Journalism/Media Internships 26 January to 1st February

Hello readers!

In today's post, I will just be listing out some of the placements or work experience being advertised this week, so for anyone looking for journalism internships, if any of these below are suitable, then don't hesitate - go ahead and apply!

Editorial Intern at Retail Gazette 
Location: London
Closing date: April 7th
Duties and responsibilities:

• Writing articles
• Conducting research and interviews 
• Attending relevant events
• Assisting Junior Editor 

http://journograds.com/2015/01/07/7868/

Art Intern at Elle
Location: London
Closing date: Ongoing
Duties and responsibilities:

• Placement for up to 12 months assisting on Art Desk
• Involved in day-to-day running of the department
• General administrative and pre-press duties

http://www.hearst.co.uk/job-opportunities/art-intern-elle-2

Gardening Intern at The Telegraph (Lifestyle)
Location: London
Closing date: Ongoing
Duties and responsibilities:

• Working with the gardening section
• Will need to be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about gardening 
• Interested in flower arranging/countryside/garden history/environment
• understanding of online publishing and social media 

http://journograds.com/category/internships-placements-uk/

Food and Drink Intern at The Telegraph (Lifestyle)

Location: London

Closing date: Ongoing

Duties and responsibilities:

• Knowledgeable about food blogs/restaurant opening/food trucks/farmers markets
• Passionate about eating out and trying new recipes at home/food and drink
• Working on re-launched site

http://journograds.com/category/internships-placements-uk/

News Intern at NBC

Location: London

Closing date: Ongoing

Duties and responsibilities:

• 6-month internship 
• Learning how to work in a content management system and using Reuters applications/access data
• Published on CNBC.com writing short stories aimed at investors or longer features

http://journograds.com/category/internships-placements-uk/

Paid Internship at Mumsnet Book Club
Location: London
Closing date: 13 February
Duties and responsibilities:

• Six-month internship
• Copywriting and copy editing, web editing and using content management systems
• Book reviewing  
• Administrative support for the books team
• Liaising with publishers and members of the Mumsnet community

http://www.mediargh.com/6660-paid-internship-mumsnet-book-club-london

Paid Journalism Internship at Contentive/StrategyEye
Location: London
Closing date: Ongoing, immediate start
Duties and responsibilities:

• Three-month paid internship
• Helping research and writing daily news articles relating to deals and investment within the telecommunications, media and technology sectors 

http://www.mediargh.com/6627-paid-journalism-internship-contentive-strategyeye-london

Paid TV Development Internship at ITV
Location: London
Closing date: 6 February
Duties and responsibilities:

• 6 month internship
• Working with the development team, including one on one mentoring by Michael Kelpie

http://www.mediargh.com/6625-paid-tv-development-internship-itv-london

Paid PR Internship at NBC Universal 

Location: London

Closing date: Ongoing

Duties and responsibilities:

• Must be an undergraduate student studying at degree level looking to undertake a 12 month placement as part of a sandwich course
• Supporting the PR team on range of publicity and communications activity
• Coordinating and assisting with PR events 
• Manage PR assets and interview transcripts

http://www.mediargh.com/6617-paid-pr-internship-nbcuniversal-london

Steven Lawrence Charitable Trust and Daily Mail Trainee-ship

Location: London

Closing date: 30 March

Duties and responsibilities

• Provided hands-on training
• Applicant strongly encouraged to apply are those from a lower income household, attended a state school or are the first generation of their immediate family to attend university
• course will last 14 months

http://www.medianation.co.uk/internships/2-aspiring-journalists-wanted-stephen-lawrence-charitable-trust-daily-mail/

Prepress Project Summer 2015 Publishing Internship
Location: Perth
Closing date: 20 March
Duties and responsibilities: 

• Assisting editorial or production staff to produce academic books, journals or short reports
• Helping out during peak holiday season
• Work from June to August inclusive for 13 weeks 

http://www.medianation.co.uk/internships/prepress-projects-summer-2015-publishing-internship-open/

Nickelodeon Writing Program

Location: London and Los Angeles

Closing date: 28 February

Duties and responsibilities:

