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The Black Forum 2 - The BN Village > Welcome to The Black Forum - The Blacknet Village > Students & Educational Village > Want to Get Into The Media

Want to Get Into The Media

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Miss Brighter Days
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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 15:51

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Hi All

Someone from the blacknet village emailed me and asked me whether it was hard getting into the media. So many young people at uni, college have come up to me ask me advice and questions about various aspects of the media. This made me realise that when i was at Uni I had no one who was black and from an ordinary background to talk to, and ask advice about how to move forward and how i could try and make a career in the media.

Now i have been in the media for 5 years, and I am heading towards becoming a documentary maker. And I want to offer advice to anyone who needs it about the media industry getting in, staying in and all that.

So ask me what you want, i will try my very best to answer to the best of my ability. But I am still very young in the industry so i don't know how much help and advice i can give, but I think its important that I try my best. I think its very important that black students have access to advice from black people within the industry.

Anyway ask away.

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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 16:24

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You say you've been in the media for 5 yrs - what exactly do you do now? How much ultimate control do you have doing your job as it is right now and if you become a documentary maker how much control would you have on that?

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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 16:28

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Hi Athaba

I work as a researcher/producer for a radio news programme at the moment. If you are making documentaries for a big media company, you can only have so much control, afterall you are working for them. But once i become a documentary maker, i will be able to give my ideas, and make the programmes i want to make, within the remit of the station i make them for.

I hope that answers your question.

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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 16:40

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Athaba, Just realised I didn't answer the first question you asked properly. How much ultimate control do i have at the moment?

Well i work within a team of about 10 for a radio news programme, the editor, has ultimate control over the programme's contents. I am able to suggest ideas for possible programme items, whether they get on air or not is up to the editor.

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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 18:27

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Thanks Miss Brighter Days! So how much do you think you are listened to, whenever you do make a suggestion, (assuming, of course that you do).

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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 18:53

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Well i feel i've been listened to since i got into my job. The key to moving on in broadcasting is coming up with ideas and lots of them. Not just any old ideas, but you must be able to show you understand the programme you are working for and what they aim to do, and suggest viable ideas. But also you can challenge agendas, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. But no harm in trying.

Saida.M
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Posted: Sunday February 29th, 2004 21:31

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I have heard that what you learn in uni about media is vastly different to what the media people actually require. I've heard on the radio, that the media people always have to either turn people away or have to spend money re-training them.

So my next question is, what qualifications are useful to getting into the media and how useful did you find yours when you entered this field?

Also what is a typical day for you at work?

Miss Brighter Days
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Posted: Wednesday March 3rd, 2004 10:07

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The thing with the media is, that you do most of your training on the job. There are some general skills you can get from a degree it depends on where you work.

You do not need any specific degree to get into the media, but a degree of some sort is nearly always essential, but there are exceptions to the rule.

I think it really does depend on the type of media course you do, in terms of getting specific training for working in the media. But it is more than likely that you will have to be retrained, which isn't a bad thing, because everyone gets some sort of training when they get in. You need it, because things change all the time, and every company is different.

My degree, was useful because i did a lot of theoritical work, in terms of questioning the way in which society and the media worked. It was excellent for my time in current affairs. The skills i use in news, is organisation, prioritinsing tasks and research. Skills you can get in any degree.

The key to getting into the media is getting work experience not what degree you do.

I hope that helps.

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Posted: Wednesday March 3rd, 2004 11:17

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well i think i can shed some light on that as well. i did a degree in journalism and now i'm working for a BIG mobile phone company as an editorial assitant (feeling of deja vu) and i got this job on the strength of my degree and the work experience i gained during my time at uni. its possible that you can get a job doing what your degree was based on. you just have to find it, which isnt easy. but you have to dig deep. it will come soon enough!

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Posted: Wednesday March 3rd, 2004 11:33

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Fernando - its true.

I think patience and hard work is the key. there was a lot of pressure on me to take any job when i got out of uni, but i knew what it is I wanted to do, and worked hard to get the experience i needed, even if it meant working for free. I think its important to remain focused on the career you're aiming for, and don't get sidetracked, by jobs offering money right now!

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Posted: Wednesday March 3rd, 2004 12:24

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exactly miss days. if you stay focussed you can do it. at the point i got this job (which is only a 3 month intership) oi had been unemployed for 3 months but i held out for this because i knew it was coming my way...i could feel it. i knew that one daymy persistence would pay off. i applied for every journalism job i could find and, actually, they came andfound me.

i went onto monster.co.uk and put my cv up on a saturday and monday they called me so it can happen people. just be patient, know what you want and be focussed. it'll come to you.

