Best Media School

SPORTS WRITER

2012-03-02T19:53:00.004-08:00

A sports writer has the responsibility to both entertain and inform people about what is occurring within the world of sports. Some sports writers focus on one particular sport whereas others write on all sports within a given area. Some sports writers are syndicated or are published in more than one newspaper and others may write for a local newspaper or even for a website, blog, magazine or TV show.

Sports writers may work freelance and sell individual stories to various news outlets or they may work for a given publication. Those sports writers that do freelance work pick their sporting events to cover, whereas those that work for a publication are usually assigned stories. Both types of sports writers have to be able to capture the excitement and interest of the reader as well as provide an accurate depiction of the sporting event or issue that they are writing on.

A sports writer must be willing to work long hours and still make deadlines for printing. Most writers now use computer word processing programs that make editing and revising a bit easier, and also allows for submissions by email to meet tight deadlines. Creativity, a very complete understanding of the sport, good rapport with athletes, coaches and managers as well as an ability to write are all important for a sports writer. An interest in news as well as keeping up-to-date on all issues with regards to the sports community is also important on a daily basis.

Common work activities include:

Attending games and sporting events to be able to write accurately and effectively on the events of the game.
Writing insightful, informative and original stories on various aspects of sports from human interest on up to game day results.
Researching, networking and developing contacts in the sporting world that can provide accurate and up-to-date information on various aspects of the sport.
Meeting with publishers, editors and writing teams to develop and obtain assignments or ideas for possible stories.
Keeping in constant contact with athletes, owners, coaches and managers and using high ethical standards to avoid compromising the writing.

Career as a Copy editor

2012-03-01T20:24:00.001-08:00

Copy editors check written material, usually as the final step before it is set into type, to correct errors in grammar, spelling, usage and style (in this case, style refers to a given publication's guidelines for consistency in how words, phrases, typographical elements, etc., are to be used -- or not used).
Copy editors are not proofreaders, although reading proofs is often part of the job description. The difference is that proofreaders (a job title that scarcely exists anymore) are charged with simply looking for typographical and mechanical errors on copy that has already been typeset. Proofreaders -- and, indeed, copy editors reading proofs -- are often criticized rather than praised for making picky changes at that stage in the process, whereas the same changes might well be applauded at the copy-editing stage.

This is probably less true of copy editors in other fields, but newspaper copy editors are expected to be fully qualified journalists. Just as judges are lawyers, astronauts are pilots and FBI agents are cops, newspaper copy editors are reporters first. Many, probably most, of us have actual reporting experience, and those who don't are expected to at least have basic reporting skills. It used to be that copy editors were often burned-out (or even demoted) reporters or upper-level editors, but that phenomenon seems to be less common today.

A copy editor's mandate also includes keeping an eye out for libel (defamatory untruths that could lead to lawsuits) and errors of fact. The extent to which copy editors must verify facts varies widely. In magazine and book publishing, this is usually considered an essential task; sometimes it falls on the shoulders of a copy editor, but often it is the job of a separate fact checker. My experience, however, is in daily newspapers, where deadline constraints usually dictate that the writer must be trusted to get the facts right in the first place. Assigning editors (the reporters' direct supervisors, who usually edit stories for content and organization before they are sent to the copy desk) and copy editors will check "facts" that appear questionable, but they do not have the time to verify that every name is spelled correctly and every figure is accurate.

At some publications more than others, copy editors also have the liberty to rewrite. Copy editors are the last line of defense against bad writing, and writing can certainly be bad even when it's otherwise "clean." Tightening up wordy prose and smoothing awkward transitions are generally considered part of the copy editor's job, but more extensive rewriting usually has to be cleared with the assigning editor -- or, sometimes, the reporter. My experience has been that when rewriting is called for, copy editors usually "bounce" it back to the assigning editor or reporter rather than taking on the task themselves.

The "writing" portion of a copy editor's job generally consists mainly of headlines ("heds") and captions (or "cutlines"). Headline writing is an art in itself with its own set of intricate rules. Basically, the headline writer has to "tell the story" in a specified (usually short) space that depends on the number of columns the hed must cover and the typeface and point size in which it is being written. Headlines on feature stories often employ puns and other wordplay to draw the reader in, and it takes quite a knack to know when such a hed is clever and when it's just plain silly.

Captions are sometimes done by a photo desk (and National Geographic actually has an entire department devoted to them), but usually they're the copy desk's job. Cutlines are also an art form, and the balancing act in this case involves describing what's happening in the picture without stating the obvious.

At newspapers, some copy editors are called upon to do "layout" -- that is, to design pages. This may also involve deciding which stories, photos and graphics will run and which of those will be featured most prominently. Whereas large newspapers generally have separate desks dealing with national and international news, smaller newspapers have this luxury only with local news and must use copy editors as "wire editors" to monitor what the news services are reporting from around the globe. And sometimes the "wire editor" lays out the national and international pages. There are as many configurations as there are newspapers.

Finally, most copy editors have some sort of typesetting chores. "Rim" editors (the rank and file) usually have to insert the proper typesetting codes for headlines, and at some papers they have to do some elaborate pagination coding. The "slot" (supervisor) almost always has to do the actual typesetting, but today that just means hitting a key.

Career in Journalism

2012-03-01T01:48:00.001-08:00

Journalism is, in most respects, the backbone of the media industry. Therefore many media jobs require some aspect of journalism. The type of writing a journalist does depends largely on the subject they cover. Another thing which affects a journalist's job is the outlet they produce news for: TV, the Internet, a newspaper, etc.

That being said, a “traditional” journalist reports the news. What does that mean? Well it can mean various things. The standard image of a journalist, and one often portrayed in movies, is of someone working a beat for a newspaper and finding stories. Which begs the question: What is a beat?

Working a Beat

A beat is a media term for the area, or topic, a journalist covers. So a beat could be anything from local crime, to national news to Hollywood movies. Beats can be very specific, or broader, depending on the kind of publication you’re working for. A mid-size daily newspaper, for example, will have reporters covering everything from local police goings-on to local sports.