• Writing scripts and pitching story ideas for live action and animation 
• Gained insight into the industry and undertaking specialist training activities 
• Mentored in the US 
• Required to submit a spec. script for a US show (Modern Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm, New Girl, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation, Family Guy, The Simpsons, South Park)

http://www.medianation.co.uk/internships/nickelodeon-writing-program-submissions-now-open/

Share Radio Journalism Internship

Location: London

Closing date: 31 January

Duties and responsibilities:

• Writing news bulletins 
• Helping record and edit packages
• Doing interviews via phone, conducting vox-pops and interviews live

http://www.medianation.co.uk/internships/four-paid-journalism-internships-open-with-share-radio-in-london/

Match Magazine Work Experience

Location: East of England

Closing date: 20 days from now

Duties and responsibilities:

• Reporting to deputy editor
• Researching and writing features, news stories, transcribing interviews
• Maintaining online and social media content
• Proofreading pages

https://gothinkbig.co.uk/opportunities/editorial-and-writing/match-magazine-work-experience-april

Editorial Assistant at Alain Charles Publishing

Location: London

Duties and responsibilities:

• Composing online news stories compiled from interviews, press releases and live data covering a range of industry sectors across the Middle East and Africa

http://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Alain-Charles-Publishing-Ltd/jobs/Editorial-Assistant-b05366af17c4f7fc

Editorial Internship at The Agenda

Location: London

Duties and responsibilities:

• Intern contributor
• Providing editorial stories 
• Familiar with electronic/house music scene/fashion/culture

 http://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/The--Agenda.com/jobs/Editorial-Internship-46051d011d391d5e

Journalism Internship at Polarity UK

Location: London

Duties and responsibilities:

• Writing articles on topics relevant to Polarity International and the industry
• Reporting to Editor-in-Chief 
• Researching news, lifestyle, events, culture relevant to the portal profile

http://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Polarity-UK/jobs/Journalism-Internship-326120cd52c15958

Useful Links for Journalism Internships

Hello readers,

Hopefully, this post will be helpful for those who are currently searching for any work experience or internships relating to journalism as it will simply just be listing out some of the websites that put up links on a daily basis for current opportunities. Here they are below:

Websites providing links to placements, events, and opportunities:

https://gothinkbig.co.uk/opportunities

http://journograds.com/

http://www.mediargh.com/intern

http://www.medianation.co.uk/

http://media.info/jobs

http://www.internwise.co.uk/

https://www.internavenue.com/

https://targetjobs.co.uk/

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/

http://www.indeed.co.uk/Journalism-Internship-jobs-in-London

http://www.gumtree.com/editorial-writing-journalism-jobs/london/internship

http://thesyp.org.uk/jobs/

http://www.gorkanajobs.co.uk/

Additionally, checking up directly with newspaper websites such as BBC, the Independent and the Guardian on their website will show ways to be able to apply online for work experience and at certain times internship placements: the Telegraph have prominent internship placements on a rolling basis. Some websites are below: 

http://edition.cnn.com/about/internships/london/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes-and-apprenticeships/journalism/jts

http://independent.graduate-jobs.com/

https://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/employer/1046/telegraph-media-group/

https://www.pressassociation.com/Careers/

The posts afterwards will be listing out opportunities for anyone on the lookout weekly. In the meantime, happy internship-searching!

Looking for internships

Hello readers!

This post is about the next step in the process of getting the dream job in journalism. As usual, there are a few steps to take and you'll have to apply to great numbers of possible internship opportunities to get one. Remember not to get disheartened in case there are a few rejections - although in most cases, you won't even get a reply, but just silence. But this post will be all able ensuring to have the best possible changes of getting an internship 

• Getting work experience is known as part of the vicious cycle: you can't get work experience unless you have past work experience, and you can't work experience until you are offered work experience. It's a cruel system and life is mean that way. There isn't a lot you can do other than gaining some writing experience through other means as my previous post suggested 

• Make sure your CV and cover letter are up to scratch and up to date. If you are at university, ensure to get some form of contact with the Careers office about your CV and how it needs to be shaped and written. Additionally, a multitude of websites offer advice on how to improve and how to tailor a CV and cover letter.

