Below, is a 2,500 word essay in which I had to write for my module. I thought it would be best to included an essay which I had written into this part of my blog, just to show you the writing side of my work!
Here are links to my work experience placements:
Derby Telegraph
Closer Magazine
Star Magazine
My Student Style
Star Magazine: Background
Star was launched in 2003 and is owned by Northern and Shell publications. Founded in 1974, the company published music magazine International Musician and Recording World (Northern and Shell, 2015), but today, it owns newspapers: Daily Express, the Sunday Express, the Daily Star and Daily Sunday Star as well as the celebrity gossip magazines OK!, New! and Star. Northern and Shell believe that it “…dominates important parts of the consumer magazine market both in the UK and worldwide, with a stable of market-leading consumer titles…operates in all major areas of publishing and has diverse interests in new media, print, distribution, investment and property” (Northern and Shell, 2015).
Star prides itself in “…being feisty, funny and first. Its readers are obsessed with reality TV and the lives of accessible, ‘real’ celebrities, from their relationships to their diet and fitness regimes” (Star, 2015). The magazine’s average age it targets is 31 (Celebrity Media Pack, 2011). Star’s circulation figures were at 440,865 in 2011 (Celebrity Media Pack, 2011) but in 2013, like many magazines, their circulation figures dropped to 223,681 (Media Week, 2013). In the beginning of 2014, Lebby Eyres was promoted to editor-in-chief of both New! and Star. Star offers opportunities for graduates. For example, I worked alongside Jemma Walker who was a recent graduate. Also, I was able to work with an online intern who had just left university.
Aims, objectives and tasks
Before I went to the magazine, I did not expect that I would be able to write content. This is because many past students said that many magazine companies do not let work experience students write for magazines. Never having worked in a magazine environment before, I did not know what to expect.
When I arrived at the Northern and Shell building, I was greeted and shown to the editorial room. This was where all content was written; where the magazine was put together and where all telephone interviews took place. This was a great experience because I was able to see how a magazine was run. I saw telephone interviews being taken place, a mock-up of a magazine before it got printed and how the online website was run.
Overall, it was a shame that I could not write anything for the magazine, however the aim of the work experience was to see what the world of the journalism is like and I did assist with various jobs which were vital for creating an issue. For instance, I was requested to transcribe many telephone interviews of celebrities which they had interviewed that day. This involved me listening to the interview carefully and typing out everything that was said. This was the main thing which I had to do in this work experience placement. I was then asked to help with putting together the magazine. For this, I was shown how they put the magazine together on InDesign and then, they gave me printed off versions of the magazine pages and I had to cut them, and put them into page order. Even though I did not see the magazine being printed, it allowed me to help out with the final steps of creating an issue of the magazine.
How it benefited me
Even though I did not do as much as would have liked on this work experience placement, it did benefit me greatly. Firstly and most importantly, I have been to a professional magazine which is based in London and was given the opportunity to work alongside other journalists. Seeing the work environment made me realise that this is where I would like to work. Secondly, I learnt vital skills which will help me with transcriptions interviews if I go into this profession in the future and finally, I made contacts with the recent graduate Jemma Walker who invited me back to Star. Also, the work experience helped me to build my confidence and to not be shy when meeting new people.
How it benefited me
This work experience benefited me because I developed, new journalist skills which I would have not gained if I did not go to the Derby Telegraph. I was able to gain contacts whilst I was there. This allowed me to go back to the Derby Telegraph over the Christmas holidays and go to a restaurant under cover and write a review. This was my favourite part of the work experience because this is something which I experienced myself and got to write in partnership with Oliver Astley, a business correspondent, and this is a contact who I can keep throughout my career for advice on work experience or employment.
Furthermore, my work was published in the paper. Seeing my name in my local paper was a proud feeling and this is something which I can show future employees. The Derby Telegraph kept me busy throughout the day and there was not a moment in which I was not doing anything. This also showed the real aspect of a newsroom.
From these experiences, it has now enhanced my CV. However, I did not have to write any cover letters for these placements. In addition, my LinkedIn is also enhanced which may impress and show future employees the relevant work experience I have done.
Here are links to my work experience placements:
Derby Telegraph
Closer Magazine
Star Magazine
My Student Style
Journalism
Work Placement Essay
The work experience
module has allowed me to experience the world of journalism and media and has
enabled me to see what a work environment is like. Work experience is vital
because it is a: “…perfect way to sample all the career options out there. It’s
a way of exploring different jobs without actually committing to anything” (All
About Careers, 2015). This helps many of us to decide whether we enjoy working
in the world of media and it also helps us to choice what journalism area we
want to work in.