Why You Need a Beat

A journalist’s job is to report the news. To find the news, you need to understand the subject matter and the people you’re writing about. Let’s say you’re working a crime beat for a newspaper in Chicago. One morning the police report that there’s been a murder in a posh neighborhood of the city. Now, in order to write about that murder, you need to know what’s been going on in the city. Is this an isolated incident? Was there a similar crime two weeks ago? Two years ago?

People always discuss the five pillars of journalism or the Five Ws -- who, what, where, when and why -- and, the “why,” section can only be filled out by someone with a background and knowledge of their beat. If, for example, you were asked to write about the aforementioned murder in Chicago, and didn’t know anything about the city or the recent criminal activity there, you wouldn’t be able to cover the story in the best way. Because, let’s face it, the story is very different if it’s a random act instead of a potential sign of a crime spree or, let’s say, a serial murderer.

Developing Sources

The other big reason journalists work beats, aside from developing a deep knowledge of the subject they’re covering, is to develop sources. Sources are people you talk to report a story. Now some sources are obvious. If we continue with the example of working as a crime reporter in Chicago, you would have regular sources in the police department. Now some would be obvious -- you would likely speak to a spokesperson for the department whose job it is to handle reporters (a kind of publicist) -- but other contacts might be developed from relations you foster over years of covering a beat.

A journalist often refers to their sources -- everyone knows the saying, ‘I can’t reveal my sources’ -- because these are people they turn to get inside information, or perspective, on a story. Now that bit about “revealing” sources points to an instance when a journalist gets an important piece of information from a person who does not want their identity revealed. If, for example, you’re working on that story about the murder in Chicago and you get information from someone in the police department that the murder looks like it might be the work of a serial killer, that officer might not want his name given out. After all, he’s giving you information that might get him in trouble. So, when you write the story about the murder, you wouldn't name your source or reveal his identity to anyone. (If you did reveal his identity, no one would ever want to give you secret information, or information that people in business refer to as stuff that’s "off the record.")

When a journalist works a beat over time they develop a multitude of sources. This means that they know who to call when something happens and they know the people who will talk to them. A good journalist establishes solid relationships with his sources so he can turn to them to get information. Although people don’t always like talking to reporters -- especially when the story is about a scandal or something negative -- a good journalist will have sources who recognize that there is a positive in getting a story out, and getting it out correctly. In other words, a good journalist will develop a respectful relationship with his sources.

Careers _Broadcasting Overview

2012-02-29T01:42:00.003-08:00

We all know the faces and voices of the most famous people working in broadcasting: the Katie Courics, Anderson Coopers, and Howard Sterns of the world. But for each one of these media darlings, there are hundreds of relatively anonymous broadcasters working more niche or regionally focused broadcast outlets. There are also hundreds of other folks who work behind the scenes, doing things like producing broadcast segments, writing broadcast scripts, operating cameras and other equipment, and applying makeup to broadcasters before they go on the air.

From world news to local high school sports reporting to the countdown of the top music videos on cable TV, broadcasting generally encompasses any audio or visual programming that is disseminated to a large number of radio or television receivers. Although that definition could be expanded to include Web-based media outlets, this career profile focuses on opportunities in radio and television news production and station management.

Broadcasting is a lot like other entertainment sectors. At the end of the day, the success of a broadcast outlet like a TV or radio station depends on its ability to entertain its audience, satisfy its audience's hunger for information, or both.

Announcers, producers, directors, and everyone else must work together to tailor a station's programming to attract the largest possible audience, which in turn attracts advertising revenue or, in the case of nonprofit stations, public funding and support. In smaller markets, stations may also be responsible for producing ads.

Careers in TV Industry

2012-02-27T22:13:00.004-08:00

There are three main areas of work in the commercial sector, and there are different types of people, different skills, different training routes demanded and different career paths for each.

PRODUCTION - CONTENTRoles include: Producer, Director, Journalist, Researcher and Writer. This area divides into as many genres of programmes as you care to name. The overriding things being looked for are: ideas and efficiency, in addition to the actual specific abilities for the role you are going up for. To take two genres:
Factual Programming - Current Affairs, DocumentariesTo be a producer or director in this area, a common career path would be to train as a journalist in print, radio or as a researcher in television. From there one would progress to being a senior researcher in television, then an Assistant Producer and then Producer and / or Director. That would be a common path, but you will always find directors who perhaps did a Politics degree, then were sound recordists and then a Director; or some other weird and wonderful route.
Fiction Programming - TV DramaProducers of TV Drama can come from a variety of backgrounds, a variety of routes. There is a common career path - of sorts. They may do Drama or English at university, they may not. They may work in the theatre afterwards and then progress to script reading or writing, or continuity in television. But you will meet Producers who did none of these things, and took other routes such as moving from Production Secretary to Producer.
PRODUCTION - TECHNICALRoles include: Camera, Sound, Lighting, Editing, Art, Engineering. Here Career Paths may be simpler. Specific technical skills and technical problem solving are key; if you do not have such abilities to a high level, you will not work. Traditionally one trained on the job - as assistant camera, or assistant sound - and then went freelance, or found work as the principal yourself. Video and digital technology has meant that “assistant” is no longer a common role, so more and more people have to train for technical roles at Film Schools or in University Departments, or with equipment manufacturers or facilities houses. In addition to the technical skills, employers and producers who employ camera, sound, editors etc. will look for flexibility, a friendly personality and a “can do” attitude.

GENERAL - ADMIN, SUPPORTRoles include: Production Manager, Production Accountant, Lawyer, PA This area of work is relatively conventional by comparison. Whether secretary or lawyer, accountant or personnel manager, you train in the normal way. But even here there are some television-specific roles, such as Production Manager (PM), which have no real set training route as yet. PMs are a mixture of budget controller, organiser, recruiter, administrative chief, general factotum and any other job they might take on for a production. They know technical folk and their rates, they know film processes and their costs; they know most things that are relevant, and if they don't…they know how to find out fast. There are short training courses around for this role, but the only real way ultimately may be to observe and learn at work.

