Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based]

February 7, 2007 4:22 AM

CareerFilter: Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based] - LONG POST WARNING!

Dear AskMeFi,

First let me say hi - this is my first question / post on MeFi (though I have been commenting recently). I'm sorry in advance for the long post but it might help provide a little context.

I'm a 20 year old student in my final semester of my BSc (Hons) Computer Network Management and Design course. I spent much last year in a work placement with a large multinational energy company. I worked in the Information Security and Telecoms departments on a healthy mix of large projects and self-led work. After completing my placement I started to question if this was what I wanted to do every day. I was good at the job and I learned a lot. I impressed the bosses so much that I took charge of a number of smaller projects. However I found myself wondering if I was really enjoying myself.

I've gone through a thousand jobs in my head and can't find anything that I think I would love doing every day. At the same time, on the side, I've been toying with ideas for blogs. Nothing that would make me any money but it would give my a creative outlet I have been desperately seeking. Thinking about it recently I have been drawn to magazine or new media journalism. It would be the creative outlet I need. It would be something I think I'd love doing. It would even let me exercise my tech savvy (it would be in the computing / IT / gadgets domain). My degree and passion for everything IT would not go to waste.

I am not looking to get rich - at the moment I want to pay off my mounting student debt. I do have a lot of drive and can see myself competing for Editor in Chief one day, but for now I just want to make enough money to get by and repay my debt. I am currently looking for a job (probably some flexible retail job while I complete my thesis for the next 3 months) so ideally I'd like to start soon or start slowly, working around my next job. I've bought a few books on writing and plan to hone my skills.

My question is - for anyone who knows anything about journalism - am I suited to this type of job?
If so, how do I get into it? (I'm in the UK). How much money would I expect to make? I have this preconception that creative or journalistic work is somewhat unstable unless you are really accomplished - is this true?

Please, any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! And again, I'm sorry for such a long post - I wanted to be sure you had enough context to help if you can.

Thanks MeFi!

Dave, UK

posted by dcbarker to work & money (10 comments total)

This article and its follow-up are excellent introductions to the technology/games journalism field. I have a few friends who freelance, and there's money to be made, but it's dashed hard work and not quite the creative dream it seems to be. Email's in my profile, mail me if you'd like me to put you in touch with a freelancer for a more detailed perspective.
posted by Happy Dave at 4:54 AM on February 7, 2007

Oh, you might have a job making enough to pay back student debt by the way, starting salaries are in the sub-£20k area.
posted by Happy Dave at 4:55 AM on February 7, 2007

Might be an idea to get a tech job with a good wage, and work on a) shifting the debt and b) buidling up your writing skills on the side?

If you take a writing evening course, get a blog, and try to get a name for yourself, you will probably find it easier to get journalism jobs. And you'll know more of the technical stuff. There are also technical writing contests (the EPSRC, the BA etc. have writing contests for journalists and non-journalists) which might help you get a head start.

Trying to break into the technical journalism field with debts and no experience you're going to be held back on two fronts.
posted by handee at 4:59 AM on February 7, 2007

Great answers so far folks - thanks a lot!
So do you think I'd be able to make a serious go of it working on the side while in a secure job? I mean, are there real opportunities out there for freelances trying to break into the industry?

I do like the idea of starting a blog (a serious one, as opposed to the typical "what I've been doing" type) and have been scribbling down ideas for weeks. Maybe that's a good place to start.

On the student debt front - it'll be a nightmare. I've funded myself the whole way through uni so I am leaving with about £30k in credit card, OD, loan debt. The bulk is from the student loan company so I'm in no rush to pay that off, but I do need to clear my debt from traditional lenders.

Writing courses and competitions sound like a good way to hone my skills too!

Is there a huge bias against wannabe tech journalists who aren't full-timers? I mean, if I really develop my skills while working at some 9 to 5 in the city, will people take me seriously or do they avoid non-full-time writers?

Dave
posted by dcbarker at 5:14 AM on February 7, 2007

I think there are two things that would work in your favour if you were to get a job and write on the side: it's easier to get a job if you've got a job, and people prefer to employ people with track records. Right now, you're an undergrad with no writing track record.

A third way is to get a technical writing job - documentation and so on - so it's a proper tech job but you can hone your writing skills at the same time. But beware: journalistic writing is very different to manual writing.

And, yeah, credit card debt? Shift that by any means necessary. Those people are lizards.
posted by handee at 5:21 AM on February 7, 2007

All very true - I done a lot of manual and report writing at my work placement (the biggest part of last year) and it's hugely different from what I'd expect to be doing in a more journalistic career. It's so soulless and rigid.

And again, true about the credit card companies. A bloody nightmare. But it was either that or no degree so while I opted for the more difficult choice I think it was the right one.

Dave
posted by dcbarker at 5:36 AM on February 7, 2007

The only thing commissioning editors care about is your track record and whether you'll file what they asked for. You can dangle from your nuts in a vat of soup 9-5, for all they care.

If you want to make this work you'll need to move fast. Get over to your campus newspaper and elbow in. Start writing for anyone and anybody, and getting published.

Build up a file of reasonable clips, and get to know people. The first looks good, but the second actually gets you jobs.

Money isn't great: few are on more than 30k. But it's much, much better than getting a proper job.

(If you're really serious, consider a journalism post-grad. Goodish way to get a job, that.)
posted by bonaldi at 5:42 AM on February 7, 2007

Yeah I've been looking at an MA at my university in Publishing with Journalism. It actually focusses on magazine journalism and gives a broad understanding of the publishing industry. It's not cheap but I could do it part time or distance learning over two years and split the cost (paying a year at a time).

I've always wanted to do a Masters at some point anyway!

So what you're saying is write lot, write well and get to know people? Sound advice I'd think! Thanks again!

Money isn't a big driver right now anyway. When I was a kid I wanted to be a millionaire, now I just want to do a job I really love doing and look forward to doing even when it's difficult.

Thanks again folks. I never thought I'd get such great advice for my first question.
posted by dcbarker at 6:01 AM on February 7, 2007

Don't quit your day job.
posted by JJ86 at 6:14 AM on February 7, 2007

I strongly recommend taking a job in computers and building up your writing on the side. You don't need a journalism education to become a journalist/writer, but you do need lots of writing samples, especially published ones. A blog is also a good way to learn about writing for multimedia, optimizing for search engines and marketing a small business online.

I worked in the high tech industry when I finished university. I worked as a freelance writer on the side. Eventually, I became a full-time freelance writer and marketing consultant. I fond that my combination of technology experience and writing skills allowed me to earn a very good living.

But full-time writing jobs tend to pay very little -- sometimes $8 an hour! That's why I looked at ways to broaden my experience and focus on writing as a freelance endeavour.

And don't knock blogs as an income source. Mine earns me about $75-$100 per hour of my time.
posted by acoutu at 2:57 PM on February 7, 2007