Ajmetz, thanks for your generosity about sharing your tips! I’m a final year at Bristol University and will be doing the mag journalism course in London in September.
1) Your anecdotes about your mates in the South-West were really interesting to read, thank you again. I have heard that loads of people who initially go into journalism turn into PRs eventually. To be honest, there are probably many benefits in that too ! I think the main thing I loved about the local newspaper work experience was they actually gave you work to do. For instance, I was given the task of calling up bar owners of the city and quizzing them on their bar for this website. That was pretty interesting lol!
2)Is PFJ a good recruitment media agency ? I always see ads for it in media guardian. [http://www.pfj.co.uk/editorial_jobs.asp]
3) I think starting your own magazine would be a fabulous idea. What was your fanzine about ? I did my own fanzine, Kerosene. I even wrote a blogpost on my thoughts about self-publishing which is here [http://charcoalink.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/what-i-learnt-about-self-publishing-my-magazine/]
I also reckon that the fanzine culture is so rich and deep in the UK so I don’t see why there can’t be another opportunity to start a magazine.
4) Wow, subbing! that’s great. I think subbing seems much harder than doing hard news.
5) Thanks for linking those freelance sites & I will be shooting you an email about the PDF file, cheers! I think freelancing is one of those things where people have to be made for freelancing. It is incredibly tough. I have done freelance writing for a feminist magazine called Subtext. The editors there were fabulous and the magazine is really something to behold (lol, in my opinion and not because that I have written for it). I have a few ideas about some new articles but the rejection takes a lot getting used too! I have been told to try and pitch to local newspapers and magazines so I will be aiming for that. I think it is good that you know that you want to be in videogame journalism. I am having trouble finding a niche…
I am going to be starting a newsletter about graduates & the media in London after I graduate, so it would be cool to feature your thoughts on self-publishing. If you would like to hear more, you can send me an e-mail at aulelia_2@hotmail.co.uk
For instance, I was given the task of calling up bar owners of the city and quizzing them on their bar for this website. That was pretty interesting lol!
>>>My mate Alexander Hay used to have a part time job going to bars and pubs and getting info out of them. Wasn’t sure if it was for listings or some kinda directory, but it was a bit of part time work whilst at Uni. Perhaps more impressively, he used to write 100 word reviews for Kerrang whilst at Uni too, until a change of editorship. Last I heard he was finishing an Internet Journalism PHD whilst writing for PowerPlay magazine.
2)Is PFJ a good recruitment media agency ?
>>PFJ? Never heard of them before, but will check ‘em out. Btw..I’m no expert on the job market. =P So there may well be obvious resources I’ve never heard of. =P
3) What was your fanzine about ?
>>VideoGames. ^_^ What else? Although I used to do a school magazine called FORK, and an everything fanzine called TCP.
The last fanzine I produced can be found here: http://www.unitedgames.co.uk/may2003/
I still love fanzines though, and am on a few ‘zine facebook groups.
Oh btw - tonnes of gaming and technology journos & PRs are on Facebook - it can be good for networking, although am not sure how well it works for other areas of interest, although I have seen model agencies on there, as well as a lot of work places / publishers.
I even wrote a blogpost on my thoughts about self-publishing which is here [http://charcoalink.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/what-i-learnt-about-self-publishing-my-magazine/]
>>I’ll check it out
4) Wow, subbing! that’s great. I think subbing seems much harder than doing hard news.
>>>Personally, I find it easier to read it, than write it, but then maybe I’m just getting lazy. ;-)
I have done freelance writing for a feminist magazine called Subtext.
>>>Am impressed you’ve some freelance work under your belt. =P As I said, I’ve done some web design and advert design, but never got freelance writing work before, so hats off to ya’! =)
I am having trouble finding a niche…
>>>It’ll come. Although it’s good to be flexible. When at Uni, we were never allowed to write about anything we already knew about. We were expected to hone our research skills, so we could become experts about a subject in a short amount of time, in order to deliver a piece on something we previously knew nothing about, to deadline. =P So yeah, we never got to do videogame, music, or film reviews. =P But then our lecturer was a meanie. ^_^.