The modules which I have taken at university have helped me to develop a passion for magazines. The Newspaper and Magazine Production Modules in second and third year have encouraged me to develop a keen interest in magazines. This was because we were given independence to create our own magazines. From this, I felt it was vital to experience a magazine’s production office; to see how it was run and what the work environment was like. The work experience module allowed me to realise that I enjoyed the world of magazine journalism.
The modules which I have taken at university have helped me to develop a passion for magazines. The Newspaper and Magazine Production Modules in second and third year have encouraged me to develop a keen interest in magazines. This was because we were given independence to create our own magazines. From this, I felt it was vital to experience a magazine’s production office; to see how it was run and what the work environment was like. The work experience module allowed me to realise that I enjoyed the world of magazine journalism.
Star
Magazine: September 8 - 13th 2014
The first magazine work experience I was accepted to was Star Magazine, London. This had been a magazine which I had been reading since I was a teenager so it was tremendous opportunity that I got to see how one of my favourite magazines was run.
In order to acquire the work experience role, I emailed Jemma Walker, a writer at Star, and then I was asked to do a telephone interview. Fortunately, I was offered a week’s placement in September, 2014. This meant me travelling to London every day at their Northern and Shell offices on Lower Thames Street, London.
The first magazine work experience I was accepted to was Star Magazine, London. This had been a magazine which I had been reading since I was a teenager so it was tremendous opportunity that I got to see how one of my favourite magazines was run.
In order to acquire the work experience role, I emailed Jemma Walker, a writer at Star, and then I was asked to do a telephone interview. Fortunately, I was offered a week’s placement in September, 2014. This meant me travelling to London every day at their Northern and Shell offices on Lower Thames Street, London.
Star Magazine: Background
Star was launched in 2003 and is owned by Northern and Shell publications. Founded in 1974, the company published music magazine International Musician and Recording World (Northern and Shell, 2015), but today, it owns newspapers: Daily Express, the Sunday Express, the Daily Star and Daily Sunday Star as well as the celebrity gossip magazines OK!, New! and Star. Northern and Shell believe that it “…dominates important parts of the consumer magazine market both in the UK and worldwide, with a stable of market-leading consumer titles…operates in all major areas of publishing and has diverse interests in new media, print, distribution, investment and property” (Northern and Shell, 2015).
Star prides itself in “…being feisty, funny and first. Its readers are obsessed with reality TV and the lives of accessible, ‘real’ celebrities, from their relationships to their diet and fitness regimes” (Star, 2015). The magazine’s average age it targets is 31 (Celebrity Media Pack, 2011). Star’s circulation figures were at 440,865 in 2011 (Celebrity Media Pack, 2011) but in 2013, like many magazines, their circulation figures dropped to 223,681 (Media Week, 2013). In the beginning of 2014, Lebby Eyres was promoted to editor-in-chief of both New! and Star. Star offers opportunities for graduates. For example, I worked alongside Jemma Walker who was a recent graduate. Also, I was able to work with an online intern who had just left university.
Aims, objectives and tasks
Before I went to the magazine, I did not expect that I would be able to write content. This is because many past students said that many magazine companies do not let work experience students write for magazines. Never having worked in a magazine environment before, I did not know what to expect.
When I arrived at the Northern and Shell building, I was greeted and shown to the editorial room. This was where all content was written; where the magazine was put together and where all telephone interviews took place. This was a great experience because I was able to see how a magazine was run. I saw telephone interviews being taken place, a mock-up of a magazine before it got printed and how the online website was run.
Overall, it was a shame that I could not write anything for the magazine, however the aim of the work experience was to see what the world of the journalism is like and I did assist with various jobs which were vital for creating an issue. For instance, I was requested to transcribe many telephone interviews of celebrities which they had interviewed that day. This involved me listening to the interview carefully and typing out everything that was said. This was the main thing which I had to do in this work experience placement. I was then asked to help with putting together the magazine. For this, I was shown how they put the magazine together on InDesign and then, they gave me printed off versions of the magazine pages and I had to cut them, and put them into page order. Even though I did not see the magazine being printed, it allowed me to help out with the final steps of creating an issue of the magazine.
