Fashion Journalism

[vavavinny]

^Thanks for your thoughts ched. I totally agree with everything you said. I think it is so much better to be educated in literature and art and other creative forms than to just focus on fashion itself. Because, when it is really boiled down, fashion is an amalgamation of other artistic and cultural mediums.

[vavavinny]

Sorry BetteT, I will be sure to post on the other threads !

[Cicciolina]

In the words of Sally Singer (Media Bistro interview):

What piece of advice would you offer someone just starting out who's looking to work at a fashion magazine?
It's not a great time to go into magazines. People who often want to be in fashion magazines love magazines, but they love them to the exclusion of the rest of the culture in the world. They do media programs or communication courses [in college]. I always say, get a real education in a discipline with some history and weight behind it. Be an art history major. Whatever you're doing, do it to the utmost. People waste a lot of time thinking about the social operations of things and waste a lot of time growing up and half-paying attention to what they're reading in college or high school. I would say: Whatever you're doing, pay attention when you're doing it. Magazines reward wide-ranging curiosity and intelligence. People that want to consume information at a fast and ferocious level do well at magazines. To be really good at fashion, it's not about what you wear. Looking good in clothes is fairly interesting, but that doesn't help you.

[vavavinny]

^I've read that interview! SOO helpful and insightful! I totally agree with everything she says. I really love how she seems like such a down-to-earth, approachable person. She totally dispells the myth that a fashion editor has to be a satanic stuck up snoot. I appreciate that.

[tigerrouge]

Originally Posted by ched

and get a degree in something off the wall that will give you an unusual perspective.

Yes, for the sake of living a proper life, I'd advise people to get a degree in things that really interest them, rather than trying to turn themselves into some sort of 'acceptable product' in the hope that companies will approve of them.

And doing a degree in journalism will not prepare you for the practical aspects of the job - which involves the sort of 'people skills' that you can't learn in a mild-mannered classroom - so you might as well spend your time doing something gloriously academic, because you won't get those years back, and you might not get the chance again.

Some people I worked alongside had degrees completely unrelated to the industry - like Criminology and Classical Civilisation - and that didn't stop them from being great at the job, highly respected and very much in demand. And superb people to know. Never a dull day.

Everything you need to know to do the job, you will learn by doing the job. Use your education to improve the person you are, because if you're a well-rounded individual, you'll never need to worry about your job prospects, because what you have to offer the world is yourself, rather than exam results or a portfolio.

[Cicciolina]

Yes... also fashion isn't like medicine or law - where you have to study medicine to be a doctor, or law to be a lawyer. You can study History/Anthropology/Sociology/English Literature/Studio Arts/Business/whatever if you want to be a fashion journalist/fashion stylist/journalist/managing editor/artist/etc etc.

The same question comes up again and again. I think if you're really serious about wanting to work in the editorial side of media, whether it is in fashion or elsewhere, there is a lot of information out there on this forum already, let alone on the web. Part of being a good employee in this field is that you need to do a lot of the groundwork and research yourself.

It's good to expand your mind with liberal arts subjects... the idea of any sort of long-term course in fashion journalism is a waste of time in my opinion. In all honesty, if a a media outlet were to hire a journalist (or a fashion journalist - a fashion journalist has to be able to write about other stuff - they have or should have writing skills which are transferable to any other subject matter), they'd hire the one with loads of clips and experience over the one with a masters in fashion journalism.

[prosperk]

There isn't much more to be said, is there? I think this thread should be locked and pinned up there for posterity and the enlightenment of youngsters likely to fall for the whole academic journalism and media studies scam, which is like the old sociology degree, in itself a way in the past for the less intelligent progeny of an expanding middle class to get that all-important degree for the job resumé. Media studies and journalism degrees enable a lot of people who would be better off as bellboys and shopgirls to delude themselves that a glorious career awaits them in "da meejah". I know this doesn't apply to everyone who enrolls in such a course but Singer's remarks and the last two posts here make glaring, unavoidable sense. The problem is that there are just too many people being allowed into universities nowadays - one of the many failings of democratisation - and many of them are not sufficiently intelligent or self-disciplined to do a serious degree, hence the dumbed down courses on offer.