But it teaches you to be versatile, and to be able to tackle something you might not know anything about initially.
I am going to be starting a newsletter about graduates…
>>Probably not a wise move putting your email address up like that, you’ll probably get spammed by robots now. =P Nonetheless, I’d be interested in reading any graduate newsletters. =) I’ll send you an email.
I love this post. Come on Londoners, join in!
>>>I left it quiet for a bit in case others wanted to pitch in. So far, no joy. =P Still, Ed2010 seems to have a lot of industry co-operation. I work just behind IPC’s blue finn building. =) Maybe I need to pop in on my lunch break, and make friends with magazine folk. =) Lol.
>>>Finally, sorry this response is short, and lacking in some areas. Been up late, and am shattered.
Thank you for the links and detailing your story and congrats on your job! I’ll give a little backstory about my attempts @ getting work experience.
I am in final year at uni. I am going to do a MA in Mag Journalism course in September. Since I have known I want to be in magazines, it has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs trying to find work experience.
Here are a few of my magazine thoughts!
1. Local newspapers are your friend lol: the best work experience I have had was at a local newspaper. I got to have so many chances to do things and I was not even there for that long. The best was accompanying a reporter to court and seeing an actual criminal case that was extremely sensitive and seeing how he wrote up the story.
2. You mentioned In Circulation magazine, I will definitely check that out - do you like Press Gazette ? What are the other main magazines you like ? I think that so many people in LDN want big consumer magazine jobs. I have to say, I have not been wholly seduced by working at those types of womens mags that give no experience from what I have heard anyway.
3. At one place where I did work experience, a local newspaper (outside LDN), I heard that the salary could actually be as low as £10,000. I must say I was shocked. So, lol, magazines look like a better terrain.
4. What are your thoughts about freelancing in the UK ?
It is so great to finally hear from some UK heads on this site. Let’s keep the rapport going.
Thank you for the links and detailing your story and congrats on your job!
>>>Ta! ^_^ =P I had my boss tell me I need to speed up a bit for next week though - am not doing news stories fast enough atm. =/ Ooer! Had better pull my socks up. ^_^
I’ll give a little backstory about my attempts @ getting work experience.
I am in final year at uni. I am going to do a MA in Mag Journalism course in September.
>>>Oooh…^_^…which Uni you hoping to do that at?
Since I have known I want to be in magazines, it has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs trying to find work experience.
>>>I interviewed four journalists for advice on how to get jobs in the industry, back in 2003. I’d link to it here, but the editor of The Week said it was for personal use only, and not for general publication - but email ed2010forum at unitedgames.co.uk and I’ll send you the PDF. =)
Here are a few of my magazine thoughts!
1. Local newspapers are your friend lol:
>>>Oh, yeah, I’ve a little story. ^_^ Well…actually two. Firstly, Will Guyatt graduated with an English Lit degree, and was working at Bristol’s Pink Planet store, which is now ePlay, on Market Street…and I approached him to stock my fanzine, and he was so into writing, he paid for the store’s copies out of his own pocket! FFWD, and he worked at local radio …either GWR or Wiltshire Sound, not sure…then did a stint doing PR for the BBC, and then finally made it so to speak, and is currently Communications Officer at Future Publishing. Not quite journalism, but he gets to do all their PR and write their press releases, and he’s a good success story I like to wheel out. ;-) Secondly, is a PR at Nokia, well, actually Chocolate Communications, called Claire, who started at the Swindon Adver, known then as the Evening Advertiser. Then she went out to Canada for some reason, =P, ^_^, and is now in the UK working for chocolate doing technology PR for Nokia. So, again, her first step was the local paper, I guess. =). Just like Will’s was the local radio. Maybe this isn’t entirely relevant however, as they’re both PR jobs - but in videogames at least, people start out with journalism, as that’s what they want to do and really enjoy, and then they move onto PR or something later, because the pay is better. ;-) But it depends where you are. On the Games Press forums ( www.gamespress.com ) Gareth has recently announced he’s gone from 360Gamer and Neo magazine, over to PR firm Barrington Harvey aka BHPR. Or “gone over to the dark side” as he put it. ;-)
=) I used to help on the youth page of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard, when I was 16 or so, but….I haven’t really done anything with local papers. =P ^_^ But I still agree it’s a great place to start. =) Having said that, I used to be based in Swindon. And there are two local magazines run by people in that town - one called Frequency all about the art scene and community, and the other called the Ocelot - full of jokes and distributed at pubs. They’re both produced by locals, off their own back, and supported by local advertising, from restraunts, shops, or the council, and so forth.
