Magazine journalist
Magazine journalists research and write news articles and features for a wide variety of periodicals, including consumer titles, business journals and trade publications. Magazines have a defined readership and focus on a specialist area or interest.
Magazine journalism can cover a range of disciplines, such as writing, sub-editing and designing.
Increasingly, magazines are also being produced for other media, especially the web. Knowledge of the concise writing style needed for the internet and search engine optimisation are very useful skills.
According to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) , there are currently around 9,000 magazine titles in the UK. While there are plenty of opportunities, competition can be fierce when trying to secure a job in magazine journalism.
The nature of a journalist's work varies considerably depending on the size of the employing organisation and the subject matter covered by the publication. It may also be affected by the medium through which the magazine is produced.
Typical activities can include:
Freelance journalists spend time networking and building up relationships with publications and their staff. Self-employed freelancers also need to negotiate their own rates, bookkeep and be self-motivated. They must pitch ideas to interested publications and constantly secure new work.
On smaller magazines, the role of magazine journalist might include all of these activities plus administrative work. It may also involve an element of sub-editing, proofing your own or other writers’ copy, as well as some design work.
Many magazines have a website and journalists may also cover the same topics for the website, but they will have to adapt their writing style for online journalism.
Salary figures are intended as a guide only.
Although not strictly necessary, most new magazine journalists have a degree. However, entry without a degree or HND is possible, as experience and determination count for a lot in the industry.
Many universities offer undergraduate journalism or media degrees, while there are also postgraduate qualifications (Masters and certificates/diplomas). Many of these courses are accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) . It is also possible to take NCTJ courses and qualifications at colleges and via distance learning. While these qualifications are not essential, they will give you a good grounding in writing, interviewing and media law.
Many magazine journalists will have started out at local newspapers and have a solid background in news writing. On the other hand, some journalists move straight into specialist writing depending on their degree, e.g. engineering, science or computing.
Pre-entry experience, either paid or unpaid, is absolutely essential. It will give you first-hand knowledge of the industry and demonstrate to employers your ability to thrive in a pressured environment.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Get involved in student newspapers, magazines, radio stations, internal television circuits or even start your own blog, which can help towards developing your writing style and interviewing techniques. Very few structured work experience or training schemes exist. Contact magazines directly, showing an enthuiasm for their subject matter, and ask if they have a scheme or if they can offer you some work experience.
If you are undertaking a journalism qualification, become a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) as a student member. Look for other journalistic organisations that have membership for students as this will provide great networking opportunities and perhaps even a tip-off about possible job vacancies.
Entry into journalism is very competitive, with many people applying for every vacancy. The industry is growing, but the number of training vacancies is not increasing proportionately. This is because much of the growth is in small publishers and they do not run training schemes. Entry into popular consumer magazines is particularly competitive, but openings with specialist technical and scientific journals, or trade and business magazines, may be easier to find.
Many opportunities are not advertised at all and speculative applications are a common way of securing a job. Where there is no central recruiting point, you should apply directly to the editor of the magazine or journal.
Freelancers and speculative job hunters rely on directories such as the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook or Media UK to find editors' details. Try to build up your own personalised list of contacts by using sites such as LinkedIn .
If you are considering freelancing, make sure you target the right magazines for your article. Telephone editors with an idea for an article relevant to their publication and be on the look-out for events or stories with a local interest. You may be able to persuade your local newspaper to publish your work. Even reviewing products, theatre or films can add to your portfolio. For sound advice, or to advertise your services online, see Journalism.co.uk .
In an attempt to offset the scarcity of black and Asian journalists, the NUJ has set up the George Viner Memorial Fund to help those who want to take industry-recognised pre-entry courses, but lack the money to do so.
The Journalism Diversity Fund has been established by the industry to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds. It is aimed at people without the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses. Applicants need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to journalism and the potential to be successful.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Trainees with big publishing houses receive structured training in reporting, writing, proofreading, sub-editing, layout and design, production, and law for journalists. Smaller organisations that recruit directly may not be able to provide such opportunities.
The Periodicals Training Council (PTC) is the training arm of the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) and has a list of accredited training courses on its website.
Courses run by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) , throughout the country and online, are well recognised in the industry. The NCTJ accredits courses at nearly 40 colleges and universities across the country. The focus remains on newspaper journalism, but there are many more multimedia courses reflecting industry and societal changes in recent years.
There is no fixed career path in magazine journalism. You may progress from staff writer to sub-editor, section head and chief editor. Or you may move across into marketing, television journalism or public relations (PR).
Freelancing is a realistic option, allowing more flexible working patterns, and (perhaps) greater control over your own work. It is essential that you make contacts in the industry - editors are more likely to give work to someone they know they can trust - and that you are willing to be flexible about the work you take on.
Commercial awareness is essential for progression. As a freelancer, you have to be able to sell your work, or if you work for a magazine, you need to have ideas about how to increase your readership.
Journalism is a fast-moving and fast-changing career where it pays to keep abreast of new developments in media and communications. Try to keep up to date with new trends and any specialist subject matter you write about.
Journalists are also increasingly writing for online publications, so knowledge and expertise of writing for the web can be very helpful.
Training in technical skills such as HTML, JavaScript and perhaps web design packages could be useful. A number of colleges and private training providers offer short and part-time courses in these subjects.
There is a huge variety of magazine titles in the UK, ranging from the women’s ‘glossies’ to specialist journals, and everything in between.
Many of the large multi-title publishing houses, such as EMAP , IPC Media , The National Magazine Company , Condé Nast and Haymarket Publishing Ltd , are based in London and have international offices.
New graduates should also look to local magazines and lifestyle publications, either independently owned or overseen by larger companies like Archant . Don’t discount local and national newspapers, as many produce at least one magazine.
There is also the free, consumer sector of magazines that are available to readers on trains and planes, supermarkets and DIY shops. Check each periodical to see who publishes them and creates the content copy.
Many large corporations, such as the BBC , oil companies and big banks, produce in-house magazines which will require journalists. Professional organisations, clubs and membership associations, e.g. the RSPB and the National Trust, also produce magazines.
Business-to-business (B2B) magazines and trade journals are also a good place to hone your writing skills and develop a specialist area. There is a title to suit almost every topic, so whether you would like to write about restaurants in Manchester or the adhesive industry, there will be a magazine out there. Check out Media UK , which offers a comprehensive list of all newspaper and magazine titles in the UK.
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