• Sometimes, it is helpful along with or on a CV to provide some links to your published works, or compile a portfolio of some of the articles you are most proud of, or that is related to the role that you are applying for. An online presence is very important, so ensure you are signed up to Twitter and Linkd so that you can convey your skills and use the internet as a platform to showcase your works 

• Getting work experience or internships at national newspapers is extremely hard and most of them just aren't interested, however, I would argue that as well as being realistic, don't ever rule it out. National newspapers always have a website with contacts in relation to work experience and it won't do you any harm to email and query about work experience. When the Times were offering internships during the summer, I emailed and got an offer for a week working there. So there is no such thing as no chance gaining experience at bigger news outlets. Of course, also look into local newspapers and smaller news outlets for experience that if you were gain, can lead to further experience.

• I don't like this advice because I don't like nepotism but if you have contacts, use them. Nothing more to be said 

• If you are applying for work experience or an internship at a certain magazine or newspaper, make sure to do some homework on the role and the magazine or newspaper in order to display some interest in your cover letter

•  Lastly, don't give up. Apply to anything and everything relating to journalism. I like to think of gaining work experience as a lottery; the more you apply for, the more likely you are to actually get something. All I can say is it worked for me. 

In my next post, I will be listing all the sites that advertise work experience and internships that once you know, you should applying to and checking for new opportunities pretty much everyday. Sooner or later, you will get something. Its only logical.

Thanks for reading!

Where to begin writing

Hello readers!

This next post will be discussing what you can do pre-searching for internships in order to garner more attention towards your CV when trying to get some work experience to further your changes overall of getting a job! Its a lengthy process, but there you go, things are never easy these days. I'll be just referring to some possible ways you can attain some experience in writing and my experience in relation to that, but these aren't the only ways and this is hopefully just some ideas that will help

• Student newspaper 

If you are also currently at university, then you already have heard this advice, and you haven't followed it yet, then follow it now! The student newspaper is a very useful way to get some of your written work showcased on a student platform and gains you some very credible experience. Universities will also offer as the Tab and Student Beans as other writing platforms your work can be published on, as well as individual literary journals that the university would publish. At a student newspaper, you can also find yourself rather easily a possibility to attain editorial roles. So if you are at university, take all the opportunities you can while you are there, because they will open up further opportunities for you later on 

•  Local newspaper

If you are not at university, or are currently looking for a different platform to write for, then look to local newspapers that usually offer a few weeks work experience that can be helpful in gaining you some practice in writing and administrative tasks related to journalism as well as understanding further how journalism works in practice. So just email the local paper and see what happens

• Writing online 

There are some amazing opportunities to write online now; whether its through blogging, or on developing websites that you can contribute too. I write for a few online magazines/websites that, though unpaid, have provided me other experience than writing, such as attending press releases and reporting on events at galleries and theater. If you are interested in fashion magazines, the website Fashion Workie display many developing websites that are looking for writers to contribute. Shout it Out UK are always looking for writers to contribute to their website writing on opinions on news and current events 

• Blogging 

Getting familiar with WordPress and Blogger can also help prove some skill and understanding of different writing platforms on your CV. Blogging on a subject that you love can bring in some opportunities if you dedicate enough time on it. For example, I know a friend whose fashion blog won the Cosmopolitan Blogger Award and she was able to get some work experience at Cosmopolitan and another friend whose blog on reviewing books is now contacted by authors and sites to review books before they are published. 

•   Other skills

As I said before, showing your familiarity with WordPress and Blogger can be a big plus on a CV. It goes without saying that proficiency with Microsoft Works and PC/Macs are part of a certain skill-set that you need to show on your CV in order to become a better candidate. Other skills that are now in demand are Photoshop and Indesign (if you are looking into roles that focus on design, then you should be looking to be proficient in Adobe Works overall), as well as html and awareness of social media. An affordable way of gaining some experience in Adobe Works would be to download the free month option when downloading Photoshop and Indesign, and looking into some lovely tutorials on YouTube. Understanding social media is a must so get a Twitter and Linkd account.

Another plus would be to attain some skills with photography and video editing. This isn't my forte so I'm uncertain as to how you could go about gaining some basic skills in an affordable way as workshops are rather expensive. Look into what your university or local area offers, and if you are really committed, purchase your own camera and recorder and start practicing in your own time.