the best work experience I have had was at a local newspaper. I got to have so many chances to do things and I was not even there for that long.
>>Awww…good for you. ^_^ ;-) I’m slightly jealous of course. ^_^
The best was accompanying a reporter to court and seeing an actual criminal case that was extremely sensitive and seeing how he wrote up the story.
>>>It’s good to know how to handle that sort of stuff. =P I remember doing court reporting when at Uni…but I can’t remember what I learnt from it now. =/ I’m actually quite rubbish at doing news. I used to prefer layout design. =) Luckily, my current job is subbing - so someone called Emma writes the news, and I just read through it, before it goes online, to ensure it fits house style, that there are no typos, and that it’s factually correct, and there won’t be any legal problems. =P
2. You mentioned InCirculation magazine, I will definitely check that out - do you like Press Gazette ?
>>>I haven’t actually got Press Gazette before. ^_^ Don’t expect too much from InCirculation - it’s more for publishers than journalists, with info on how to get people to subscribe, or how to promote your title at the newstands, etc. I just got it when I was interested in starting my own magazine, and wanted to learn more about wholesale, and distribution.
What are the other main magazines you like ?
>>>I think it was the ones I listed. Although I did get Bad Idea magazine for a while. =) They actually welcome contributions (non-paid though I think - but you might wanna check)….you could probably get a piece published in there quite easily. www.badidea.co.uk They’re sold quarterly in Borders.
I also get videogames trade magazine MCV ( www.mcvuk.com )
I think that so many people in LDN want big consumer magazine jobs. I have to say, I have not been wholly seduced by working at those types of womens mags that give no experience from what I have heard anyway.
>>>Surely every job gives some experience? Someone else told me journalists aren’t hired for writing - journalists are in their jobs because of their contacts, and who they know. That said, there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to work in different areas of the industry. ^_^ Oh…there’s a recruitment agency called Inspired Selection that specialise in publishing. Unfortunately, it’s more stuff like medical journals, school books, or children’s books, but, meh. ^_^ Whatever. www.inspiredselection.co.uk They cover Oxford and London.
3. At one place where I did work experience, a local newspaper (outside LDN), I heard that the salary could actually be as low as £10,000. I must say I was shocked. So, lol, magazines look like a better terrain.
>>>Videogames journalism is usually underpaid…one person cited £12,000 at PS Nation, I think it was. But I guess that’s why they shift to PR eventually. =) But, you’ll find reputable companies will give reputable salaries. ^_^
The NUJ did a survey into salaries in 2005. And you can use it to get some idea about what different job positions pay - although the survey was within London, and prices will be different outside London. http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/05MagSurvey.pdf
4. What are your thoughts about freelancing in the UK ?
>>>Good if you can get the work. =) =P I’ve done freelance web design, and freelance print adverts, but I’ve never done freelance writing, not paid anyway, but I know a few freelancers, and each of them appear to have made a name for themselves in particular fields.
