I want to work in the media

Find out how you can start a career in the media. Here we list potential job roles and some of the leading companies in that sector.

Job roles

Introduction  

This is one of the most popular and competitive of all graduate career areas but if you follow the advice given here, your chances of entry will be greatly improved! Whether you hope to get into T.V. Radio, Publishing, Advertising, Journalism or the Theatre, then you must:

  • Begin your planning early. In your first or second year get relevant practical skills (writing for Inquire, presenting for Canterbury Student Radio, Film Making Society, computing skills such as Quark or In-Design. Canterbury Student Radio has very good equipment and will give you useful live broadcast skills for your CV. If you're going for journalism you'll need a portfolio of articles you've had in print to show editors.
  • Prepare a media CV and covering letter. It MUST be focused towards the media job you're aiming for and be of high quality - a general CV won't work. See our CV examples where you will find an example media and creative CVs and actor's CV, and a media covering letter and pick up our free CVs Booklet from  the Careers Service reception.
  • Contact media employers see 'Job hunting'. Find Employers and try to get employment or (more likely!) unpaid work experience with them.
  • Most entry-level media jobs are not advertised as most media organisations get enough speculative CVs to simply select from these: they don't need to place an advert or use a recruitment agency.
  • Learn to network. Talk to people in the area you want to enter, visit them to ask questions, and arrange work-shadowing, use social media for professional networking. See our Creative Jobhunting web page for details of how to network effectively.

The candidates who are eventually successful tend to be assertive individuals who won't take no for an answer and who aren't afraid to ring up a newspaper editor to ask for unpaid work experience.

A lot of postgraduate media courses have sprung up. The better ones may aid your chances of entry but choose those that teach the PRACTICAL job skills required and not just media theory! If they offer a placement with an organisation in the media as part of the course even better. These courses tend to be expensive and many graduates will get into the media without them.

Do careful research. If you haven't, other candidates will have and they will get the jobs. For many detailed media job descriptions including tips on how to get in, see

Learn useful skills. Learning to use desktop publishing software will greatly improve your CV for publishing and journalism jobs. Microsoft Publisher is part of MS Office and although basic, will get you started. Even better are Quark Xpress and In Design: you can download fully working demos of these professional packages which you can practice and then add to your CV. Adobe Photoshop (image manipulation) will also help, as will basic web page design skills as so much publishing is now electronic.

Be prepared to start at the bottom as an intern, gopher, runner or lowly assistant. If you are good you will move up. Many graduates take 6 to 9 months after graduation before they get their first (badly paid) media job.

Come in to see an adviser in a quick queries session to have your media CV checked or a guidance interview to discuss your options and how to get in. See our contact page to book.

Persevere: if you have gained the practical skills outlined above, getting into the media is not that difficult - indeed many Kent graduates are successful every year!

Broadcasting TV, Radio

Film

Publishing

Digital and interactive media

Advertising, Marketing, Communication, Administration

It is important to be aware that media research is not the same as academic research. It is more closely related to journalism and involves coming up with ideas, finding people to appear in programmes, fact-checking and ensuring compliance with copyright and other legislation. It requires very good interpersonal and organisational skills

Self employment  

Freelancing is a significant part of the many careers in the media, it can be a good way to get started.

Companies and further information

Recruitment Agencies

There are a large number of media recruitment agencies, but be aware that many of them will be looking for good word-processing and secretarial skills or alternatively relevant experience in the media. Many will offer jobs in media sales (see below).

  • Creative Pool - Recruitment Agency covering the creative industries including: Advertising, Architecture, Graphic Design, Journalism and Writing, Media Careers, Multimedia and New Media and Publishing
  • Skeleton Productions - UK video production company. 3,000 strong network of video production talent. we are always recruiting filmmakers, runners, editors and production assistants for our various shoots.
  • ACM Jobs - Arts, Culture, Media recruitment site
  • Handle Recruitment - Music Industry
  • Pathfinders Media Recruitment - specialises in finding first career opportunities for new graduates in the media including Advertising, PR, Broadcasting, Publishing, New Media, Events Management, Marketing, Music and the Arts.
  • Freelance Video Collective - Film, TV and Video network based in the UK. Lots of graduates and freelancers apply for jobs or post resumes on our website.
  • Formula Won - Media, New Media, PR
  • Grapevine Jobs - jobs in broadcast film and music. Job-board - doesn't charge jobseekers.
  • Jump Forward - covers the creative and media skill sets and offers students, graduates, freelancers and employees the chance to search through jobs, briefs and placements.
  • JobsInBroadcast - recruitment resource for Media professionals. Cover TV, Film and Radio with both Craft and Technical jobs.
  • notfromconcentrate.co.uk - TV Jobs & Media Jobs: TV, Film, New Media, Internet, Radio, Film, Mobile
  • round8 - graduate to Director Recruitment Agency: finds and develops commercial people for media and digital media companies
  • SourceThatJob - media specific job board. Jobs for journalists, PR professionals, advertising people, web designers and marketers.
  • TV Job Vacancies
  • Campaign Jobs - central hub for all media, marketing, advertising and creative roles
  • Broadcast engineering jobs - lists broadcast engineering jobs from major broadcasters and production companies

Film, TV and Radio Links

New graduates often start in independent production companies as a runner (general dogsbody!) or as a production assistant (if they have good typing skills - 40 wpm and perhaps shorthand). This is a good time to apply as the staff have time to consider your application. Call to chase up a speculative CV. Even if there are no vacancies at present, ask if you can call again. This allows you to develop a relationship, but don’t become annoying by asking too often.