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Posted: Wednesday March 3rd, 2004 18:33

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Thanks again Miss Brighter Days and Fernando - I love your positive attitude!

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Posted: Thursday March 4th, 2004 09:04

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its okay. anything i can do to show that we, as young black graduates, are not as held back as once thought.

we can make it!

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Posted: Thursday March 4th, 2004 10:22

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That's cool Ashanti!

And I fully agree Fernando

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Posted: Thursday March 4th, 2004 17:47

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hi miss brighter days and fernando. i am a joint media graduate who aims to become a well sort after feature writer or at a least a successful one. i have so many ideas that ihave stopped sharing them. just think i am working on a magazine with my friend but i am not the editor the mag is based around alot of my ideas(guess we must start somewhere). anyway basically what should i be doing to break in beside doing choice pieces that add to my portfolio. i have the writers handbook 2003 and the oxford manual of style for ref. i am looking at doing NCTJ course in writing for the periodical press aprox£500. you get a certificate at the end. at present i am doingmy best to collect quality aids and look out for articles to write. i also want to get into advertising. i guess my only thing is that i am in the midlands. but i will not let that hinder me.

please advise

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Posted: Friday March 5th, 2004 11:05

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in the form of advice, the best thing to do is look out for small magazines and try to get articles to write. there are tons of little feature magazines that are looking for writers so my advice to you (this is what i did as well) is look out for any opportunity to get your name out there. there are a lot of black entertainment magazines out there that welcome writers like Set It Off, Urban Magazine, etc. so the next time you go to a CD shop or something, pick up those little magazines or even aim higher. its up to you but the more experience you have, the better your chances in the industry. also, i think, BFM magazine (Black Film Magazine)have a good internship program, although the editor is a meiser when it comes to pay but what that does is prepares you for the B.S. that the industry will feed you. But, go online onto sites like

gradjobs.co.uk

monster.co.uk

totaljobs.co.uk

guardian.co.uk (that have a good graduate/student section

these are places you could try.

hope i've helped ya.

anymore questions, don't hesistate to ask.

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Posted: Friday March 5th, 2004 13:28

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Hi lady Day,

I think Fernando has covered most angles.

Try to cast your net as wide as possibble as well as little independent mags, which as Fernando said are always looking for writers, why not try and arrange time to talk to eds of bigger mags like Touch and Pride (They are very bad about paying, but experience is the key). Bringing you're work with you, try and secure some freelance work. What about getting in touch with American mags as well, and try pitching ideas to them, with specific British angles on subjects. You just never know where a break will come

I think the most important thing is not to be disheartened by any rejections you may get and don't let it put you off, just keep plugging away, because it is part and parcel of trying to break in!

Another thing when you arrange meetings with eds, try and think of what is different that you can offer a mag, that they don't already have!

I hope that helps.

Anything else just ask.

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Posted: Friday March 5th, 2004 19:16

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thanks for the advise will log back on soon and copy down the advice cheers

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Posted: Friday March 5th, 2004 23:43

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Miss Brighter Days wrote: Hi lady Day,

I think Fernando has covered most angles.

Try to cast your net as wide as possibble as well as little independent mags, which as Fernando said are always looking for writers, why not try and arrange time to talk to eds of bigger mags like Touch and Pride (They are very bad about paying, but experience is the key). Bringing you're work with you,

^{I am still studying at the moment and i noticed u mentioned bring ur work to show...I dont actually have n e work to show.}

^{In actual fact i have been quite lazy and have stopped writing-except for writing essays for my modules.}

^{I kind of feel different about certain things and not 100% sure what i want to do n e more...but I have stopped writing...mainly because there isnt a 'need' to write-I dont freelance, not sure how to begin on that.}

^{N e tips/pointers? HELP}

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Posted: Tuesday March 9th, 2004 10:51

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BlackBeauty wrote:

^{I am still studying at the moment and i noticed u mentioned bring ur work to show...I dont actually have n e work to show.}

^{In actual fact i have been quite lazy and have stopped writing-except for writing essays for my modules.}

^{I kind of feel different about certain things and not 100% sure what i want to do n e more...but I have stopped writing...mainly because there isnt a 'need' to write-I dont freelance, not sure how to begin on that.}

^{N e tips/pointers? HELP}

^{WELL, in the form of not knowing what you want to do....i've been there! when i started college, i wanted to do law, but then by the end of leaving college, i wanted to do media and journalism, which i did at uni and got a 2:1. so its not easy to find your calling but it'll come. if your not sure if you want to write still, try and write a few articles about something random and if you're not feeling it, then you'll know that you dont want to write.}

^{the best way to find a love, is to look at what you like to do, eg. spare time, hobbies, etc. thats how i foundmy love for journalism (spent most of my time in college writing an underground magzazine for students.) so, in regards to freelancing, you can call up newspapers and magazines and ask them whether they accept freelanc articles or do they accept in-house articles only. try with your local papers first and work your way out to the bigger ones. but thats IF you still want to write.}

^{any more advice i can throw your way, you let me know.}

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Posted: Tuesday March 9th, 2004 18:31

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Hi again

i am gonna check out those sites. i made a mini magazine(8 pages full coulour) at college and i also helped to do a newsletter at uni. i have about three short pieces in there. are these worth keeping or using to start building my portfolio?