One of my writing role models is technology freelancer David McCandless. Check his site at: http://www.davidmccandless.com/
He started at age 14 for Dennis Publishing, and last Christmas published his own book. =)
There’s also a lady called Lesley Smith, who is “Living the freelance dream” according to her blog. =) See here: http://lesleysmith.blogspot.com/
….again, I’m into videogames journalism, and these are all contacts from that industry. =P
There’s also Keri Allan, who should be at www.keriallan.com but it doesn’t seem to be working atm. =P And then the famous ones - Steve Boxer [ Guardian ], Paul Vale [Daily Star, Xleague.tv], Kieron Gillen - http://www.kierongillen.com/
Oh, and not forgetting those crazy triforce people…=P…. www.thetriforce.com - they’re currently doing competition columns for videogames in local newspapers too. Something Jon Salisbury and I, tried yet failed to do in 2003. =P *rasp* Well, Jon succeeded with Toy competitions at least. =)
On a less famous note, my friend George managed to get some freelance work for Dennis Publishing doing a Wii blog called Den of Wii, it didn’t pay much, and she kept her day job, but she still got paid a bit for each article, and some free games to review. The site has now been merged into Den of Geek. So she’s back to just her day job, but still on the look out for freelance opportunities. =P
It is so great to finally hear from some UK heads on this site. Let’s keep the rapport going.
>>>Likewise. ;-) Let’s get a little UK posse going. Anyone else reading - feel free to join in! ^_^
Hey there,
I’m in London, been reading this site for awhile now. Yeah, I think a London chapter would be really helpful especially for hearing about jobs though I’m not sure there are as many positions available over here. How do the chapters get set up?
Well, I’m in videogames journalism. I used to do it in my spare time, at first doing a fanzine (photocopied ‘zine) at indie retailers, and then did a DVD documentary on the industry with The Princes Trust. Now I’ve just taken my first fulltime salaried job in the industry, since leaving Uni, and it’s with GameSpot….have been out to lunch with Eidos PR, one of whom also used to go to my Uni, Sega invited us to watch Iron Man yesterday…and all this networking is lovely…but I’d love to network with people passionate about print, as I am, and not just online, or videogames.
I get InCirculation magazine ( www.incirculation.co.uk ), which is mainly for distribution/wholesale/circulation/subscriptions side of mags, but it’s lovely to read about the industry, and how Psychologies is proving a success story, [I get Monocle btw ( see www.monocle.com ) ]. And I just discovered The Talent Magazine ( www.thetalentmagazine.com ) ….fell in love with it. ^_^ Lol.
I’m only on a 3 month contract with GSUK atm, so don’t know if it’ll become a permanent job or not…depends if I impress them. =P So it would be great to make the most of the next few months living and working in London, and meet up with some other people passionate about print. ^_^
I’m not sure how chapters get setup. But I figure if we just get enough people interested, on these boards, we could arrange to meet up at a coffee shop or something, and natter about our dreams to work for magazines. Lol. I’m jealous of the Ice Cream socials in, was it Birmingham? Or am I getting muddled up with the book club? Heehee…I dunno. ^_^ It just seems like there’s so much going on in New York, and not enough in London. ^_^ Lol.
There was a Publishing Expo back in February btw…I met someone from ad sales at Golf Punk magazine…so, I dunno if the industry is more closed or not, but the people I’ve met have been friendly enough. And when I interviewed some journos about how they got their jobs, most said it did involve being remembered after a successful work experience stint. ^_^
Anyway, to my point: Who would be up for a meet in London?
;-) Its gotta start somewhere, ^_^ and I’ve lots of enthusiam.
P.S. Regarding jobs, Gorkana is great ( https://www.gorkanapr.com/jj.journalist.jobs.php ), but also keep an eye on the IPC website, http://www.ipcmedia.com/jobs/
….and I met someone on the train, who had just started work for Closer magazine, and they were still after a designer…but that was a month or so ago now, they may have found one, I dunno. ^_^ It was on Gorkana anyway.
that freelance life
Ajmetz, thanks for your generosity about sharing your tips! I’m a final year at Bristol University and will be doing the mag journalism course in London in September.