Career as Radio and television announcers

2012-02-26T20:41:00.003-08:00

Radio and television announcers perform a variety of tasks on and off the air. They announce station program information, such as program schedules and station breaks for commercials, or public-service information, and they introduce and close programs. Announcers read prepared scripts or make ad-lib commentary on the air as they present news, sports, the weather, the time, and commercials. If a written script is required, they may do the research and writing. Announcers also interview guests and moderate panels or discussions. Some provide commentary for the audience during sporting events, at parades, and on other occasions. Announcers often are well known to radio and television audiences and may make promotional appearances and do remote broadcasts for their stations.

Announcers at smaller stations may have more off-air duties as well. They may operate the control board, monitor the transmitter, sell commercial time to advertisers, keep a log of the station's daily programming, and produce advertisements and other recorded material. At many radio stations, announcers do much of the work previously performed by editors and broadcast technicians, such as operating the control board, which is used to broadcast programming, commercials, and public-service announcements according to the station's schedule. Announcers frequently participate in community activities. Sports announcers, for example, may serve as masters of ceremony at sports club banquets or may greet customers at openings of sporting-goods stores.

Radio announcers who broadcast music often are called disc jockeys (DJs). Some DJs specialize in one kind of music, announcing selections as they air them. Most DJs do not select much of the music they play (although they often did so in the past); instead, they follow schedules of commercials, talk, and music provided to them by management. While on the air, DJs comment on the music, weather, and traffic. They may take requests from listeners, interview guests, and manage listener contests. Many radio stations now require DJs to update their station Web site.Work environment. Announcers usually work in well-lighted, air-conditioned, soundproof studios. Announcers often work within tight schedules, which can be physically and mentally stressful. For many announcers, the intangible rewards—creative work, many personal contacts, and the satisfaction of becoming widely known—far outweigh the disadvantages of irregular and often unpredictable hours, work pressures, and disrupted personal lives.

The broadcast day is long for radio and TV stations—many are on the air 24 hours a day—so announcers can expect to work unusual hours. Many present early-morning shows, when most people are getting ready for work or commuting, while others do late-night programs. The shifts, however, are not as varied as in the past, because new technology has allowed stations to eliminate most of the overnight hours. Many announcers work part time.

Careers in Editorial and Writing

2012-02-24T23:55:00.001-08:00

Although many of us are writers and editors in our everyday life-correcting the spelling on a memo, questioning the insight of a newspaper reporter, writing emails-not everyone is suited to turning communication into a career. But the field is perfect for you if you possess an ongoing engagement with language and a keen desire to communicate ideas to people effectively and efficiently. Careers in this industry vary widely: The subject, length, and style of what you write or edit are variables that depend on where you work and the position you've chosen.
Writers tell stories. Business writers tell stories about companies and their management teams, organizational structures, and economic successes and failures. Feature writers tell stories about celebrities, movies, and people doing different, sometimes unusual, things. Copywriters use language to convey a story about the benefits of a brand or product. Writing almost always requires research or knowledge about a particular subject. While many writers start out as generalists, in the course of reporting or writing a story, they must become experts.

Editors often start out as writers, and in many cases their role involves substantial writing. However, their role also bridges the space between writer and publication. They help writers craft stories, make sure writers adhere to style guidelines and rules of grammar, and ensure that every article is suitable for a particular publication. Editors straddle management and production, often managing writers and budgets, setting deadlines, scheduling what will run and when, and enforcing general editorial standards of quality.

Editorial and writing careers span industries. Advertising agencies hire copywriters to create compelling copy that will sell readers on a brand. PR agencies use writers to create press releases, write annual reports, draft speeches, and create op-eds (opinion pieces that PR firms try to "place" in newspapers to reach target groups). Computer software and hardware companies use technical writers and editors to develop documentation and technical information on software and hardware products.

Career as a Media Planner

2012-02-23T20:52:00.003-08:00

Media Planner

Media planners, also known as brand planners or brand strategists, work at advertising agencies and create clients' ad campaigns. The media planners interact somewhat with the creatives -- i.e. the copywriters creating the ads and the ad copy -- but predominantly with the clients making decisions about how a media campaign will unfold. A big part of the media planner’s job is to pick the right kinds of places (the correct TV shows and magazines) to place different ads so that the client's product (and brand) is advertised to the correct audience.

You need a specific training or a graduate/PG degree to become a media planner as many agencies do require a college degree. Ad agencies offer entry level positions in the area.

The main thing a media planner needs is a willingness, and eagerness, to learn about the advertising world. The job can be very social, because it entails working with clients, so an interest in socializing with colleagues and clients is important. Also key is an understanding of how marketing and advertising work. How can a client -- a company with a specific product -- best brand themselves? Media planners need to be able to devise strategies for branding and, to do so, they must know the entertainment world (what TV shows and magazines attract what audience) so they can place the ads appropriately. Media planners need to know which shows, websites, magazines and other purveyors of entertainment will draw the client's desired audience.

While a lot of media planners will learn about the intricacies of the advertising world by working at an agency, bringing an interest to this aspect of media is key to success in a job like this.

Career in Scripts

2012-02-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

Scriptwriters are skilled writers who prepare scripts for commercials, soap operas, comedies, and dramas that appear on television, in films, and on stage.

One type of scriptwriter, known as the continuity writer, creates station announcements, previews of coming shows, and advertising copy for local sponsors. These editors may also write material for locally produced shows. They must be able to write persuasively, creatively, and quickly because of the pressure of deadlines.

Writing for television is quite different from writing scripts for films or stage plays. Broadcasting scriptwriters must be able to write "to order"—for a certain audience, to fill a certain time slot. It can be almost a technical job to turn out exactly thirty-five pages of double-spaced dialogue every day. Most importantly, the writer must tailor the script to the time of day the show appears on the air; scripts for shows that air at ten o'clock in the morning are different from those that air at ten o'clock at night or even four o'clock in the afternoon. The writer may also be working as part of a team under a head writer who makes many of the creative decisions. In television broadcasting, writing what the show calls for under a strict timetable is often more important than artistic expression.