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Posted: Wednesday March 10th, 2004 13:46

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KEEP THEM!!!!!

that shows your creativity, understanding of magazines and how they work, etc, etc. see there is a lot more to that magazine than you know. its shows creativity, writing skills, formatting skills. so when you put on your cv, i have wirint, formatting, arranging, subbing skills, etc. and then they say to you, where's proof?

you can pull out your magazine and show them. anything you write that you can put your name on, you hold onto it and keep it, you hear?! EVERYTHING!!!! i did a magazine at college called Ya Heard and it was the shiiiit and i didnt save them and now i'm upset because that was the first time i ever got into journalism. Its like a monument to what inspired me...luckily, a guy i used to write the magazine with, he saved each copy on his computer so i still have it.

But save it girl, it could come in useful in the future.

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Posted: Sunday April 4th, 2004 23:27

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WOW, thank you so much for starting this discussion!! i came across it purely by chance...and im sooo glad i did!!!! i have been so stressed over choosing courses etc for uni, coz im nearly ending my first year in college, and application time is coming soon!!!! i know that i have a burning passion to work in the media...on tv sets, maybe directing or producing, but i LOVE to write, so i wouldnt mind writing tv shows....i really dont know exactly where i wanna go, but this info has helped me so much!! i have been securing some work experience etc, so that is good, but im still patchy about the future. this type of career hang so much on how much experience you have, it is so scary!!!!

do u have ne more advice as to who i can get work experience frm, coz i have written to almost 50 ppl, but they all want people at degree level. (i.e. at uni) for 6 month - a year long placements, and i cant do that as im at college....

any advice, i wld be grateful for!!!! Also, what is it like being a director or producer....exactly what do the jobs entail??

thanks again, great reading!!

much love,

Amber xxx

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Posted: Tuesday April 6th, 2004 16:47

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Hi Amber_

I am glad you like the thread, i thought it was needed. Anyway, in terms of advice on where you should go for experience, what is it you are interested in? What do you want to learn about? You seem to be leaning towards broadcasting, are you interested in news, entertainment, drama? Don't get me wrong, it is VERY early to be trying to think about ultimately what you want to do, this is the time to experience many different things. But it will help me point you in the right direction if I know what you don't like and what you do.

Don't worry too much about what people say, about not having a degree or being at uni. There are people who do give young students a chance. But as far as I am concerned the phone is the best weapon when trying to get into the media. Talking to someone over the phone, puts you in people's mind, they can't ignore you or dismiss you so readily. Also try not to ask out and out for work experience, ask people if you can come down and watch how their programme is put together, maybe for just an afternoon. It is a lot less scary for people in the industry, if they hear they only have to commit for a day. Once you're in, speak to people, get numbers, then start harassing!!!! Ask to come back to help out, see what needs to be done and ask to do it. Even if its printing scripts, looking after guests and all that.

Smaller companies are easier to get into, or smaller stations (i need to know if you want to do TV or radio) are good as well. But if you can give me a bit more info, i may be able to help a bit more.

My main piece of advice for you is NEVER EVER GET DISHEARTENED, because it is tough. But you are doing the right thing starting as early as possible, it will give you an advantage in the long run. Trust me!

About directing and producing, it depends what the person is directing or producing, as to what their job entails. Every programme type and out put has differing requirements for directors and producers. So what type of directors and producers are you talking about?

Last edited on Tuesday April 6th, 2004 16:50 by Miss Brighter Days

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Posted: Tuesday April 6th, 2004 17:07

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hi miss brighter dayz. i really want 2 get in2 the music industry, but the fact that i cant sing or mc doesnt really help. im not sure wat exactly i wanna do within the music industry but i was thinking about getting in contact with choice fm so i could do some work experience there. im not expecting them to pay me as ill be doin sumthin ill enjoy and for the simple fact that im only 15, so theyll probably wont even be willin 2 do so. I no my age may be a real problem getting started but this is somethin im really determined to start. my question 2 u is how do u think i should approach choice fm or do u no of any otha urban music shows that would think about lettin me wrk there considering my age. hope u can help.

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