1) Your anecdotes about your mates in the South-West were really interesting to read, thank you again. I have heard that loads of people who initially go into journalism turn into PRs eventually. To be honest, there are probably many benefits in that too ! I think the main thing I loved about the local newspaper work experience was they actually gave you work to do. For instance, I was given the task of calling up bar owners of the city and quizzing them on their bar for this website. That was pretty interesting lol!
2)Is PFJ a good recruitment media agency ? I always see ads for it in media guardian. [http://www.pfj.co.uk/editorial_jobs.asp]
3) I think starting your own magazine would be a fabulous idea. What was your fanzine about ? I did my own fanzine, Kerosene. I even wrote a blogpost on my thoughts about self-publishing which is here [http://charcoalink.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/what-i-learnt-about-self-publishing-my-magazine/]
I also reckon that the fanzine culture is so rich and deep in the UK so I don’t see why there can’t be another opportunity to start a magazine.
4) Wow, subbing! that’s great. I think subbing seems much harder than doing hard news.
5) Thanks for linking those freelance sites & I will be shooting you an email about the PDF file, cheers! I think freelancing is one of those things where people have to be made for freelancing. It is incredibly tough. I have done freelance writing for a feminist magazine called Subtext. The editors there were fabulous and the magazine is really something to behold (lol, in my opinion and not because that I have written for it). I have a few ideas about some new articles but the rejection takes a lot getting used too! I have been told to try and pitch to local newspapers and magazines so I will be aiming for that. I think it is good that you know that you want to be in videogame journalism. I am having trouble finding a niche…
I am going to be starting a newsletter about graduates & the media in London after I graduate, so it would be cool to feature your thoughts on self-publishing. If you would like to hear more, you can send me an e-mail at aulelia_2@hotmail.co.uk
I love this post. Come on Londoners, join in!
Pretty shattered, but will give it a bash....
For instance, I was given the task of calling up bar owners of the city and quizzing them on their bar for this website. That was pretty interesting lol!
>>>My mate Alexander Hay used to have a part time job going to bars and pubs and getting info out of them. Wasn’t sure if it was for listings or some kinda directory, but it was a bit of part time work whilst at Uni. Perhaps more impressively, he used to write 100 word reviews for Kerrang whilst at Uni too, until a change of editorship. Last I heard he was finishing an Internet Journalism PHD whilst writing for PowerPlay magazine.
2)Is PFJ a good recruitment media agency ?
>>PFJ? Never heard of them before, but will check ‘em out. Btw..I’m no expert on the job market. =P So there may well be obvious resources I’ve never heard of. =P
3) What was your fanzine about ?
>>VideoGames. ^_^ What else? Although I used to do a school magazine called FORK, and an everything fanzine called TCP.
The last fanzine I produced can be found here:
http://www.unitedgames.co.uk/may2003/
I still love fanzines though, and am on a few ‘zine facebook groups.
Oh btw - tonnes of gaming and technology journos & PRs are on Facebook - it can be good for networking, although am not sure how well it works for other areas of interest, although I have seen model agencies on there, as well as a lot of work places / publishers.
I even wrote a blogpost on my thoughts about self-publishing which is here [http://charcoalink.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/what-i-learnt-about-self-publishing-my-magazine/]
>>I’ll check it out
4) Wow, subbing! that’s great. I think subbing seems much harder than doing hard news.
>>>Personally, I find it easier to read it, than write it, but then maybe I’m just getting lazy. ;-)
I have done freelance writing for a feminist magazine called Subtext.
>>>Am impressed you’ve some freelance work under your belt. =P As I said, I’ve done some web design and advert design, but never got freelance writing work before, so hats off to ya’! =)
I am having trouble finding a niche…
>>>It’ll come. Although it’s good to be flexible. When at Uni, we were never allowed to write about anything we already knew about. We were expected to hone our research skills, so we could become experts about a subject in a short amount of time, in order to deliver a piece on something we previously knew nothing about, to deadline. =P So yeah, we never got to do videogame, music, or film reviews. =P But then our lecturer was a meanie. ^_^.
But it teaches you to be versatile, and to be able to tackle something you might not know anything about initially.