PK

PK

[Drusilla_]

^seconded.

I agree with everything you guys say- fashion is, after all, a field that takes inspiration from so many others, it's silly to study it as if it exists in isolation. I'm a law student who'd like to try working in fashion journalism/editing some day, but often it feels like I'll never catch a break in my country, all the magazines seem to want to hire fashion/journalism students, with maybe the odd spot for a literature student, but that's it. And frankly, I've seen the results of that approach- badly-written puff pieces. Not something I'd want to be a part of (I'd rather enjoy fashion from the outside than 'contribute' to it that way).

[fashionistasista]

After a few years in this area of work i've learned a few things in regards of what degree to do in order to get a job in fashion journalism.

Network to your best ability - most of the places i've worked for (national magazines to local street press) have hired someone they've known or professionally recognized above newbies that cold call and send resumes in, no matter how sterling their academic records.

I think in the end, you need to be able to write well, or take a course that will enable you to write well - this doesn't have to be a journalism degree, as it teaches aspects of the industry, not simply writing skills. But perhaps a wiriting course that has grammar, punctuation etc covered.

Do a degree that will make you understand more about your culture, and keep you rounded as a person (and allow yourself a fallback career). Journalism is a fickle job industry at the best of times and you can always freelance. Doing a design degree, art degree, something else entirely will make you a much more interesting person. Think of someone with lawyer parents, went to school, studied law and became a lawyer. their view is slanted, and they will be a person with a very specific experience.

that said... unfortunately folks, when journalism/writing/fashion journo entry level jobs are advertised, they usually do ask for journalism graduates. Sometimes it will pay to fall into the 'fatory line'.. just keep up your lifestyle around you/school to keep your experience varied!

and network!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ched]

"Murdoch signals end of free news"

"News Corp is set to start charging online customers for news content across all its websites."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8186701.stm

[prosperk]

Originally Posted by fashionistasista

that said... unfortunately folks, when journalism/writing/fashion journo entry level jobs are advertised, they usually do ask for journalism graduates. Sometimes it will pay to fall into the 'fatory line'.. just keep up your lifestyle around you/school to keep your experience varied!

and network!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is perhaps because the job has already been allocated to someone behind the scenes, often as a result of networking, but employers often have to advertise positions openly to comply with employment legislation so they stick a pro forma ad out there, complete with the stipulation that applicants have to have a degree in journalism, because this reduces the number of applicants to whom they have to send refusals.

PK

[fashionistasista]

Originally Posted by prosperk

This is perhaps because the job has already been allocated to someone behind the scenes, often as a result of networking, but employers often have to advertise positions openly to comply with employment legislation so they stick a pro forma ad out there, complete with the stipulation that applicants have to have a degree in journalism, because this reduces the number of applicants to whom they have to send refusals.

PK

Sometimes, but not always the case. Perhaps its more of an australian custom. Especially in our biggest publishing house, I have heard editors voice their preference for journalism graduates, and its prevalence in job ads cant mean that every one is taken.

[Cicciolina]

To be honest (I'm in Australia as well) I haven't seen this occur at all. They often say "Journalism degree or equivalent qualification or experience" which seems to include a lot more.

[octopi]

some truly interesting and insightful opinions/advice shared on this page. i never thought that it would actually be beneficial to go into fashion journalism with a background in something that is not usually associated with a career in fashion, but i find that very comforting. even though i am an ex-fashion designer looking to explore fashion journalism, it's reassuring that the time i'm currently spending on travelling etc will not go to waste because it seems that magazines aren't just looking for people with an education directly pinpointed on journalism. thanks everyone for the refreshing posts!