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Experience wise I've learned to edit language, organise writers, keep a coherent structure on a week-to-week basis, and manage and generate contacts with record labels, P.R., and even musicians.
Cool. Bear in mind that this shows initiative; not very much of that will be put to use in your first job, to begin with.
To provide some reference for the "journalism" side of "media": I was interviewed for an Editorial Assistant position on a new magazine. In the interview I was told that my salary would start at £12k and maybe rise to £14k by the end of two years; at separate points I was both overqualified for the job (because of the degree I had) and underqualified for the job (because, unlike any other applicant, I had no NCTJ qualification); I would mainly be doing admin and shifting boxes, organising photoshoots - and after about a year I might get to write short (100-200 word) reviews; the job was in Surrey. I almost could have coped if I'd gotten on with the guy and known precisely what the publication was (they hadn't been entirely up front, for reasons that take too long to write here).
Ten people were interviewed, chosen at random from 300 who applied. I was not called back for a second interview; by the end of the first, I'd realised how little I wanted the job. But it's a very popular way into journalism, and one that you can progress from if you're prepared to sweat it out. A traditional way, for sure.
Lots of student journalism stuff on my/your CV: that's cool. Now put it on hold and get used to the idea of being a dogsbody, at least for 12 months. Alternatively, consider working for B2B or trade magazines, because you will get lots of experience and a fair amount of responsability - you'll also be writing about social housing, or bricks, or pneumatics. I know a lot of good people, really top writers, doing that out of postgrad journalism courses, who are very grateful to be employed. |
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