I am going to be starting a newsletter about graduates…
>>Probably not a wise move putting your email address up like that, you’ll probably get spammed by robots now. =P Nonetheless, I’d be interested in reading any graduate newsletters. =) I’ll send you an email.
I love this post. Come on Londoners, join in!
>>>I left it quiet for a bit in case others wanted to pitch in. So far, no joy. =P Still, Ed2010 seems to have a lot of industry co-operation. I work just behind IPC’s blue finn building. =) Maybe I need to pop in on my lunch break, and make friends with magazine folk. =) Lol.
>>>Finally, sorry this response is short, and lacking in some areas. Been up late, and am shattered.
ajmetz, thank you
Thank you for the links and detailing your story and congrats on your job! I’ll give a little backstory about my attempts @ getting work experience.
I am in final year at uni. I am going to do a MA in Mag Journalism course in September. Since I have known I want to be in magazines, it has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs trying to find work experience.
Here are a few of my magazine thoughts!
1. Local newspapers are your friend lol: the best work experience I have had was at a local newspaper. I got to have so many chances to do things and I was not even there for that long. The best was accompanying a reporter to court and seeing an actual criminal case that was extremely sensitive and seeing how he wrote up the story.
2. You mentioned In Circulation magazine, I will definitely check that out - do you like Press Gazette ? What are the other main magazines you like ? I think that so many people in LDN want big consumer magazine jobs. I have to say, I have not been wholly seduced by working at those types of womens mags that give no experience from what I have heard anyway.
3. At one place where I did work experience, a local newspaper (outside LDN), I heard that the salary could actually be as low as £10,000. I must say I was shocked. So, lol, magazines look like a better terrain.
4. What are your thoughts about freelancing in the UK ?
It is so great to finally hear from some UK heads on this site. Let’s keep the rapport going.
>>>>The right angled reply.>>>>
Thank you for the links and detailing your story and congrats on your job!
>>>Ta! ^_^ =P I had my boss tell me I need to speed up a bit for next week though - am not doing news stories fast enough atm. =/ Ooer! Had better pull my socks up. ^_^
I’ll give a little backstory about my attempts @ getting work experience.
I am in final year at uni. I am going to do a MA in Mag Journalism course in September.
>>>Oooh…^_^…which Uni you hoping to do that at?
Since I have known I want to be in magazines, it has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs trying to find work experience.
>>>I interviewed four journalists for advice on how to get jobs in the industry, back in 2003. I’d link to it here, but the editor of The Week said it was for personal use only, and not for general publication - but email ed2010forum at unitedgames.co.uk and I’ll send you the PDF. =)
Here are a few of my magazine thoughts!
1. Local newspapers are your friend lol:
>>>Oh, yeah, I’ve a little story. ^_^ Well…actually two. Firstly, Will Guyatt graduated with an English Lit degree, and was working at Bristol’s Pink Planet store, which is now ePlay, on Market Street…and I approached him to stock my fanzine, and he was so into writing, he paid for the store’s copies out of his own pocket! FFWD, and he worked at local radio …either GWR or Wiltshire Sound, not sure…then did a stint doing PR for the BBC, and then finally made it so to speak, and is currently Communications Officer at Future Publishing. Not quite journalism, but he gets to do all their PR and write their press releases, and he’s a good success story I like to wheel out. ;-) Secondly, is a PR at Nokia, well, actually Chocolate Communications, called Claire, who started at the Swindon Adver, known then as the Evening Advertiser. Then she went out to Canada for some reason, =P, ^_^, and is now in the UK working for chocolate doing technology PR for Nokia. So, again, her first step was the local paper, I guess. =). Just like Will’s was the local radio. Maybe this isn’t entirely relevant however, as they’re both PR jobs - but in videogames at least, people start out with journalism, as that’s what they want to do and really enjoy, and then they move onto PR or something later, because the pay is better. ;-) But it depends where you are. On the Games Press forums ( www.gamespress.com ) Gareth has recently announced he’s gone from 360Gamer and Neo magazine, over to PR firm Barrington Harvey aka BHPR. Or “gone over to the dark side” as he put it. ;-)
=) I used to help on the youth page of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard, when I was 16 or so, but….I haven’t really done anything with local papers. =P ^_^ But I still agree it’s a great place to start. =) Having said that, I used to be based in Swindon. And there are two local magazines run by people in that town - one called Frequency all about the art scene and community, and the other called the Ocelot - full of jokes and distributed at pubs. They’re both produced by locals, off their own back, and supported by local advertising, from restraunts, shops, or the council, and so forth.
