Upskilling Tips for Magazine Publishing

By Amelia Bashford, Kaia Blaszczyk, Misha Manani and Rowan Groat

Similar to book publishing, those who work in magazine publishing can work within the editorial, design or marketing departments, just to name a few. You are responsible for the commercial success of the publication. There are different types of magazines, from consumer to professional, and it is a brilliant career option to consider. Here are some of the opportunities available, the core skills required and the resources you can use to break into the industry.

Opportunities

The publishing industry can introduce you to a variety of global opportunities. This is especially the case in magazine publishing. For those looking to kick-start their career in magazines, we have created a list of companies that offer internships and entry-level roles:

• Condé Nast: A popular media company that generates leading print and digital magazines, such as British Vogue and Wired. If you are fresh out of university, they offer an advertising sales graduate scheme. Although there is no deadline, it opened at the end of September, so submit your application soon.

• The Chelsea Magazine Company: A publisher which offers career opportunities in events, magazine publishing and advertising. There is currently an entry-level position available as a Digital Editorial Assistant where you will dabble in newsletters, social media and websites. Check out the job specification and desired skills before applying.

• Hearst Magazines UK: Another global media company that owns Elle, Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar. There is a list of jobs for individuals at different stages of their career, ranging from assistant to managerial roles.

• Wanderlust Travel: A travel magazine that runs two-week editorial work experience and three-month internship opportunities. There is a preference for those who have completed a recognised journalism course, however, it might be worth a shot even if you don’t have this. This would be a great opportunity to develop your editing, design, administration and research skills.

• The Economist: A global affairs magazine that offers job opportunities on a rolling basis. They run editorial and policy internships which require you to submit a CV and cover letter beforehand. There are also internships outside the UK in Washington D.C, Hong Kong and Singapore.

• Ink Global: The leading inflight magazine for all the biggest airlines, they often have many job opportunities available, including internships based at their London office. This is a great way to intimately learn about publishing through different magazines.

Key Skills

The skills required will vary depending on which area of magazine publishing you are interested in - whether that’s editorial, design or communications. Showcasing your work ethic and willingness to learn will carry you far. The nature of magazine publishing, especially if digital-first, can be fast-paced. Below, we have listed a few attributes and competencies that will stand you in good stead for contributing to the commercial success of a print or digital magazine:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of the English language

• Knowledge of media production and communication

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Attention to detail and the ability to be thorough

• Flexibility and adaptability

• IT literacy

• Knowledge of or expertise in a specific subject area e.g. fashion, lifestyle, nature

Extra Tip: Magazine publishing will often allow you to write your own short-copy and articles. Having a blog to showcase your writing skills will help you stand out during the recruitment process.

Online Resources

• Anna Wintour Teaches Creativity and Leadership: A masterclass course led by the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue magazine, which discusses the importance of brand and vision in becoming a successful creative leader. Anna also talks about her career journey, management advice and interview tips. This is paid, but you can cancel your subscription within 30 days and get a full refund.

• @SYPScotland Magazine Publishing Chat: An informal Twitter Q&A session comprising of five questions which discuss magazines with professionals in the industry and the general public. For instance, the differences between magazine and book publishing and the importance of design. Scroll down to September 26 to have a read.

• Cosmopolitan Careers Festival: During 2020, Cosmopolitan launched a free webinar series with eight episodes where they covered the job application, CV, cover letter and interview tips. If you missed the live event, you can watch the recordings – a brilliant resource for all!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article! Join us again for Issue Thirty-Five where we will continue our sector-focused series with Upskilling Tips for Trade Publishing.