media
- The Guardian Media Directory
Journal
- Ariel-BBC publication
Online:
- Careers Alumni Network- a database of St Andrews graduates who have volunteered to offer careers information to existing students.
- The Careers Centre subscribes to 'Going Global', a specialist website with information and job vacancies worldwide. To access Going Global login to the Careers Centre website and click on Going Global Database.
- Related wiki page:
General journalism/media careers information
Professional Bodies, Trade Organisations & Journals/Magazines
- Broadcast
- National Union of Journalists
- National Council for the Training of Journalists
- The Chartered Institute of Journalists
- The Newspaper Society
USA
For a list of internship opportunities, please visit Internships in the US - Journalism.