Writers who want fewer restrictions on their artistic freedom tend to write for motion pictures or for the stage. Working with an agent, motion picture writers may submit an original screenplay to a motion picture producer or studio, or they may negotiate for the job of turning a novel or play into a screenplay. Playwrights hire agents to submit their plays for performance, or they may try to get their work published in book form. Although the rewards are lucrative, competition is keen in these fields. There are few highly successful playwrights or screenplay writers.

In all cases, scriptwriters must be able to imagine the effect of their words when they are spoken in a production. It is not enough that the words look good on paper—they Scriptwriters may need to work with designers to ensure that the environment they imagine can actually be built. (© Terry Wild Studio. Reproduced by permission.) must work well when one actor is speaking to another actor. Whereas a playwright usually includes only a few stage directions, a movie or television scriptwriter may detail the visuals as well as the written dialogue. These details are particularly important in movies, where a long and important sequence may require no speaking parts at all.

Like most writers, scriptwriters usually have the freedom to write when and where they choose, provided they meet their deadlines. Those who write for a television series or who are under contract to a motion picture company may share writing duties with others. They may attend script conferences where guidelines are set and may be very busy for several weeks while the shows are being prepared. When the shows are done, they can relax for a while; however, the pressure is seldom off freelance writers, particularly if they are trying to earn their living solely by writing. Stamina and persistence are very important for a successful freelance career writing for stage, television, or motion pictures.

Career as a TV News Anchor

2012-02-21T20:35:00.001-08:00

At the networks the TV news anchors present the news. You know the people -- the ones sitting there behind a desk (or in the field) telling you what’s happening in the world that day. Whether broadcasting from a small local station or manning one of the network’s primetime broadcasts, TV news anchors compile news stories and deliver them.

Being a news anchor requires a number of skills, the first of which is a comfort in front of the camera. There’s an element of show business in the job of a news anchor -- not only do you need to be comfortable in front of the camera but you need to make people want to watch you. The latter may not be something you can learn but, certainly, gaining comfort speaking to the camera is a skill you can hone.
A news anchor also needs to be able to think on his feet. While many anchors will read scripts -- off of a teleprompter or notes on their desk -- information can also be transmitted aurally. If news is breaking information may be fed to an anchor on the spur of the moment from a producer. The anchor needs to be able to listen to what’s happening and then relay the information to the audience in a clear and concise manner.

How much reporting is involved in an anchor’s job is dependent on where the anchor works and what type of broadcast they work on. Some anchors, especially at local news stations, will report their own stories (perhaps with help from a producer or other staffer), and write the scripts they then transmit on the air. In that sense, an anchor works very much like a reporter with the main difference being that they need to craft the story in a way that works for television.Anchors need to get time in front of the camera. Most jobs are gotten with a tape, or a sample of your work on-air. Before you look for a job as an anchor, you need to have done an internship at a local station (and gotten some time on-air), or studied communications in college.

There are also myriad opportunities on-air at the various cable news channels.

Careers in magazines

2012-02-21T01:06:00.002-08:00

If you love magazines a career in magazine publishing might be ideal for you. Editors, writers, photographers and others bring a magazine together and the exciting world of magazine publishing can be a glamorous field to work in for creative people with a passion for print.

1. Art Director
Art directors are responsible for the look of a magazine. If you notice, Vanity Fair has quite a different look than, say, Entertainment Weekly; this is, in large part, the work of art directors, who oversee how the words and pictures on every page of the magazine will match up to create a cohesive and signature look.

2. Copy Editor
Someone needs to make sure all the stories in the magazine check out, grammatically; that someone is the copy editor. Copy editors combat dangling modifiers, errant commas and every other grammatical no-no in the book. If you're passionate about language -- specifically grammar and usage -- a job as a copy editor could be perfect for you.

3. Fact Checker
Every story that appears in a magazine needs to be checked for accuracy; this is where a fact checker comes in. All magazines rely on fact checkers to ensure that quotes and all factual information included in an article are accurate. If you're someone who's good with detail, and appreciates the fact-finding aspect of journalism, this is the right job for you.

4. Magazine Editor
Magazine editors are the wordsmiths behind the content in magazines. While some editors do more writing, others are more heavily involved with assigning stories and editing them. (A good assigning editor needs to have a rolodex full of strong writers to contact.) Either way, this job is a perfect fit for someone who's passionate about magazine journalism.

5. Photo Editor
Photo editors oversee, as you probably guessed, the photography that appears in a magazine. Although most photo editors don't actually take the pictures -- their job is primarily to hire other photographers to do that -- it's up to them to ensure that the right image winds up on the page. If you have a background in photography, and love working with professionals in the field, this could be a great job for you.

Careers as account executives -ad campaigns

2012-02-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

In short, account executives oversee ad campaigns. Advertising agencies are multifaceted, in so far as they create campaigns for clients across a number of mediums -- print, TV, online. Because of this fact there are various people working on different aspects of a single campaign.

While one department within an agency might be creating a series of print ads for a client, another department might be fashioning a series of television ads. Despite this fact all the ads being created need to be getting across the same message, and it's the account executive's job to make sure that's happening.

Put another way, the account executive is there to make sure all the people creating the various components of the campaign are working in a unified manner, and staying on target with the message of the campaign as hammered out by the media planner.

The account executive is also the liaison between the client and the advertising agency. This means that it's up to the account executive to distill the client’s wishes to the creatives at the agency, and vice versa.most agencies look to hire people with a college degree. Account executives, who need to be skilled at working with people and distilling ideas and directions in a clear and concise way, work their way up at advertising agencies. Generally account execs prove their worth by successfully handling accounts and moving on to work on multiple accounts and/or bigger accounts. Above the account executive position is the account manager.

Become a Blogger

2012-02-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest changes to come with the evolution of new media has been the proliferation of blogs and bloggers. As blogs on seemingly every conceivable topic have been launched, media outlets began publishing more and more of them. Now established media outlets -- magazines, newspapers, TV stations, etc. -- are hiring bloggers and launching blogs.

