Showing posts with label Devil Wears Prada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Devil Wears Prada. Show all posts
Finding Your Niche in Magazine Publishing
Editorial/Writing
For anyone who has flair for writing, a career in magazine publishing is an easy one. A good start is to work as an intern in a magazine publishing company. Though this is the least fabulous of all the positions, it will provide you training and connections in the industry. It would also be helpful if you would have a folio that it always on hand. One may also start in an entry-level position as an editorial assistant. Aside from writing, rewriting and copyediting, certain office duties may also be asked. You could then work your way up to being an associate editor, managing editor, executive editor and finally, an editor-in-chief!
Marketing
If you are meticulous, could communicate well and could convince people into an idea or a brand in ways other than writing, then you could have a spot in marketing. Through marketing, you make sure that you make your market hear what the magazine wants them to hear. You must then know how to harmonize the behavior and trends of your market with your publications. This may involve overseeing the sales, the distribution of the publication as well as what kind of articles goes into the magazine.
Production
This is the actual production of the magazine. You must be very keen with the details, the deadline and the technology that goes with it. Production is used to be associated with machineries and heavy equipment. However now, production goes beyond the tangible paper and ink. Online publishing have changed the way magazines are produced. Production now also involves a great deal of information technology skills.
Design
Other than writing, you could also channel your creativity by being involved with the design of the magazine. Magazines rely heavily on the aesthetics, not only for sales, but also as an alternative way for expression. The design of the magazine also helps it to turn into a brand. Magazines like Time have a signature red border on its cover while the National Geographic has a yellow border.
Sales
Just like any business, magazine publishing also has a concern with sales. However, there is more to it than simply being able to sell. You need to be charismatic, diplomatic and to have integrity. Building good relationships with your clients is important. Aside from people skills, you also need to develop your analytical skills in studying market reports and sales. You have to know how will your ads will be effective to your magazine and its market.
There are many career paths to choose from in the magazine publishing industry. You may have a proven ability for writing or graphic design but a university degree would be, if not mandatory, extremely helpful. Keep in mind that magazine publishing also involves corporate work and that companies do want to present a professional image to the market.
Just make sure that the degree that you’ll be having or is already pursuing is relevant to the industry. If you are still undecided of which field to choose, it is highly recommended that you take an internship in a magazine publishing company. You may not start out glamorous (think Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada) but you’ll definitely learn a lot. In time, you’ll learn the tricks of the trade and you’ll be on your way to the top.
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Things you need to know before going into Magazine publishing
Unlike what was shown in the movie, magazine publishing is not always about the glamour and the freebies. In fact, when you get into one of those magazine companies, you’ll realize that it is not a tushy job after all. The work can be very hard and the hours horrifying. Some do not even go home for weeks when the closing of one issue is close by. So before you decide to apply in any of those magazines, here are some things that might make you think twice.
1. Dog eat dog world
Competition is tough in a magazine. This is especially true if you plan to go into magazine writing. There are only a few key positions that will be available for people and chances are they will go to those who have better connections within the company and in society. Fact of life is, you need to first BE someone before you get to hold those high positions as magazine editor. Because of this, the culture inside a magazine can be stressful. It can be a dog eat dog world where everyone is out to get anyone that steps in their way towards promotion. Besides with purely girls in the company, there is bound to be a catfight.
2. It’s a girl’s world
Magazine publishing can be dominated by girls especially those who are more into the fashion and beauty stuff. It being a girl’s world can be an advantage as you will be able to relate more with them and share their interests. It can however be different for a guy. So if you are straight and you want to work in magazine publishing, choose the magazines whose subjects are more oriented towards male pursuits like golf, yachting, body building. Men’s magazines will also have more male staffers but they may also have a lot of gay people.
3. Weird hours
People who go into magazine publishing especially the core departments that really work on the magazines until the publication will need to stay for hours in the office just to close pages. This is the unglamorous side of the job. Some would not even go home when the deadline is so near. The hours can be really weird especially when issues are being closed or photo shoots are being done.
4. Social events or boring conference
If you are not much into hobnobbing with the rich and the famous in the field, magazine publishing is not for you. The job does not only entail attending events and conferences and writing about it, you are also expected to socialize with these people and perhaps get them as advertisers or sponsors of the magazine.
People who work on more technical publications on the other hand have to endure a different thing— boring conferences. If listening to studies and experiments is not your thing, do not go into magazine publishing.
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