Journalism, Writing & Publishing

Newspaper journalists usually begin their career in small markets, and often follow their undergraduate degree with another summer internship or longer post-grad internship in the field before finding work. Most creative writers begin by submitting their work to literary journals, editors, agents, film production companies, or television series, as well as finding an audience through social media, blogging, and self-publishing. Also keep in mind that many careers require writing skills—advertising, public relations, corporate communications, speech or position paper writing, and development are all good examples. The business focus of publishing is significantly different from the creative focus of journalism and writing. Typical entry level positions in the field of publishing include editorial assistant and assistant editor, publicity assistant, and other assistant positions in areas such as technology, marketing, production, and sales.

Finding Internships

If you’re looking for your first or second print journalism internship, think small. Many larger papers/prominent magazines won’t consider you unless you’ve already had at least two previous journalism internships. Publishing internships can be found in all areas of the industry, from editorial to publicity to digital to sales to subsidiary rights, and may be found in large publishing houses, university presses, and small independent houses and presses. For writing and illustrating, look for internships that will enable you to develop and hone your creative skills and learn more about the industry in which you’d ultimately like to work.

Finding Jobs

Employers in these fields don’t generally recruit on college campuses, particularly as much of the work is done on a freelance basis. If you’re looking for journalism positions you will need to have clips and a few internships under your belt, and network. If you want to write for magazines you can look for fact-checker or editorial assistant roles, or choose to freelance. Jobs in the publishing industry can be found posted on industry-specific sites and on the web pages of individual publishing houses.

Graduate and Professional Programs

It’s not necessary to obtain an advanced degree to find work in these fields. However, some students do choose to enter MFA programs for writing to concentrate on refining creative technique. In addition, some students elect to pursue a master’s degree in journalism. It’s a good idea to talk with people working in your field of interest to get a better idea of whether graduate school makes good economic and professional sense for you.

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