Hi everyone,
I am currently an assistant editor with a Masters i n Journalism from Northwestern (Magazine Publishing). My boyfriend is relocating to London and I am thinking about moving with him, but I love my job and am worried that I will not find anything comparable abroad. I currently work for a fashion, luxury lifestyle magazine and would like to stay in the same or similar genre.
I don’t even know where to begin looking abroad. Does anyone have any advice??
Thanks!
my email address
tweeter, you can reach me at aulelia_2@yahoo.co.uk
tweeter
tweeter, you can reach me at aulelia_2@yahoo.co.uk. I want to work in the journalism world in London when I finish university next year and I have done an internship here already so I can give you advice on things you would like to know about living, lifestyle etc.
Some thoughts on work visas
The others here have definitely provided a wealth of information already, but I just wanted to mention one thing and stress it: getting a work visa if you’re an American is like pulling teeth. It’s very, very difficult and what I’d recommend doing is a) try and use any connections you have at your current job and b) start applying for things NOW. Basically, you cannot get a work visa over there until a company can prove that you are the only person who can do that job (and that no one else in the UK or EU is qualified). Now, if your current company has a UK branch and you’ve worked there more than six months, you can do an internal transfer and get a work visa without having to prove that you are “uniquely qualified,” but this is the only way to wiggle out of that rule. Because the journalism industry is already a tough thing to get into, the likelihood of getting one of those jobs (without contacts) is slim.
Not to push anything ahead… but technically if your boyfriend has a long term visa, if you get engaged or married, he can bring you along on his visa, though I’m not sure if that would give you right to work. Or, if he is British or from the EU, marriage would give you a way into the country. I’ve battled with the visa system, and marriage or becoming a student seems to be the only way to get in. Or, like I said, connections that can get you a work visa.
That said, London is amazing and the best place I’ve ever lived. I had to move back home, but if a visa came my way, I would immigrate there on a permanent basis, no questions. The JO industry over there is good, but also different - they have entirely different libel laws and rules about sourcing stories, etc. A lot of the jobs will also pay less than you may be used to. But with your areas of expertise, I’d say London would be an ideal place for you to work - luxury pubs are very popular and there are many fashion publications.
Thanks!
Thanks clarely…the visa situation will certainly be an issue. If I do move to London, the boyfriend and I would be taking the step to live with each other, which would be a serious enough step as it is..not sure I can push the ring .. yet =)
I do have a lot of contacts at both New York companies that have branches in London and through my Masters program, so I think I am going to have to start pushing those. I interned at Vogue, so I’ll start speaking with people at CondeNast, and my Masters program had an internship with WWD in London that I was offered but sadly declined when my job came along.
I’ll also take your advice to start applying now. Can’t really hurt, right?
If you think of anything else, shoot me an email at emtweety@gmail.com.
Thank you!
clarely made some great points
clarely, thanks for adding your views. you made some great points there about libel laws and the visa issue. how many times have the tabloids gotten in trouble and had to shell out loads of money to people? so many!
the magazine world is popular in london but i also think newspapers are a good way in. the wall street journal have a european office in paris and london i believe and Newsweek has a London office and I think TIME does too. Have you interned at place like these and do you know anyone who could get you a recommendation like clarely said?
good luck tweeter with whatever you decide to do!
hi there
hiya,
nice of you to reach out. i will drop you an email offboard. i am glad to hear of an english ed2010 follower too. i don’t see many UK heads on this board, but here and there, the odd one crops up. i’ll send you an e-mail.
cheers,
aulelia
Thanks!
Hey Aulelia,
I’ll shoot you an email and we can discuss. It’s not a certain move yet, but I am definitely considering it and it would be great to know my options.
Thank you!
LDN
Hi there,
I live in the UK and I hope what I am about to say will help you a little.
The UK magazine market is smaller than the US, just because of the scale of people who live here. There are plenty of UK journalism blogs, one that is particularly good is called the Squeaking Noodle (www.squeakingnoodle.blogspot.com). It doesn’t update anymore but there is a wealth of info in the archives in there about surviving in LDN on the journalism front.
From what I can see, the UK in particular has a strong talent for unique fashion/style magazines that have a cult following. So that includes titles like Dazed&Confused, i-D, and POP. There are the UK versions of VOGUE, ELLE, and Harper’s Bazaar etc. Do you want to work in fashion editorial or styling?
Newspapers in the UK are revered to the extent where on Sundays, pretty much everyone reads the Sunday paper. They all have style supplements and I know the one for the Sunday Times in London is particularly prized as it’s the only reason most people buy the paper on Sunday.
As for the city itself, I may be a bit biased, but it’s beautiful, fun, tough at times to live in, but once you are there for a few months, it will be easy to sink in. There is no language barrier, which is great compared to setting up shop in other European cities and wow…it’s just London! a joke place to be really. I’m not even British but it’s a wicked city. It is hard in terms of the people you may meet but the English way of life is adaptable.
Have you looked into how you will be able to work in the country if you relocate because it is very hard to get in England unless you can claim ancestry or are getting married or if ur coming as a student.
Let me know what you think.
Email?
Do you have an email address I could reach you at??
Thanks!
Message to aulelia
Hi aulelia,
It was nice to read your posting here, I thought this site was fairly unknown by aspiring UK magazine professionals… but I guess not so much! Im English, and currently in the hell of seeking ed assistant roles in London… I really think ED2010 should come to London…u agree?
Anyway would be nice to share a few ideas with a fellow rare ed2010 follower in London, I couldn’t work out exactly what it is you do or want to do within the mag industry, but if you want to get in touch (maybe we can get into setting up ed2010uk!!!) be great to hear from you, mail me nicolagraham7@gmail.com
PS., v pleased u are loving my little country so much - do they have u drinking tea with milk yet??!