  • BBC Jobs - you can register to receive regular vacancy emails.
  • BBC Work Experience - lots of work experience opportunities.
  • BBC Asian Network Take - it on Scheme 8 week placement programme
  • Mediaargh - great place to look for paid internships and graduate jobs in media.
  • 4 Talent - programmes to help you start your career in Channel 4 or an affiliated production company
  • The Unit List - media jobs vacancy site
  • The Network - annual event, where 150 delegates aged 18+ are selected to attend four FREE days of masterclasses, workshops and career chats.
  • If you want to work in TV one way of getting experience is to be a participant on a television programme. TV production companies are constantly searching for people to appear in their shows. Be On Screen Lists many TV programmes you can apply to appear on including reality TV shows, quizzes and gameshows. Also see Be on TV
  • Talent - Channel 4's website to help you get into the creative careers.
  • PACT Directory - fully searchable information about UK independent producers and digital members, including programmes produced, projects, and contact details, and brief company profiles.
  • The Community Media Association
  • Vera Media - all-women professional production and training company
  • Creative Skillset - Information on Broadcast, Film, Video and Multimedia Careers. Has a list of subsidised media courses.
  • Arts Hub - Large listing arts and creative jobs including internships and work experience. Jobs bulletin with 100 new listings each week is emailed free to members weekly. Free to join. Cover theatre, dance, visual arts, film, tv and radio, writing and publishing, design, music, fashion and the creative industries. Sister websites in the US and Australia.
  • BroadcastNow - job hunting website, also provides source for news, debate, networking, training, and advice on how to survive as a freelancer.
  • Film Distribution Association has a placements section.
  • ITV Jobs - lists many roles in different sectors mainly in the UK and some abroad.
  • Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook - lists contact details of 45,000 companies and crew operating in the film, TV and media production industries worldwide – including 10,600 in the UK Searchable by company name, town, country and product or service. Free to access: great resource for students looking for placements, internships or career opportunities in film and TV. SFX, props and wardrobe companies
  • The Knowledge Online - Film Television and Video Website with job forum
  • London Film School
  • Mandy's International Film and TV Production Directory - web-only resource for professional service-providers in Film, TV and Multimedia, including listings for companies in these fields and job ads.
  • The National Broadcasting School - radio training facility - on the campus of the University of Sussex, in Brighton. Each course lasts eleven weeks, and is followed by a work placement. NBS courses are intensive and practical. Whilst essentials such as broadcasting law are coverered extensively, theory is confined to the minimum.
  • National Film Television School
  • Production Base - A networking site for people and companies working in TV and film, including jobs and links.
  • Shooting People - regular bulletins for online film-making community includes details of productions looking for crew - recommended by a Kent student.
  • Media Volt - Media community site offering Auditions & Jobs for Models, writers, Actors, Musicians and TV/Film production crew.
  • Video Production Glossary - learning tool for students produced by Skeleton Productions UK based video production company
  • StartinTV - service specialising in helping TV Newcomers get started.
  • Transition Tradition - provides work experience and publication opportunities for students. Links to creative industry organisations - from independent publishers to arts funding bodies - to help students and graduates access fast changing, niche resources. Magazine and forums enable student to share experiences.
  • The White Book - comprehensive database covering television, film, radio, conference/exhibition organisations, media support services and much more.
  • The Professional Light and Sound Association
  • Universal Extras - specializes in the placing of students nationwide as extras & background artists, in feature films, music videos, TV & commercials. Opportunity for students to earn extra cash while they study in an exciting industry.
  • MWP Digital Media - produce videos for a broad range of clients. We often recruit talented students on a freelance basis to work on various projects for our clients as presenters for corporate web presenter type videos, freelance animators for animated video production and editing, freelance videographers who can shoot on location.
  • Asians in the Media
  • Viacom international media networks home to 20 TV channels including MTV Nicklodeon and 5 offers paid internships
  • Video Production Blog Tricks and tips on getting on in the production industry

Prospects “Sector Briefings” on:

Digital careers and publishing careers

  •  M.A. Digital Media and Society (DMS)  is an interdisciplinary programme focusing on the digitalisation and datafication of contemporary societies.  The DMS program is situated at the leading edge of these developments, including strong research and media practice elements. It qualifies students for decision-making positions in a datafied society. Our alumni today shape the digital transformation in the media and tech industries, and work in various capacities within businesses, NGOs and governmental institutions.
  • Screen Skills - (previously Hiive) professional networking for creative people careers information, companies and vacancies
  • Vlognation - Tips, news and event to help get started and make money as a Vlogger
  • Creative Access - internships and opportunities to promote diversity in the media
  • Filmmaking Lifestyle - a filmmaking & video production resources platform that produces training and information products for video production companies
  • Publishing links
  • Screen Skills Jobs - (previously Hiive) professional networking for creative people careers information, companies and vacancies
  • The Publishers Association - Information on getting experience and developing a career in publishing
  • Book publishing - careers overview
  • Independent Publishers Guild - job opportunities and paid internships in independent publishing
  • Society of Young Publishers - memberships includes access to job opportunities
  • Writers and Artists online - information on getting published
  • Yearbook - offers advice and practical guidance on who to contact and how to get started (Copy available in the careers library in Careers and Employability Services)
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