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Not only journalists and editors work in the media. You can become a producer, digital strategist, SMM specialist, media manager, PR manager, photojournalist. Think about which direction you would like to work in. For example, if you like working with videos, you can write scripts for commercials or master editing. And if you like a static picture, take a closer look at the professions of a designer or commercial illustrator.
In journalism, people with different starting abilities are in demand. For example, the work of a newsman is suitable for energetic and responsible people who are able to produce results in a short time. And a data journalist turns complex figures and statistics into graphs and tables that are understandable to the reader. Perseverance and analytical mindset will come in handy here.
In the media, they appreciate the ability to quickly process data, highlight the main thing, and navigate information flows. And it is also important to learn how to check information, even if it seems 100% true to you. Pay attention to which sites the author of the text refers to. For example, Wikipedia is an unreliable source Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not a reliable source , but if the news was published by a major scientific journal or a well-known news agency, it can most likely be trusted. In addition, no one has canceled the two-source rule. For example, when a journalist writes about a conflict between neighbors, he should take a comment from both participants, because the attitude to the situation is different. If only one side is represented in the text, it may turn out to be incomplete at best, biased at worst.
Even if there are no people in your environment who work in the media, they will surely be found among your friends' acquaintances. Ask them to arrange a meeting for you, or at least get the necessary contacts. Ask a new acquaintance about how he started his career path, and ask if there are vacancies or internships for beginners in the company where he works.
Attend thematic events, participate in competitions, attend conferences. They can not only listen to interesting lectures, but also talk to different people. For example, to improve networking skills and deepen knowledge, you can register for the All-Russian Youth Forum "NOISE". It will be held in June in Kaliningrad. Young people aged 18-35 are waiting for it. The most active participants will receive invitations to internships and money to implement their ideas.
The digital age makes it possible to start honing your skills almost from school. To begin with, you can blog or shoot a video. Tell us about the topics that interest you. For example, if you are a fan of art, share news about exhibitions that take place in your city, write reviews of films and performances. And if you are interested in sports, you can publish information about local football or hockey matches, interview coaches and players. If you are interested in animals, invite a friend of a charity organization to run its social networks. If you like to travel, do not just post beautiful photos, but share interesting routes with subscribers, record videos with local residents about the life and traditions of the country. Blogging may not bring you a lot of money and likes, but it will be a good platform for training skills.
You can start a career in the media in different ways: someone immediately gets a job, and someone goes to study. The first option has advantages: you can get practical experience, and even a salary. But the second one should not be ignored either. During the courses, you can acquire skills that will be useful in the profession. For example, you can understand how marketing in the media is built, or understand the intricacies of copyright. It is especially important to get acquainted with the theory for beginners who blog independently, without the help of an experienced editor or mentor. For example, in the courses you can figure out how to write news and how a report differs from an investigation.
In addition to a resume, a media person needs to get a portfolio. It should contain a story about yourself and a few of the most successful projects that demonstrate your skills and strengths. For a journalist, these can be articles, and for an SMM specialist, examples of creatives and strategies of implemented advertising campaigns. If you have no experience, include relevant educational projects in your portfolio. And you can also offer friends to provide a service for free, provided that this work appears in the portfolio. For example, to design a landing page, or to write texts for a friend's store website, or to make a friend a photo shoot for social networks. By the way, if you are honing your skills in your blog, do not hesitate to give a link to it.
Many companies are willing to take newcomers to study for free or for a small fee. You can find suitable offers on hh.ru , SuperJob, grintern.ru , as well as in the telegram channels "Work in media", Work for writers, "Waiting for a resume". And also try to write directly to the companies that interest you. Even if the employer is not looking for interns now, he may remember you in the future. Tell us about your experience and explain how your services will be useful. Do not forget to attach a link to the portfolio to the letter.
