Media and publishing sector
The media and publishing sector is going through a transitional period due to an influx of technology. Find out where you can apply your skills...
Media:
There are just under one million people employed in the UK media industry, according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). Opportunities for employment can be found in:
Publishing:
In contrast the publishing industry is smaller, with 148,000 people employed in the UK. There are a number of areas you can enter including:
There are also different stages of the publishing process which you can be involved in. These include: creation and design; distribution and retail; or production.
In the publishing sector, as with many other sectors, you can also work in accounting, human resources, marketing and sales. For example, marketing is an influential role in the bookselling industry.
In January 2011 there were 2,190 graduates from UK universities working in the publishing industry, according to the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DHLE) survey 2010/11. Of those graduates, the most popular occupations were journalists (14.6%), editors (13.7%) and authors and writers (9.1%).
For examples of job roles in this sector, see graduate jobs in media and publishing.
The creative media and entertainment business is dominated by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with two thirds of employers in the industry operating with between 2 to 4 people.
Examples of well-respected companies operating in the UK media sector include:
Publishing contains a mixture of large companies and SMEs. The Pearson Group is a world leader in print publishing. It is responsible for: the Financial Times and the Economist; Pearson Education; and Penguin book publishing.
Large businesses that exist in the publishing sector include:
Graduates entering the media and publishing sector can expect:
Recent advances in technology has seen a rapid change in the publishing industry.
The move from print to digital saw a drop in the number of publishing establishments. Technology-based companies have sprung to the fore, most notably Apple, Amazon and Google, with e-reading devices such as the Amazon Kindle and Apple's iPad.
The expansion of digital media has created a need for highly specialised skills, particularly in the visual effects and film industry. Multi-skilled applicants are much sought after in media for their ability to understand different platforms of technology.
Working as a freelancer in the media industry is now commonplace, a trend which came about during the recession and looks set to stay.
Browse our selection of media and publishing roles and discover which suit your talents…
These job profiles are examples of graduate jobs in the media and publishing sector:
To find the graduate job roles that best match your skills and interests, log in to what jobs would suit me?
For job vacancies in the media and publishing sector, search graduate jobs in media and publishing.
Establish what skills employers need and plot your route into this extensive sector…
You don't always need a relevant degree to work in the sector, but research from Creative Skillset suggests that those in graduate media jobs six months after graduation were more likely to have studied industry-specific courses.
Almost three-fifths of the workforce in creative media and entertainment are educated to degree level and above. Only the health and education sectors contain more employees with degrees, according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).
The media and publishing sector normally requires entrants with:
Like many other industries work experience is favoured in media. Many companies offer work experience or internships on their websites, which can lead to further opportunities or even employment.
A useful example is the initiative created by O2 and Bauer Media - Go Think Big offers a wealth of media advice on jobs and work experience.
Just like the media, work experience is encouraged in publishing and some of the larger companies will provide opportunities.
For example, Penguin offers two weeks of work experience in a lot of different areas, from human resources to editorial. There is also a summer internship programme which is managed by Pearson running between June and September, with 25 places available each year.
If you are looking for work experience with small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) it is beneficial to apply directly. Send a speculative letter or email enquiring about future opportunities.
Building an extensive list of contacts is key to securing employment in media and publishing.
Freelancers in the sector rely heavily on their contacts to source work and a lot of SMEs use contacts to find suitable candidates rather than advertising their positions formally.
To find graduate jobs in the media and publishing sector, search graduate jobs in media and publishing.
Postgraduate study and professional development can help you advance in your chosen career
You don't need to pursue postgraduate study to be successful in media and publishing, but it will strengthen your knowledge in the subject and prove you are serious about a long-term career.
There are many postgraduate opportunities related to media and publishing careers, for example, a Masters degrees in publishing can enhance your skills and knowledge in that area.
The Sector Skills Council for the creative industries, Creative Skillset, has a directory of national occupational standards which define exactly what you need to secure a role. These standards are useful to help you find exactly what skills, experience and knowledge are required for a specific job.
For more information on entry requirements and career development in the media and publishing sector, see types of jobs.
To find postgraduate media and publishing courses in the UK, search media and publishing courses and research opportunities.
This answer really depends on the type of job you want. For example, entry qualifications for some jobs are provided (or accredited) by professional bodies. For other roles, being a member of a professional body is voluntary and can be valuable for networking, continued professional development and keeping up to date with latest news.
Which professional qualifications are recognised in the sector?