Sure, media is the latest area of choice for young, dynamic professionals. But once you delve a little deeply into the media industry, you will invariably realize that "media" is an umbrella term for everything from newspapers to film. When you land in this quagmire, how do you narrow down your choices?
The various jobs available for media professionals can be classified under the following heads:
1. Type of media. Newspaper, Television, Radio, Film, Advertising and Event Management are the most common fields in which to work as a media professional. However, hybrid fields are quickly evolving, creating a demand for competent and adventurous professionals who are willing to explore uncharted territory.
2. Field work vs desk work. A journalist in the field is expected to travel frequently, searching for good news stories and presenting them effectively. On the other hand, it is perfectly possible to be a successful media professional sitting right at home, analyzing books, films or politics. Pick out the job that suits you best.
3. Direct interaction with public vs spadework. A radio jockey, for example, interacts directly with the public. Newspaper columnists and television anchors, too, find themselves and their names thrown into the limelight. Accompanying these well-known figures are the lesser-known individuals - PR professionals, human resource managers, support crew, technical experts and so on. They are at least as important as the people in front of and behind the camera/microphone/news column, but are completely invisible to the public.
By making these basic choices about a career in the media, it becomes easier to target certain jobs and build up your resume accordingly.
To get into a career in the media, you need - at least - an undergraduate degree, preferably in the Arts. Ideally, you should have done some volunteer or freelance work in the media during your college days, though the time spent searching for a permanent position is also a good time to get in some internships and work experience to boost up your resume as you go along.
The UK also has a number of postgraduate courses in media-related disciplines - writing, film, music and PR to name a few. These courses can be either post-graduate diplomas or fully-fledged MAs, giving their takers an excellent coaching in the basics of the media industry and the specific branch they choose. However, university professors argue that these courses will merely help students collect bibliographies - the real knowledge can only be gained with experience, in the outside world.
Once the requisite qualifications have been obtained, candidates can begin hunting for jobs in their own country or abroad. Job recruitment agencies are well equipped to place their clients with prestigious firms at home or abroad, while responding in timely fashion to classified ads can also land well-paying jobs with reputed companies.
Through this process of choosing, training and then recruiting, the world of media selects a batch of young professionals every year, from every country. Make sure you give it your best!
The various jobs available for media professionals can be classified under the following heads:
1. Type of media. Newspaper, Television, Radio, Film, Advertising and Event Management are the most common fields in which to work as a media professional. However, hybrid fields are quickly evolving, creating a demand for competent and adventurous professionals who are willing to explore uncharted territory.
2. Field work vs desk work. A journalist in the field is expected to travel frequently, searching for good news stories and presenting them effectively. On the other hand, it is perfectly possible to be a successful media professional sitting right at home, analyzing books, films or politics. Pick out the job that suits you best.
3. Direct interaction with public vs spadework. A radio jockey, for example, interacts directly with the public. Newspaper columnists and television anchors, too, find themselves and their names thrown into the limelight. Accompanying these well-known figures are the lesser-known individuals - PR professionals, human resource managers, support crew, technical experts and so on. They are at least as important as the people in front of and behind the camera/microphone/news column, but are completely invisible to the public.
By making these basic choices about a career in the media, it becomes easier to target certain jobs and build up your resume accordingly.
To get into a career in the media, you need - at least - an undergraduate degree, preferably in the Arts. Ideally, you should have done some volunteer or freelance work in the media during your college days, though the time spent searching for a permanent position is also a good time to get in some internships and work experience to boost up your resume as you go along.
The UK also has a number of postgraduate courses in media-related disciplines - writing, film, music and PR to name a few. These courses can be either post-graduate diplomas or fully-fledged MAs, giving their takers an excellent coaching in the basics of the media industry and the specific branch they choose. However, university professors argue that these courses will merely help students collect bibliographies - the real knowledge can only be gained with experience, in the outside world.
Once the requisite qualifications have been obtained, candidates can begin hunting for jobs in their own country or abroad. Job recruitment agencies are well equipped to place their clients with prestigious firms at home or abroad, while responding in timely fashion to classified ads can also land well-paying jobs with reputed companies.
Through this process of choosing, training and then recruiting, the world of media selects a batch of young professionals every year, from every country. Make sure you give it your best!
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