The growth of the media is big news: whether you want to work in print, broadcast or online, the industry is booming. New players pop up virtually every week. Start adding on book publishing, advertising, marketing and public relations and the sector looks even bigger. And if your passion is fashion, you’ll find technology is giving you new routes into a design career.

As the number of media channels explodes, so does the number of people wishing to pursue a graduate career in the industry.

Why? It is rarely for the status that the jobs brings – journalists are sometimes criticised for being intrusive, and television is berated for dumbing down. And it can’t be for the money – high salaries can be achieved, but only after years of surviving on low ones.

Perhaps it’s because the industry is exciting and fast-moving; because it can give employees a terrific sense of achievement; and because it can offer the odd adrenaline rush – ask any journalist, editor or producer who is struggling to deliver a product on budget, to a deadline!

Graduate-job descriptions

• Animator
• Copywriter
• Corporate communications / affairs manager
• Editor
• Fashion designer
• Graphic designer
• Journalist
• Marketing manager
• Market research executive
• Media planner / buyer
• Public relations officer
• Radio / TV producer
• Search engine optimisation / marketing (SEO/SEM) specialist
• Sub-editor
• Web editor

Finding work in a creative industry

Media is attractive but highly competitive. You must be prepared to be determined and enthusiastic. Hard work is a given, often for little or no pay when you are starting out. It’s important to be focused – decide which area appeals, then find out all you can about it.

Applying for a post in news? Watch news broadcasts critically or read reports of the same events in different newspapers, and work out the angle you would take.

Attracted to advertising? Watch campaigns as they unfold in the press, or on television. Consider why they are placed in a particular medium, at a particular time.

If web-based media is your interest, develop some skills by putting together a website yourself.

Whatever area interests you, try to get as much relevant work experience as you can during your time at university. Graduate schemes are rare, so work experience is essential to gain valuable contacts.

Do-it-yourself media

Many people have a talent for visual design. In the past, however, they were excluded from pursuing a career in this area because of the expense of specialist equipment.

However, the rise of the internet and home computing has brought the opportunity for visual creativity into the lives of nearly everyone.

Whether their talent lies in animation, fashion design or graphic design, almost every graduate can now access packages to help them express their creativity, and build a portfolio which reflects their ideas.

Find out more

• Marketing
• Market, social and opinion research