How it benefited me
Even though I did not do as much as would have liked on this work experience placement, it did benefit me greatly. Firstly and most importantly, I have been to a professional magazine which is based in London and was given the opportunity to work alongside other journalists. Seeing the work environment made me realise that this is where I would like to work. Secondly, I learnt vital skills which will help me with transcriptions interviews if I go into this profession in the future and finally, I made contacts with the recent graduate Jemma Walker who invited me back to Star. Also, the work experience helped me to build my confidence and to not be shy when meeting new people.
Even though I did enjoy
this work experience placement, I believed that it was vital that I applied for
a work experience placement at a newspaper because I had taken the module
Newspaper and Magazine Production. It was important that I had the opportunity
to experience both types of print productions.
Derby
Telegraph: September 1st – 5th 2014
After receiving the placement for Star, I also wanted to have work experience at my local newspaper, the Derby Telegraph. A newspaper newsroom is very different to a magazine editorial room and I felt it would be beneficial for my own experience and my CV’s if I had a variety of work experience.
After receiving the placement for Star, I also wanted to have work experience at my local newspaper, the Derby Telegraph. A newspaper newsroom is very different to a magazine editorial room and I felt it would be beneficial for my own experience and my CV’s if I had a variety of work experience.
I was offered this work
experience role by emailing Rachel Butler, a reporter at the paper, whose
email
I received from a student in the year above.
Derby
Telegraph: Background
The Derby Telegraph was started by Richard Keene in 1857, who published the paper every Saturday (Derby Telegraph, 2014). Then in 1879, the Derby Daily Telegraph was then published as a four-page broadsheet. The papers combined taking the name The Derby Telegraph. Today, it is still a daily newspaper which covers the city of Derby and around the county including north and south Derbyshire. The first editor of the paper was WJ Piper who stayed as the editor until his death in 1918 (Derby Telegraph, 2014) and today’s editor is Neil White.
The most recent readership figures showed that in the second half of 2012, they stood at 29,010 (Linford, 2013) however, it is unclear what the current readership figures are today as this information is not display on their website and this information which is displayed is out-dated.
Aims, objectives and tasks
At the Derby Telegraph, the reporter Rachel, informed me on what I would be doing throughout the week. She informed me that I would be sent press releases and that it was my job to turn them into a story. I had to research the story and then also research the relevant people to interview. These skills allowed me to become more confident in my writing and improved my interview skills because I had to work to end lines and talk to a wide variety of people. They also sent me their style guide so I could follow this whilst writing my stories.
Later on in the week, I was asked to go into the city centre to collect vox pops. This was something which I had not done before and a task which I did not enjoy. However, it did improve my confidence as I had to approach the people of Derby and ask them what their favourite thing about Derby was. This was for a new feature that they were creating for their newly designed paper, which was launched at the end of September, 2014. Also, I had the opportunity to go to crown court and witness cases. I was able to see how the reporters wrote down the case and was able to witness a case which made the front page story the next day. It was important to witness a court case with a reporter to see what information they have to write down.
The Derby Telegraph was started by Richard Keene in 1857, who published the paper every Saturday (Derby Telegraph, 2014). Then in 1879, the Derby Daily Telegraph was then published as a four-page broadsheet. The papers combined taking the name The Derby Telegraph. Today, it is still a daily newspaper which covers the city of Derby and around the county including north and south Derbyshire. The first editor of the paper was WJ Piper who stayed as the editor until his death in 1918 (Derby Telegraph, 2014) and today’s editor is Neil White.
The most recent readership figures showed that in the second half of 2012, they stood at 29,010 (Linford, 2013) however, it is unclear what the current readership figures are today as this information is not display on their website and this information which is displayed is out-dated.
Aims, objectives and tasks
At the Derby Telegraph, the reporter Rachel, informed me on what I would be doing throughout the week. She informed me that I would be sent press releases and that it was my job to turn them into a story. I had to research the story and then also research the relevant people to interview. These skills allowed me to become more confident in my writing and improved my interview skills because I had to work to end lines and talk to a wide variety of people. They also sent me their style guide so I could follow this whilst writing my stories.
Later on in the week, I was asked to go into the city centre to collect vox pops. This was something which I had not done before and a task which I did not enjoy. However, it did improve my confidence as I had to approach the people of Derby and ask them what their favourite thing about Derby was. This was for a new feature that they were creating for their newly designed paper, which was launched at the end of September, 2014. Also, I had the opportunity to go to crown court and witness cases. I was able to see how the reporters wrote down the case and was able to witness a case which made the front page story the next day. It was important to witness a court case with a reporter to see what information they have to write down.