the best work experience I have had was at a local newspaper. I got to have so many chances to do things and I was not even there for that long.
>>Awww…good for you. ^_^ ;-) I’m slightly jealous of course. ^_^
The best was accompanying a reporter to court and seeing an actual criminal case that was extremely sensitive and seeing how he wrote up the story.
>>>It’s good to know how to handle that sort of stuff. =P I remember doing court reporting when at Uni…but I can’t remember what I learnt from it now. =/ I’m actually quite rubbish at doing news. I used to prefer layout design. =) Luckily, my current job is subbing - so someone called Emma writes the news, and I just read through it, before it goes online, to ensure it fits house style, that there are no typos, and that it’s factually correct, and there won’t be any legal problems. =P
2. You mentioned InCirculation magazine, I will definitely check that out - do you like Press Gazette ?
>>>I haven’t actually got Press Gazette before. ^_^ Don’t expect too much from InCirculation - it’s more for publishers than journalists, with info on how to get people to subscribe, or how to promote your title at the newstands, etc. I just got it when I was interested in starting my own magazine, and wanted to learn more about wholesale, and distribution.
What are the other main magazines you like ?
>>>I think it was the ones I listed. Although I did get Bad Idea magazine for a while. =) They actually welcome contributions (non-paid though I think - but you might wanna check)….you could probably get a piece published in there quite easily. www.badidea.co.uk They’re sold quarterly in Borders.
I also get videogames trade magazine MCV ( www.mcvuk.com )
I think that so many people in LDN want big consumer magazine jobs. I have to say, I have not been wholly seduced by working at those types of womens mags that give no experience from what I have heard anyway.
>>>Surely every job gives some experience? Someone else told me journalists aren’t hired for writing - journalists are in their jobs because of their contacts, and who they know. That said, there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to work in different areas of the industry. ^_^ Oh…there’s a recruitment agency called Inspired Selection that specialise in publishing. Unfortunately, it’s more stuff like medical journals, school books, or children’s books, but, meh. ^_^ Whatever. www.inspiredselection.co.uk They cover Oxford and London.
3. At one place where I did work experience, a local newspaper (outside LDN), I heard that the salary could actually be as low as £10,000. I must say I was shocked. So, lol, magazines look like a better terrain.
>>>Videogames journalism is usually underpaid…one person cited £12,000 at PS Nation, I think it was. But I guess that’s why they shift to PR eventually. =) But, you’ll find reputable companies will give reputable salaries. ^_^
The NUJ did a survey into salaries in 2005. And you can use it to get some idea about what different job positions pay - although the survey was within London, and prices will be different outside London.
http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/05MagSurvey.pdf
4. What are your thoughts about freelancing in the UK ?
>>>Good if you can get the work. =) =P I’ve done freelance web design, and freelance print adverts, but I’ve never done freelance writing, not paid anyway, but I know a few freelancers, and each of them appear to have made a name for themselves in particular fields.
