Finding a job
Journalism & Publishing
There are many different areas within journalism and publishing to work across a variety of roles. From journalism across multiple platforms, to both in front of, and behind the camera, broadcast work and writing and publishing, this is a broad subject area. This means it is worth giving some time to thinking where you particularly wish to specialise within when thinking about experience and jobs you wish to target.
On this page you will find key employers to consider in this field, sector specific job sites to help you locate suitable opportunities, information about going freelance, and top tips to help you secure a job!
Employers who recruit in these areas
- The main national broadcasters including the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4 are leading employers within all areas of journalism
- Leading graduate employers within publishing include Bloomsbury Publishing, Penguin Random House and Pan Macmillan
- The majority of national newspapers including The Guardian, The Financial Times and The Daily Mail run graduate schemes
- Local newspapers and radio stations are many people's way into the sector and offer a wide variety of positions.
- It is important to remember that many people who work within journalism and publishing will be freelance
Where to look
Kickstart your job search with the following sites:
Freelancing
Freelancing is extremely common in this sector, check out the following resources below for more information:
- Student StartUp Team – The University's support network for current students and graduates who wish to work self-employed offering advice and guidance, office space and networking opportunities
- PeoplePerHour – The UK's largest freelance community offering work, advice and networking
- Freelance Writing – Provides advice, tutorials, examples and work for freelance writers
Useful social media feeds
Social media is a key instrument within journalism and publishing and should be utilised as much as possible. This should apply to both maintaining a strong presence yourself (particularly if you plan to work as a freelancer) and through following key titles and publications within the field. Journalism.co.uk has guidance on how to utilise X effectively. The following feeds might also be useful in keeping up to date:
Specialist agencies
Jobs within this field are usually advertised directly and almost never through a recruitment agency but it is possible to work for press agencies, either on a permanent contract or on a freelance basis.
- Press Association – based in London, the Press Association is the national news agency for the UK and Ireland and offers work, training and experience across all multimedia platforms.
- Reuters – The world's leading international news agency with offices in London.
- NAPA – The National Association of Press Agencies has a members directory of organisations all over the country.
Top tips for finding a job
- Keep up to date with journalism and publishing news and trends by following the leading titles, publications and professional bodies on Twitter. This information might help you identify opportunities to network and tap into the hidden job market.
- Keep your online job search flexible as some employers might use different titles to describe the same job role.
- If you are keen to focus on a specific sector within journalism and publishing check out the specialist websites for these areas for current vacancies.
- Ensure you maintain a strong online presence, showcase your work either through social media, a blog or an online portfolio (clippings.me).
- It is important to note that some publications rely solely on speculative applications and never advertise directly so be proactive and target potential employers.