How it benefited me
This work experience benefited me because I developed, new journalist skills which I would have not gained if I did not go to the Derby Telegraph. I was able to gain contacts whilst I was there. This allowed me to go back to the Derby Telegraph over the Christmas holidays and go to a restaurant under cover and write a review. This was my favourite part of the work experience because this is something which I experienced myself and got to write in partnership with Oliver Astley, a business correspondent, and this is a contact who I can keep throughout my career for advice on work experience or employment.
Furthermore, my work was published in the paper. Seeing my name in my local paper was a proud feeling and this is something which I can show future employees. The Derby Telegraph kept me busy throughout the day and there was not a moment in which I was not doing anything. This also showed the real aspect of a newsroom.
Closer Magazine: January 5th
– 9th 2015
This was the work experience in which I was most looking forward to because this is the magazine that I buy every week. Also, it meant traveling to London everyday which was something which too I wanted to experience. I applied for this work experience by email which was given to me by a journalism student on my course.
This was the work experience in which I was most looking forward to because this is the magazine that I buy every week. Also, it meant traveling to London everyday which was something which too I wanted to experience. I applied for this work experience by email which was given to me by a journalism student on my course.
Closer
Magazine: Background
Closer magazine was launched in 2002 and is owned by Bauer Media. Between the months October 2013 to March 2014, Closer’s readership figures were 1,050,000 (Bauer Media, 2014). The team at Closer are a relatively large team. Their offices are split up into sections: the online team; who managed content on the website, the fashion and beauty team; who choice clothes for their content, photography; these choice pictures for the magazine, other content; this included obtaining real life stories, and the editors table. The lifestyle and fashion content writer, Matilda Stanley, was not a recent graduate but she did however graduate from the University of Lincoln. There were interns who were working for the online team; however it is unsure whether there are internships for just graduates.
Closer magazine was launched in 2002 and is owned by Bauer Media. Between the months October 2013 to March 2014, Closer’s readership figures were 1,050,000 (Bauer Media, 2014). The team at Closer are a relatively large team. Their offices are split up into sections: the online team; who managed content on the website, the fashion and beauty team; who choice clothes for their content, photography; these choice pictures for the magazine, other content; this included obtaining real life stories, and the editors table. The lifestyle and fashion content writer, Matilda Stanley, was not a recent graduate but she did however graduate from the University of Lincoln. There were interns who were working for the online team; however it is unsure whether there are internships for just graduates.
Closer’s
mission statement states: “All Closer
readers have one major thing in common – the focus of their lives is their
relationships. Our reader’s partner, friends and family mean the world to her
and ultimately she knows that this is where happiness lies” (Bauer Media,
2014). The current editor-in-chief is
Lisa Burrows, who I was able to meet on my last day in the work experience
placement.
Aims, objectives and tasks
When I arrived in the Endeavour House, London, I was introduced to Matilda Stanley. She guided me around the office and showed me each section of the office. She informed me on the tasks which I had to do each day. One of the tasks involved going down to the courier’s office three times a day and check for packages for Closer. Other jobs included posting clothes which were used for photo shoots back to their company and opening packages of clothes and sorting them and hanging those up in the fashion cupboard ready for photo shoots.
When I arrived in the Endeavour House, London, I was introduced to Matilda Stanley. She guided me around the office and showed me each section of the office. She informed me on the tasks which I had to do each day. One of the tasks involved going down to the courier’s office three times a day and check for packages for Closer. Other jobs included posting clothes which were used for photo shoots back to their company and opening packages of clothes and sorting them and hanging those up in the fashion cupboard ready for photo shoots.
Other tasks included
going onto a website called PR shots. This is a website
which companies, such as Next, H&M and Topshop, and they show what their
next season collections are. It was my task to go onto PR Shots and find images
of new season products so they can use them in the magazine. I also had to help
with editing a few of the fashion pages. I also had to
phone makeup companies such as MAC, NARS and Benefit and ask for high quality
pictures for the magazine. My task was to check and see if the clothes were
still available on the websites. I also wrote down in my notebook on tasks
which I had to do each day.
How it benefited me
This one of my favourite work experience placements because I had the opportunity to go to London to my favourite weekly magazine. Even though I did not do as much as I would have liked, I still had the chance to experience a magazine publication. This work experience placement helped me to build contact with the beauty and fashion editorial team as well as being asked to go back for another week. Also, my name was published in the magazine. This could be shown to future employees to show that I worked at the magazine.