One of my writing role models is technology freelancer David McCandless. Check his site at:
http://www.davidmccandless.com/
He started at age 14 for Dennis Publishing, and last Christmas published his own book. =)
There’s also a lady called Lesley Smith, who is “Living the freelance dream” according to her blog. =) See here:
http://lesleysmith.blogspot.com/
….again, I’m into videogames journalism, and these are all contacts from that industry. =P
There’s also Keri Allan, who should be at www.keriallan.com but it doesn’t seem to be working atm. =P And then the famous ones - Steve Boxer [ Guardian ], Paul Vale [Daily Star, Xleague.tv], Kieron Gillen - http://www.kierongillen.com/
Oh, and not forgetting those crazy triforce people…=P…. www.thetriforce.com - they’re currently doing competition columns for videogames in local newspapers too. Something Jon Salisbury and I, tried yet failed to do in 2003. =P *rasp* Well, Jon succeeded with Toy competitions at least. =)
On a less famous note, my friend George managed to get some freelance work for Dennis Publishing doing a Wii blog called Den of Wii, it didn’t pay much, and she kept her day job, but she still got paid a bit for each article, and some free games to review. The site has now been merged into Den of Geek. So she’s back to just her day job, but still on the look out for freelance opportunities. =P
It is so great to finally hear from some UK heads on this site. Let’s keep the rapport going.
>>>Likewise. ;-) Let’s get a little UK posse going. Anyone else reading - feel free to join in! ^_^
i agree
I do think the whole media world in London seems less open and more ‘closed door’ than the one in the US.
Google gorkanaPR. It is a fantastic resource for searching for work experience and journalism jobs in LDN if you haven’t found it already.
Hey there, I’m in London,
Hey there,
I’m in London, been reading this site for awhile now. Yeah, I think a London chapter would be really helpful especially for hearing about jobs though I’m not sure there are as many positions available over here. How do the chapters get set up?
Yeah, great to see some replies. =)
Well, I’m in videogames journalism. I used to do it in my spare time, at first doing a fanzine (photocopied ‘zine) at indie retailers, and then did a DVD documentary on the industry with The Princes Trust. Now I’ve just taken my first fulltime salaried job in the industry, since leaving Uni, and it’s with GameSpot….have been out to lunch with Eidos PR, one of whom also used to go to my Uni, Sega invited us to watch Iron Man yesterday…and all this networking is lovely…but I’d love to network with people passionate about print, as I am, and not just online, or videogames.
I get InCirculation magazine ( www.incirculation.co.uk ), which is mainly for distribution/wholesale/circulation/subscriptions side of mags, but it’s lovely to read about the industry, and how Psychologies is proving a success story, [I get Monocle btw ( see www.monocle.com ) ]. And I just discovered The Talent Magazine ( www.thetalentmagazine.com ) ….fell in love with it. ^_^ Lol.
I’m only on a 3 month contract with GSUK atm, so don’t know if it’ll become a permanent job or not…depends if I impress them. =P So it would be great to make the most of the next few months living and working in London, and meet up with some other people passionate about print. ^_^
I’m not sure how chapters get setup. But I figure if we just get enough people interested, on these boards, we could arrange to meet up at a coffee shop or something, and natter about our dreams to work for magazines. Lol. I’m jealous of the Ice Cream socials in, was it Birmingham? Or am I getting muddled up with the book club? Heehee…I dunno. ^_^ It just seems like there’s so much going on in New York, and not enough in London. ^_^ Lol.
There was a Publishing Expo back in February btw…I met someone from ad sales at Golf Punk magazine…so, I dunno if the industry is more closed or not, but the people I’ve met have been friendly enough. And when I interviewed some journos about how they got their jobs, most said it did involve being remembered after a successful work experience stint. ^_^
Anyway, to my point: Who would be up for a meet in London?
;-) Its gotta start somewhere, ^_^ and I’ve lots of enthusiam.
P.S. Regarding jobs, Gorkana is great ( https://www.gorkanapr.com/jj.journalist.jobs.php ), but also keep an eye on the IPC website, http://www.ipcmedia.com/jobs/
….and I met someone on the train, who had just started work for Closer magazine, and they were still after a designer…but that was a month or so ago now, they may have found one, I dunno. ^_^ It was on Gorkana anyway.
Oh, www.smartplanet.com (they review environmental products) are also looking for a staff writer.
I sit behind them at work…they’re fabulous people. =)
http://www.cnetnetworks.co.uk/jobs/list/