This all seems like a lot of effort, so my advice would be to pick a way of writing or trying new skills you've always wanted to do, so see it as a hobby that you can enjoy in your own time. That it will gain you some invaluable skills and commitment to the career you are aspiring for will be a plus.

Thanks for reading!   

What to do when aiming to be a journalist

Hello readers!

This post will just be about the different approaches that you can take in order to become a journalist. Luckily, there are many ways that don't exclude those who have taken certain degrees, or those who are looking for a career-change. Here a few choices:

• Get a degree 

So I am about two-thirds there. A lot of jobs in journalism now ask for a 2.1 (sometimes a 2.2) in any degree, although certain roles, such as a scientific writer, may ask for a science degree rather than a humanities degree. A degree in journalism is not necessarily, and not necessarily a better choice as it narrows your job prospects so the general advice is to do something in university that you enjoy or opens other doors (as a degree in journalism will not guarantee you a job)

• Get a masters

After I graduate with my BA in English Literature, to follow with a masters in Journalism in a university in London like City or Goldsmiths is another possible path to take. A good route to take, however, a masters takes about nine months to one year if full-time or two years part-time, and depends on whether you want to take out a loan to fund your masters, if you want to choose a masters over a years of possible work experience. It all depends on what you think will be best for you

•  Courses

If you want to continue education that specialize in journalism but take a shorter amount of time than a masters, you would be advised to take an National Council for the Training of Journalists course (NCTJ) This provides an introduction into journalism, and candidates who become certified can gain a heads start, and some national newspapers will request that candidates are NCTJ qualified. Some masters at universities will also result in the student being NCTJ qualified - City University an exception to this 

Different courses can be found on the NCTJ website that will lead to the Diploma in Journalism. They can take around four months and vary in price according to where you decide to go to study. Some courses will involve going into certain institutions you study at once a week or so and can be around 3000 to 4000 pounds (expect the higher end of the price in London-based institutions). Here is the website below:

http://www.nctj.com/want-to-be-a-journalist/course-search

For example, possible institutions in London includes Brunel University, Harlow College, Kingston University, Lambeth College, News Associates, St Mary's University and Press Association Training, therefore offering a wide variety of different types of journalism courses. 

Lambeth college, for example, offers NCTJ accredited Newspaper Journalism: NCTJ Level 3 Diploma and Magazine Journalism: NCTJ Level 3 Diploma. The Newspaper Journalism course runs for 18 weeks full-time and costs vary depending on age from £525 to £2500 with a variety of loans and bursaries depending on personal situation. 

If you are interested in NCTJ courses, the below link shows the top-performing results table:

http://www.nctj.com/want-to-be-a-journalist/Accreditedcourses/Resultstables

• Without a degree

Its a toughie but it is possible to get into journalism without a degree or course. Certain national newspapers offer training contracts such as ITVs Traineeship/Apprenticeship that offer a different route into journalism. Looking at all the national newspapers offers as well as other news companies such as Press Association can certain apprenticeships be found. When trying to get into journalism, work experience is cared about most as it is the best way in order to communicate your passion and commitment to the career. Most national, regional and local newspapers, as well as publishing companies, offers work experience from a week to a month, that are advertised on various websites that I'll be covering in another post. As these are also very competitive, it helps to look around for writing for online news or magazine outlets or do some blogging on a topic you enjoy to gain some writing experience. 

More on work experience will be discussed in greater detail in my upcoming posts so never fear! Hope this post has been helpful and thanks for reading  

How to get started

Hello readers!

In this post, I will just attempt some kind of introduction into journalism as a career and the different choices in the industry. The website Prospects gives a helpful insight into the different types of jobs that can be offered in an journalism career (and publishing):

• Broadcast journalism

Job will include researching, investigating and presenting news and current affairs for television, radio and the internet, and can fill a number of roles such as: editor, presenter, news anchor, reporter, producer and correspondent. Expect that looks and speech will play an important part in this, and if you are a woman, you may have to sue when you turn 40 and suddenly find yourself fired.