Bloggers, in many ways, are a cross between reporters and op-ed columnists. What largely distinguishes blogging from regular reporting is that bloggers are often citing information second-hand -- the amount of original reporting bloggers do varies -- and they are injecting more opinion into their pieces, or posts. Bloggers are, more often than not, pulling original reporting from other sources and then commenting on it. (This site, for example, features a blog about media careers on its homepage. And, on that blog, I'm culling stories and information about the media world, from other sources, and commenting on it.)

While many of the blogs launched by papers and magazines rely on staff editors for their content, the expansion of the blogosphere has created a crop of new jobs in the media world. And, as more and more content migrates to the web, companies are increasingly looking to hire people to blog and write original online stories.

Become a Web Producer

2012-02-16T22:32:00.000-08:00

A web producer is a hybrid position that combines aspects of journalism, design and marketing. Web producers are responsible for driving traffic to web pages and, more than simply the look of a website, web producers need to focus on the user experience. This means deciding how content is presented. Should, for example, the content appear as an article? As a poll? In video form? To that end, web producers need to know the most effective way for users to interact with a site. Some web producers may have more of a technical role, while others may be more heavily involved in the creation of content. How much content a web producer creates varies from position to position.

Become a Web Producer
Web producers can come from a variety of backgrounds and usually either hail from a design/technical background or a content background. There’s no specific degree that’s needed for a job as a web producer -- the career itself isn’t that old – and most employers will look to see you have a college diploma and the requisite experience. In general a web producer needs to be as comfortable editing and creating content as they are with web production and maintenance.

Skills to Become a Web Producer
Not only will you need solid writing skills to become a web producer, you’ll also need to be very comfortable creating content for the Web. To that end you will probably need to know certain programs, like Flash, HTML and others, in addition to being able to demonstrate your ability to drive traffic to a site. Also, since web producers need to be able to measure the traffic coming to a site, you’ll also need to be comfortable tracking and digesting web metrics.

Career as an Online Editor

2012-02-16T21:26:00.001-08:00

Online editors, also known as online producers or web producers, oversee the content on websites. An online editor functions, in some ways, as a magazine editor, blogger and journalist rolled into one. Because an online editor is overseeing content on a website, he or she may need to follow traffic patterns to glean what content draws more users to the site.

Because web traffic can be tracked in ways magazine readership cannot -- companies can track how many people receive a magazine but not what articles are the most popular within the magazine -- online editors are often expected to create content with a deeper eye to how it’s being consumed. Online editors also need to have a deeper understanding of how a website works.

The good thing about jobs in online editing and producing is that they’re plentiful. Online content creation is one of the growing areas in the media world because so many companies -- traditional print publications and non-traditional ones -- are eager to capture readers online. Interestingly it’s a relatively new field as well, so a lot of experimentation is going on.

To break into this field, you’ll need experience working online and creating online content. Employers want to see online editors who understand how readers are reading online, so you need to have experience working at a website. In short, you need to be able to demonstrate you’ve written for the Web and know how to do that, so your clips should be from websites. Internships working for websites is also key. Additionally, experience blogging and knowledge of HTML will help.

Online editors need to be comfortable with both writing and technology. Because an online editor is crafting stories -- or editing the stories of other writers -- he or she needs strong writing and journalistic skills. But an online editor also needs to be interested in, and aware of, the technology which wraps around the story. Should a particular story include a video component? Where on the site should it be placed? If the story doesn’t include video, should it include pictures? An online editor might have to answer all those questions and then be able to use whatever tool is required to add the needed component, be it video or pictures.

An online editor may also need to be comfortable with gathering and analyzing a certain amount of data. Unlike writers and editors who work in print, an online editor might need to track what kinds of stories generate more traffic to inform the creation of future stories. In other words, an online editor needs to be comfortable paying attention to traffic stats and incorporating lessons learned from those stats in the content creation process.

How to Become a Photo Editor

2012-02-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

Photo editors oversee the photography that appears in a magazine, primarily working as a point person for communicating with, and hiring, photographers. Photo editors also work for newspapers and other publications which feature photography.

The Necessary Skills

Although photo editors aren’t actually shooting the pictures, they need to know a great deal about photography and have extensive contacts in the industry.

Not only does a photo editor need to be able to translate the editor’s ideas to the photographer who’s hired, but they need to find the right person for the job. This means that a photo editor needs extensive contacts within the photo industry, since they need to know what kind of photographers will be available and who does what best. If the shoot calls for various shots of a family, that will likely require a different photographer than a beauty shoot of various products -- the photo editor needs to know who to assign what to, and when.

One of the best ways to glean what a profession might be like, and whether it’s right for you, is to talk to people in the industry. Below are interviews with, and stories by, working photo editors:

Careers as An art director

2012-02-15T23:18:00.001-08:00

An art director oversees the art, i.e. the photographs and drawn images, that appear in newspapers, magazines, ad campaigns and on book covers. An art director is usually the person who oversees the entire design department, working with photo editors and editors to coordinate what images will match up with what words.

More than simply assigning a photographer or illustrator to create an image, an art director works on creating visual concepts. At a magazine an art director would work to create the specific look and feel of the entire magazine, ensuring there’s a unified visual look throughout. If you notice that certain magazines maintain different types of “looks” -- with certain layouts and certain types of images -- you’re picking up on the work of the art director.

Where Do Art Directors Work?

Art directors work throughout media in advertising, in book publishing and at magazines. Art directors usually specialize in one sector -- focusing on, say, advertising or book publishing -- and the type of work they do varies on their subset of the industry. At magazines art directors conceive of layouts and the art that will match up with the various stories in the magazine. At book publishing houses art directors often focus solely on book covers, hiring designers to create those covers and overseeing their work. (An art director at some book publishing houses may also do some of the designing.) At ad agencies art directors, usually working with acopywriter, create the images that go with an ad campaign. At ad agencies art directors may specialize in a specific area, such as print (creating ads for magazines), TV or Web.

How Do You Become an Art Director?

Most art directors have degrees from art schools, where they’ve studied graphic design, photography and drawing. (A background in graphic design is usually essential for most art director jobs today.) In today’s job market art directors also need to know various computer programs (most run on Macs) that allow them to work with everything from photographs to font sizes. While photoshop is a standard program all art directors should know, this is just one of many. For more on specific programs art directors should know, you can check out this video.