This one of my favourite work experience placements because I had the opportunity to go to London to my favourite weekly magazine. Even though I did not do as much as I would have liked, I still had the chance to experience a magazine publication. This work experience placement helped me to build contact with the beauty and fashion editorial team as well as being asked to go back for another week. Also, my name was published in the magazine. This could be shown to future employees to show that I worked at the magazine.
Other relevant work
experience
Other relevant work
experience included writing for My Student Style. I
started writing for them in October, 2013. It is a great experience to have
because you can improve your writing skills and again, this is something which
can be added to my CV. Throughout my time at My Student Style, I won article of
the week and enjoyed writing articles about fashion
and beauty.
What I have learnt from
work experience
I believe that these work experience placements have been fundamentally important to my course. This is because I have developed the skills in which I would have not gained from being at university. These included working in a magazine and newspaper environment, making contacts with people in the industry and having had my work published with my own original interviews.
I have learnt that the work environment varies from each publication. For example, the magazine offices felt more relaxed opposed to the Derby Telegraph offices. This may be because of the strict deadlines newspapers have contrasting to weekly magazines.
Also, I have learnt that you should always ask reporters and staff for help. I did this at every work experience placement I went to and this benefited me greatly. This is where I made the contact, Oliver. I have learnt that it is important to talk to various staff at the placements because you can gain important and valuable connections which may benefit you in the future.
The placements however did not match up to my expectations. For example, I was hoping to do more at Star and Closer and did not expect to do as much as I did at the Derby Telegraph. The advice I would offer to others based on my experience is that not to expect to write much. This is because I hoped to write something for both magazines but did not manage to do this. Also, I would advise to talk to as many people as possible; making contacts is a vital for journalist and it is great to make as many as you can.
I believe that these work experience placements have been fundamentally important to my course. This is because I have developed the skills in which I would have not gained from being at university. These included working in a magazine and newspaper environment, making contacts with people in the industry and having had my work published with my own original interviews.
I have learnt that the work environment varies from each publication. For example, the magazine offices felt more relaxed opposed to the Derby Telegraph offices. This may be because of the strict deadlines newspapers have contrasting to weekly magazines.
Also, I have learnt that you should always ask reporters and staff for help. I did this at every work experience placement I went to and this benefited me greatly. This is where I made the contact, Oliver. I have learnt that it is important to talk to various staff at the placements because you can gain important and valuable connections which may benefit you in the future.
The placements however did not match up to my expectations. For example, I was hoping to do more at Star and Closer and did not expect to do as much as I did at the Derby Telegraph. The advice I would offer to others based on my experience is that not to expect to write much. This is because I hoped to write something for both magazines but did not manage to do this. Also, I would advise to talk to as many people as possible; making contacts is a vital for journalist and it is great to make as many as you can.
From these experiences, it has now enhanced my CV. However, I did not have to write any cover letters for these placements. In addition, my LinkedIn is also enhanced which may impress and show future employees the relevant work experience I have done.
Bibliography
All About Careers
(2015) Why is work experience important. [online]
London: All About Careers. Available from http://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers-advice/work-experience
[Accessed 5 May 2015].
Bauer Media (2014) Closer Magazine [online] London: Bauer
Media. Available fromhttp://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/closer [ Accessed 5 May 2015].
Celebrity Media Pack
(2011) Celebrity Media Pack: OK!, New!
and Star. [online] London: Northern and Shell. Available from http://www.star-magazine.co.uk/pdfs/celebrityfactbook.pdf
[Accessed 4 May 2015].
Derby
Telegraph (2014) Derby
Telegraph [online] Derby Telegraph: Wikipedia. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derby_Telegraph#cite_note-1
[Accessed 4 may 2015].
Linford, P (2012) ABC figures: How all the regional dailies
performed. [online] Derby: Hold
The Front Page Available from http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2013/news/abc-figures-how-all-the-regional-dailies-performed/ [Accessed 4 May
2015].
Northern and Shell
(2015) About Northern and Shell.
[online]London: Northern and Shell. Available from http://www.northernandshell.co.uk/about
[Accessed 4 May 2015].
Star
(2015) Star: Northern and Shell. [online] London: Northern and Shell. Available
from http://www.northernandshell.co.uk/star
[Accessed 4 May 2015].
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