• Commissioning editor

Job role is identifying books or media products to publish in order to build up a publisher's list, therefore work as a key link between an initial proposal for a book or product and the published work. Reading manuscripts all day sounds like the dream for an English student 

• Editorial assistant

Job will include support in all stages of publication of books, journals, magazines, online material and publicity materials by working with senior editorial staff in administration of commissioning, planning and production of publications 

• Lexicographer

Okay, until today I've never heard of this role. You have to be a fan of dictionaries to find this one appealing. Their role is to write, compile, and edit dictionaries for print and online publications. Actually, I take back my snark and have profound appreciation for the lexicographers: the Oxford Online Dictionary has helped through dark times in my degree

• Magazine features assistant

The role will include responsibility for content and quality of their publication, ensuring that stories are engaging and informative. 

• Magazine journalist

Job role involves researching and writing news articles and features for a wide variety of publications that include consumer titles and magazines 

• Newspaper journalist 

Job role is similar to a magazine journalist; researching and writing stories but for national, regional and local press. Articles and features not just focus on news and politics, but also sports, arts and culture, science and business.

• Press sub-editor

This job role focuses on checking the written text of the newspaper/magazine journalists before publication, ensuring correct grammar, spelling, and tone. Additionally, they are responsible for the layout of the content on the page and headings. 

• Print production planner

Job role plans, controls, organizes and monitors the flow of printed materials in a printing company, checking schedules, confirming product specifications, oversee work of staff in the department and monitor the quality of the product. 

• Publishing copy-editor/proofreader

Job role is ensuring that material is clear, consistent, complete and credible, as well as grammatically correct and accessible for a range of publications including journals, books and websites.

• Publishing rights manager

This role is the overseer and developer of publishing rights for books and related products to ensure that a publishing company makes the maximum profit  

• Science writer

In this role, science writers research, write and edit scientific news, articles and features for business, trade and professional publications, scientific journals and general media.

• Writer

Write something (poem, books, scripts for TV/plays, etc). Hope its good. Hope it gets published. In *Taken voice*: Good luck.

Source: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs_publishing_and_journalism.htm

Just saying hi

Hello potential readers!

I just wanted to say a few things about this blog, what it'll be about, and what I hope I will achieve from it. I'll just something about myself first - I am in my final year at University of Warwick studying English, and when I'm not spending my time as hermit hunched over my desk avoiding my essays, I am finding a better way of answering the question to 'what are you doing after you graduate?' (currently, the method is to stick my fingers in my ears and start shouting 'cant hear you', and that has done a marvelous job of covering up my lack of future plans). The vague hope to is to get a job, and to be more specific, a job in journalism.

There are the usual responses I get when I tell people that I think I want to be a journalist: usually its a head-scratching and puzzled look that goes with: 'but don't you know that journalist (add publishing to this) is a dying prospect?' No. The print version is dying, thank you very much. And studying English, I will get two other responses: 'but don't you want to be a teacher?' or a more scathing: 'ah, you mean you're heading for unemployment?' (I should probably talk to nicer people). Also, I've noticed during my studies here is that I seem to have more of a chance of going onto a law-conversion degree or become an accountant despite the fact that I haven't done any maths since my GCSEs and when I help my 12-year-old brother, he's usually the one explaining what quadratic equations followed by telling me to get out of his room. But there you go.

Yes, the print form of journalist is dying, and yes, its an incredibly competitive career. It is, on a closer look, filled with Oxbridge, white, middle class graduates with the top jobs going to men, so there comes up another hurdle. I'm going to go form the naive strategy of believing there is a fair and just process of getting jobs and that as someone will always need to write the news, journalism is always going to be there. I've had some work experience, and future work experience so far so, shockingly, my degree has actually meant I've done more than leave my bed at midday and enjoy my four day weekend with Friends re-runs and from time to time reading a book. This blog is two things: one, admittedly helping me have some experience of blogging on my CV (a very small part of why I am doing this), and because I hope to help anyone else out there in my position - offering advice, tips and reflecting on my own experiences 

Thanks for reading!

(There's a third reason why I'm writing this blog. I have an essay due in tomorrow. I don't want to do it. I'm just going to cover up the little date at the right-hand-side of my laptop screen)