Art directors who’ve gone to art school are usually trained in the computer programs needed to get jobs in the field. Art schools will also provide candidates with a portfolio, which is necessary to land most jobs in this field. Art directors, who often work up to that title (from assistant positions), need to show examples of their work. Someone looking to work as an art director in an ad agency, for example, need to show a potential employer sample ad campaigns he’s created. To get these samples, you need to have experience from an internship or from your art school experience.

Career as a Production Assistant

2012-02-14T22:56:00.000-08:00

The PA position is a lot of grunt work, but can be extremely educational. It is a highly visible position in that just about anyone can give you an order, from the producer to a sound technician. The production assistants who do as they're told without complaint are the ones who are remembered when it comes time to fill more important positions.The production assistant, or PA position, is the entry level position on a film or television set. The production assistant does just about anything and everything, from making script copies to shuttling crew or equipment around town as needed. How much a production assistant does really depends on the budget of the production as well as how much faith his/her superiors have in their abilities.
Skills & Education:
Although no particular educational background is necessary to be an effective production assistant, it is crucial that you have the following skills:

Be a Good Listener: No one likes to have to repeat themselves, so be on your toes at all times and listen to whatever direction is given.
Be Responsible: Production assistants are extremely easy to replace on a set and if you're late, lazy or hard to manage, you won't be there long.
Be Willing to Learn: Without being an obstacle, do all you can to learn as much as you can about every job on a set.
Be Patient: If you're good at what you do, someone will notice.
Another name for a production assistant is "Gopher", as in, "go-for-this" and "go-for-that." The best production assistants and the ones to be promoted out of the PA position first are those who simply don't know the meaning of the word "no" or the phrase, "I can't." As a PA, the more you do as you're told, the faster you will rise. But that doesn't mean be a robot -- after all, creative thinking is an excellent asset to have as a PA.
Career Advice:
If you have a bit of an ego about letting other people direct your actions, then either leave it at the door, or find another line of work. The production assistant position is one that takes a lot of emotional abuse from a number of different departments, but do as you're told and learn as much as you can from anyone willing to teach you. After a little while, you might just find yourself with a new promotion your own production assistant.

Creative Writing

2012-02-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

Are you fond of writing? Do you have the flair to juggle words to explain your thoughts creatively? Creative writing is another potential career field that promises good monetary returns. But the field is not for everyone. A career in creative writing is considered as an artistic work gifted by God to special people. These people are the creative writers, known by various names such as novelists, poets, lyricists etc. who are engaged in writing books, articles, stories, especially as an occupation or profession. Most of writers have magical powers in writing and through their work, they can influence the readers and can make them upset, disgusted, spellbound or happy.
Creating writing is a long process which requires a lot of research and hard work. Creative writing is the writing in which a writer aims to express his/ her emotions, feelings, imaginative ideas and thoughts, through prose and poetic verses. Any kind of writing like novels, poems, stories, drama, autobiography, script writing, copy writing etc. can be considered as creative writing.

The foremost and the essential things required to become a creative writer is the passion for writing and love to communicate with words. Creative writing is a field which requires a lot of imagination, observation and an inborn ability to create pictures of the natural world. One can become a good writer by reading articles on variety of topics and styles; experiencing life in every way and learning and listening to a lot of idioms, accents, and local expressions. One can also improve their writing skills by taking a course in creative writing.
The major task of creative writer is to create a work in an interesting or appealing manner. Each work has to be organized cohesively with a clear beginning, middle and an end and must be targeted at an audience. Creative writers are expected to deliver original and high class content with no grammar and spelling mistakes. Copying of content from any other media is strictly prohibited in the field of creative writing, as it may create serious legal complications. So one has to write the content, whatever the topics may be in an original style and language. For this, a thorough research is needed that can be done by referring related informative book, encyclopedia, talking to people proficient in the topic or by searching the internet.

Many people enjoy creative writing as a hobby. They can turn it into a profession and start earning with great opportunities. The demand for creative writers has increased at the global level, with the recent boom in the print media. Scope in this field is endless and one can become a novelist, journalist, short story writer, copywriter and so on. Creative writing jobs promise a good career path with excellent growth prospects and attractive salaries, if it is taken seriously with complete devotion.

Careers in Media

2012-02-13T01:46:00.000-08:00

The terrific growth and development in the field of communication and technology has made the world a small place to live in. Be it the Academy Awards in Hollywood, Tôhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, or the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the media ensures that you are provided with the latest updates on the happenings around the world. Not just through radio, newspaper, magazines, books, documentaries, or television, information is also spread through the more recently online media called internet as well, such as blogs, forums, etc. This tremendous and unbelievable achievement has given rise to challenging and highly rewarding career opportunities to explore in the vast field of media. This industry is responsible for communicating unbiased and objective information and generating public opinion on the same. Further, the privatization of this industry has opened doors for creative minds and innovative skills to utilize to the best. The expansion of the media industry owes a lot to the interactive nature and technological innovations. Individuals with futuristic ideas, technical knowledge, and willingness to adapt to changes, have promising and lucrative career options to explore in media.

Career Prospects
There are ample prospering career opportunities for creative and talented people in the field of media. Numerous reputed media organizations/groups, like Times Group, UTV, Adlabs, Sony, Sahara Group, and Mukta Arts recruit competent and trained media professionals. Options to become an RJ, anchor, news reporter, or VJ are also open. Besides, advertising offers a number of job options in media planning department, client-servicing, or creative team.

Careers in Publishing

2012-02-11T00:53:00.001-08:00

Publishing is a process of providing printed information through books, magazines, journals, newspapers, database, and directories for mass circulation. Initially, publishing was restricted to print media, such as books and newspapers, but due to digital information systems and the Internet, its scope has spread to electronic media today. As such, one can find virtual books (e-books) on the Internet and in the form of CDs. To build a career in the field of publishing, one has to gain knowledge about its several techniques, including development, acquisition, copyediting, graphic designing, production, printing, marketing, and distribution of written materials and information through various media. In India, publishing as a career can prove to be very beneficial and lucrative, due to its extensive importance in both print and electronic media. Currently, there are many institutes in India offering courses in publishing. On completion of the course, students can find umpteen opportunities in private and government publishing houses, as a sub editor or assistance editor, production in-charge, sales & marketing manager. As an alternate, freelancing also makes a great option.

