Being a magazine Journalist will not only bring a fun and friendly atmosphere to your job, but also gain you all the knowledge you will need to know to become a huge success. This job is so versatile, giving you the ability to become possibly freelance, helping you to work around your lifestyle. If its something you love to do, being able to write about what you love, expressing your opinions on latest topics, then why not venture in more depth to what this job can offer you.
Everyone has to start off somewhere, and becoming a junior reporter will not only allow you to explore what life would be like once becoming a journalist, but also gain you the experience you will desire to have and need once you land that dream job of becoming a magazine journalist.
Getting yourself noticed in such a huge industry will unfortunately involve remaining a junior reporter for a few years, or until you are noticed by someone who is inspired by your work. But, if your determined to do it, then nothing should get in the way of your dream and you will do anything to conquer any task given to you. This can range from simply making tea for staff, or submitting stories to the sub-editors, covering photography for smaller papers, and sub-editing. The list goes on!
At first, you may not be able to get your articles onto magazines, but building a reputation within the working environment is vital if you want to become a fashion journalist.
When becoming a magazine journalist you have to remember what this job role will involve:
- Researching a subject, and story
- Ensuring work is well written, accurate, and submitted to deadline
- Conducting interviews, in person or over the phone
- Attend seminars, conferences and fairs (some magazine publishers hold exhibitions and events to allow advertisers to meet their readership)
- Generating ideas for stories
- Resourcing images to provide a visual element to articles
- Meeting with colleagues to plan contents of the issue, and the character of the publication
- Keeping up with the trends, requirements and developments relating to the magazine subject matter.
This list entitles you to understand what would be expected of you when entering this job role.
However, becoming a freelance magazine journalist allows you to spend time networking and building up relationships with publications and their staff. It may be proven hard at some points, and you have to remember that you will be required to do your own book-keeping, negotiate your own rates and most importantly be self motivated in order to become a success.
Sometimes you will have to begin working on smaller magazines, to eventually be noticed and referred to the big end magazines.
You may have to begin off working for near enough nothing, but this depends on experience, if you're that dedicated to landing your dream job this shouldn't be an issue!
As you progress further and begin working on a major publication, or editor for a magazine, your salary can rise anything from £22,000 to £65,000+.
Salary levels depend mainly on the location, size and popularity of the magazine. Salaries in London and the South East are generally higher, and opportunities more easier to find. This is not a nine to five job, copy deadlines may mean irregular hours. Unsocial hours are common, so this would have to be considered.
Most new magazine journalists have a degree. However, entry without a degree of HND is possible, as experience and determination counts for a lot in the industry, just show your dedicated! Experience for this job will obviously depend, but with anything new, you will need to gain the experience through building your way up.
When becoming a magazine journalist, you need to be able to show the following skills and requirements:
IPC Media- A leading magazine publisher in the UK.
EMAP-
You may have to begin off working for near enough nothing, but this depends on experience, if you're that dedicated to landing your dream job this shouldn't be an issue!
As you progress further and begin working on a major publication, or editor for a magazine, your salary can rise anything from £22,000 to £65,000+.
Salary levels depend mainly on the location, size and popularity of the magazine. Salaries in London and the South East are generally higher, and opportunities more easier to find. This is not a nine to five job, copy deadlines may mean irregular hours. Unsocial hours are common, so this would have to be considered.
Most new magazine journalists have a degree. However, entry without a degree of HND is possible, as experience and determination counts for a lot in the industry, just show your dedicated! Experience for this job will obviously depend, but with anything new, you will need to gain the experience through building your way up.
When becoming a magazine journalist, you need to be able to show the following skills and requirements:
- excellent writing skills;
- a proactive approach to investigating and good research skills;
- determination and persistence;
- strong interpersonal skills;
- a demonstrable interest in/passion for the subject of the magazine;
- IT skills and familiarity with commonly used software, such as HTML, Photoshop, Java, Quark Xpress and InDesign are all valued in this field.
Organisations/ companies that have a need for this job role include:
EMAP-
