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Journalism Resources

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Journalists research, write, edit, proofread and file news stories, features and articles. Their work is broadcast on television and radio or published in magazines, journals, newspapers, and online. A career in journalism is fast changing, with developments in technology meaning that more people have access to news reports than ever before.

According to the ‘Journalists at Work’ survey in October 2018; a piece of research commissioned by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the numbers of individuals self-identifying as journalists in the UK rose significantly between 2012 and 2018 as the definition of journalism was expanded to encompass digital media.

Some employers, including newspaper publishers, and major broadcasters operate graduate trainee schemes. However, formal schemes are competitive and only take small numbers so it is advisable to apply early and consider alternative routes into the industry.

Many jobs receive little advertising, so it is important to seek out opportunities through networking, internships and speculative applications. For speculative applications, identify organisations that interest you by using industry directories. The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook contains information and contact details for a wide range of media organisations, including literary agencies, book and audio publishers, and magazines and newspapers: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/

Many established journalists work freelance once they have made industry contacts and have built a reputation in the industry. Freelance journalists often register with a professional association, such as the National Union of Journalists’ NUJ Freelance Directory: http://www.freelancedirectory.org/

All resources are correct at the time of writing (November 2020). For updated journalism resources, please visit the UCL Careers Online Library.

Resources on roles and careers

The Prospects website is a key resource for researching job roles within journalism, such as:

Broadcast Journalist
Editorial assistant
Magazine features editor
Magazine journalist
Newspaper journalist
Press sub-editor
Writer

Each job profile contains information on:

  • Types of roles available
  • Responsibilities and what to expect in the workplace
  • Salary
  • Working hours
  • Professional qualifications required
  • Transferable skills
  • Finding work experience
  • Professional development and career prospects

Some further informative sector career guides include:

Interviews with professionals

Read through these interviews to learn more about their work, how they got there, and their advice to current students hoping to get started in the industry. You should get a feel for the work and whether it is something which interests you, but also how to break into the sector.

* Will be available to answer questions on Thursday 3rd December. Send your questions in advance.

UCL Careers blogs and news
Sector news and research – where to keep up-to-date with current issues

Throughout your applications and interviews it will be vital to show an understanding of the organisation in the context of the broader industry; what it does and why it takes the approach it does. It will also be valuable to be able to discuss current issues and trends.

Professional bodies

Professional bodies are a great source of information, training and support. Just like the above resources, they are a great way to stay informed. In addition, it may be possible to join or create a community of people who can support you to achieve your goals. They also often have ready-made lists of organisations within an industry, these can be used to find work in less well known organisations.

Employer directories and key job sites

These resources are essential to find jobs specific to the sector you are interested. You can also use them to find organisations to approach with a speculative application.

Sample graduate schemes and internships

These structured programmes can be a useful foundation in the industry, but they are not the only entry-level positions. Your competition will be high and so you may want to diversify your job hunt and look for other opportunities in less well known organisations (see previous sections).

  • Bloomberg News Internship – News internships advertised on a rolling basis.
  • The Financial Times – offers a graduate scheme for aspiring journalists and a range of editorial internships.
  • CNN internships – offers 13 internships spanning from news gathering to special feature programmes, digital and sports at their central London bureau.
  • BBC Trainee/Graduate Schemes – includes the Journalism Trainee Scheme and the Extend in News – training scheme for journalists with disabilities.
  • BBC placement opportunities – includes the Future Voices BBC World Service.
  • Journo Resources - list of media and journalism graduate schemes or traineeships in the UK (updated regularly).
Specialist recruitment agencies

Specialist agencies can have quality industry knowledge and so perhaps help you understand roles and improve your applications. When engaging agencies, it is best to find a named person(s) to keep in contact with regularly, so don’t sign up to more agencies than you can manage, and keep them informed if you are no longer looking for work.

  • Agency Central - provides a directory of recruitment agencies, which you can search for those who specialise in media and journalism, as well as by location.
  • Aspire.
  • Blue Skies.
  • Talent Hub.
  • Creative Access - organisation dedicated to recruiting under-represented talent in the creative industries.
     
Diversity opportunities and relevant information

Many organisations are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds, see below for examples.

  • Scott Trust Bursary - Three bursaries to help aspiring journalists break into the media.
  • BBC Extend in News – BBC training scheme for journalists with disabilities Specialist Journalist Bursaries - two specialist bursaries are awarded to successful.
  • The Journalism Diversity Fund - Awards bursaries to people from diverse backgrounds to help cover the costs of National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) course fees and/or living expenses. Recipients are also paired with a working journalist to mentor them throughout their studies.
  • Specialist bursaries:

Claire Prosser bursary - awarded to an applicant who has indicated a preference for a career as a broadcast or digital journalist.

Thomas Read bursary - awarded to an applicant who has a long-term illness, health problem or disability.

To investigate the attitudes and processes of employers, you can review their equality and diversity policies and check if they are a Disability Confident employer or are recognised as a ‘Mindful Employer’ or as a ‘Stonewall’s Diversity Champion’.