Career Prospects
Apart from jobs in the private sector, one can also approach government-run publishing houses. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Education and Culture have their own publication divisions. Freshers can seek employment in the publication division of these ministries as an editor, assistant sub editor, sub editor, assistant editor, or associate editor. In the production department, individuals can work as production in-charge. The marketing department of publication houses also has sufficient job openings for freshers and experienced.

Careers in Fashion Journalism

2012-02-09T22:47:00.001-08:00

Careers in Fashion Journalism

Anything and everything written about fashion and fashion related activities can be termed as fashion journalism. It constitutes a wide range of activities, right from writing and editing stories and articles to styling photo shoots and researching the current and future trends of fashion, along with public relations, interviewing, and designing. With the rising growth and popularity of the Indian fashion industry in global trends as well as in the home front, fashion journalists have created a niche for themselves as fashionistas who can review and report on the emerging fashion trends. To become a good fashion journalist, fashion critic, or fashion reporter, one needs to be imaginative, inventive, organized, and should possess excellent abilities to look beyond one’s personal experiences and understand fashion in a more wider and diverse context. One needs to acquire the knowledge about the techniques of news gathering and reporting with emphasis on expressing ideas and impressions.

Career Prospects

The job of a fashion journalist is to write about anything related to brands and styles, fashion trends, and reviewing and covering events. With the right terminology, trends, fabrics, and styles and how to write about fashion, fashion journalists can do wonders in this field. Most techniques can be learned by assisting other fashion designers, photographers, etc. As a fashion journalist, one can choose to work as a freelancer or as a staff writer in a publication house. Several career pathways are available in this field, depending upon the strengths and interests of individuals and the publications which hire fashion journalists. Here, one is not restricted to work for only glamorous fashion magazines. An individual can seek employment in fashion critique and commentary programs on the television and Internet. Besides, they can try their hand at reviewing and reporting about the latest fashion on the ramp and red carpet.

Careers in Photo Journalism

2012-02-08T23:44:00.002-08:00

Photojournalism is a form of journalism, wherein the person clicks, develops, and submits images relevant to a news story. Initially, the term 'photojournalism' was restricted to still photography. Its scope has now widened and in the present time, photo journalists even shoot videos to come up with a good news item/ feature – a trend commonly seen in citizen journalism. Photo journalism is not merely about taking the best shots, but also how to click news-worthy photographs, in accordance with the interest of the reader. Generally, the work of a photojournalist is quite similar to a reporter, except the fact that a photo journalist doesn’t gather, write, and report news stories. To become a successful photojournalist, one should have thorough knowledge about the three principles of photo journalism - timeliness, objectivity, and narrative. He/She should be able to use modern gadgets like digital camera, state-of-the-art studios, and other software in order to develop quality photographs. Photojournalism is a lucrative career option in India, since it has become an integral part of mainstream journalism. As a result, many institutions that offer courses in journalism have also included photo journalism in their curriculum.

Career Prospects
Photojournalists can work for newspapers, magazines, or any other media houses. One can opt for commercial photography, fashion photography, industrial photography, wildlife photography, aerial photography, scientific photography, etc. as his/her specialized field.

Career as Video Jockey

2012-02-07T22:28:00.001-08:00

If keeping the audience and guests entertained through energetic music is the job of a DJ, a VJ is responsible for the same, but through his witty dialogues, pleasing personality, and compelling presentation. Similar to the work of a DJ, a VJ, too, has to amuse the audience with his distinct capabilities in order to keep them hooked to the idiot-box. A VJ, or a video jockey, can anchor various television programs, such as musical phone-in program, a talk show, or reality shows, wherein he/she interacts with ordinary people, either indoor or outdoor. For entertaining and amusing the viewers, a VJ can look out for various interesting methods, such as conveying messages, telecasting videos, playing songs, and so on. To become a successful and renowned VJ, an individual should possess the qualities of being passionate, vibrant, enthusiastic, eager to learn more, energetic, and amiable. Besides, one should have a great sense of humor and be a reservoir of knowledge on the subjects being discussed. The most important aspect of video jockeying is the display of confidence in front of the camera and instant wit. A video jockey not only has to perform in front of the camera, but is also required to actively participate in the pre-production work, which includes deciding the theme of the program, selecting the songs to be played, and even preparing the script.

Career Prospects
The launch of numerous music channels, game, travel and chitchat shows has increased the demand for skilled and proficient video jockeys. Video jockeys are hired for anchoring shows on numerous music channels, such as MTV, Channel V, B4U Music, etc. One can also see VJs presenting game shows and reality shows on popular television channels. Countless opportunities are open for competent video jockeys. Apart from anchoring, one can opt for modeling, acting in music videos and films, and work as PR executives. VJs, who have good voice quality and taste for music, can try for radio jockeying as well.

Careers in Screenplay Writing

2012-02-06T23:35:00.000-08:00

Screenplay can be defined as a written document that consists of the story of a film or a television program. Through screenplay, one can describe all visual and behavioral elements which are essential for explaining a story. All the work of a director, cast, editor, and production team revolves around the screenplay or the script. Therefore, it becomes highly significant for a scriptwriter to draft a script that is comprehensive and clear, so as to let every member of the team (in a film or a television program) get a brief idea about the narrative. There are two important components of writing a screenplay - action and dialogue. While action is written in present tense, dialogues, on the other hand, are written for the characters of the film/television serial/telefilm. Therefore, screenplay or scriptwriting depends on the mind and thinking of a scriptwriter. Screenplay writing has emerged as a well-paid job, because success of a motion picture predominantly lies in its screenplay. A number of institutes in India conduct courses for screenplay writing.

Career Prospects
Screenplay can prove to be highly lucrative yet challenging, at the same time. The result of a film or a television program largely depends upon the way the screenplay is written. After pursuing a course in screenplay writing, one can develop screenplay for stories from different genres, such as comedy, drama, science fiction, action, romantic etc.

Careers in Content Writing

2012-02-04T01:18:00.001-08:00

Creating content for the web can be termed as content writing. An offshoot of the cyber media, content writing, also known as web content writing, has emerged as a prospective career line in the media industry. Whether it is expanding one’s business or promoting a product or service, content writing has become one of the most effective ways of accomplishing the targets, through writing articles and publishing them on the web. However, wed content developing is entirely different from print or any other media form. Even though a content writer is desired to draft articles, but this is achieved only after carrying out extensive research of the topic and material to be included in the article, being sketched. Apart from incorporating all the creative ideas and juicy thoughts in the article, the information so written must be factually correct and authentic, in order to make the website genuine and not plagiarized. While keeping the target audience in mind, the content should be precise and must help in the proliferation of the sales of the product, thereby generating revenues. Familiarity with correct grammar and appropriate use of key words is always an advantage while climbing the ladder in content writing. The article written should be interesting enough to attract advertisers, create maximum readership, and increase the popularity of both the content and the website.

Career Prospects
With the expansion of Business-to-Business and Business-to-Customer organizations, the scope of content writing has widened. The career can be pursued on both full-time and part-time basis. Apart from executing the routine 9-6 job, one can also opt for freelancing, that is, working for more than one organization at a time. One can opt for technical writing or feature writing. Numerous organizations have started hiring content writers to expand their business. A content writer can work with business houses or websites that deal with developing content to promote/sell their products. After gaining considerable experience, a content writer is usually promoted to the post of content editor.

Careers in Media Planning

2012-02-03T01:22:00.000-08:00

With the media and advertising industry emerging as the most powerful ways of communicating any message to the masses, the career options in the field are expanding. Media planning is among the most promising and lucrative career options in the current job scenario. It includes selection of media for the placement of advertisements on behalf of clients, keeping the budget and target audience in mind. A media planner acts as a mediator between media organization and the client. He/She helps the client in purchasing air time slots or print space for the advertisement. Apart from merely being a mediator, a media planner has to learn the market trends, analyze target audience, and understand their psychology. One has to be constantly updated with the changing trends in media to become a successful media planner. Media planners should have excellent communication skills, as they have to effectively express their thoughts to their clients. They have to be enthusiastic, passionate, pro-active, good observer, quick decision maker. In short, a good media planner should possess all the skills necessary for handling difficult circumstances with ease and optimum utilization of resources. Thorough knowledge of current media trends is also important to excel in this field. Last, but not the least, a media planner should be a good negotiator and be able put forth his terms and conditions persuasively.

Career Prospects
Apart from independent media planning agencies, advertising agencies are always in need of good media planners. With numerous advertising agencies in the market, one can opt for a booming career in media planning. With diverse media options, employment in media planning has emerged as a preferred job line for most young aspirants.

Careers in Art Direction

2012-02-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Art direction is one of the most promising career options today, considering the size of the entertainment industry in India. Proliferation of satellite TV channels, stage shows, drama, and theatre, along with feature films have thrown up limitless opportunities in the field of art direction. The job profile consists of an exhaustive list, such as selecting the right location, conceiving visuals in 3D, working in close co-ordination with the film director, cinematographer, and costume designer to develop the feel and look of each frame to supervise the decoration and sticking to the budget allocation.

Career Prospects
Art directors have multiple career opportunities. They can work with production houses and advertising agencies for directing feature films, TV serials and programmes, reality shows, and ad campaigns. Art directors can also excel in theatre and drama. They can work with various government departments apart from the public broadcasters in directing specific programmes pertaining to that department. Lucrative employment opportunities in media houses, particularly electronics media, are available in plenty. For a fresh graduate, it is best to start working under an established art designer and pick up tricks of the trade during the course of the job.

Careers in Film & TV

2012-01-31T21:56:00.000-08:00

If anyone wants creativity along with technology in his/her job, then building a career in films and TV could be a bright option. Nowadays, jobs in film and television have become a widely popular career option among youngsters, because they fetch money, name, and fame. Film and television is not just about entertainment and information, but it is also a great means of communication that has erased all the cultural barriers. Talking of career options in this field, there are ample job opportunities in the entertainment industry. Opportunities are there for talented professionals in the areas of acting, production, direction, editing, cinematography, choreography, photography etc.

Career Prospects
In this era of Information, Communication, and Entertainment (many a times referred to as I.C.E. age), the importance of film and television cannot be underestimated. Job opportunities are ample in this industry, mainly because of the vast career prospects. After completing a course in the relevant field, one can specialize in any of the following fields - production, direction, editing, acting, animation, and sound engineering, or can even become a film critic or film archivist. One can also join film studios, production companies etc., to build a career in this field.

Careers in Photo Journalism

2012-01-31T01:30:00.000-08:00

Photojournalism is a form of journalism, wherein the person clicks, develops, and submits images relevant to a news story. Initially, the term ‘photojournalism’ was restricted to still photography. Its scope has now widened and in the present time, photo journalists even shoot videos to come up with a good news item/ feature – a trend commonly seen in citizen journalism. Photo journalism is not merely about taking the best shots, but also how to click news-worthy photographs, in accordance with the interest of the reader. Generally, the work of a photojournalist is quite similar to a reporter, except the fact that a photo journalist doesn’t gather, write, and report news stories. To become a successful photojournalist, one should have thorough knowledge about the three principles of photo journalism – timeliness, objectivity, and narrative. He/She should be able to use modern gadgets like digital camera, state-of-the-art studios, and other software in order to develop quality photographs. Photojournalism is a lucrative career option in India, since it has become an integral part of mainstream journalism. As a result, many institutions that offer courses in journalism have also included photo journalism in their curriculum.

Career Prospects
Photojournalists can work for newspapers, magazines, or any other media houses. One can opt for commercial photography, fashion photography, industrial photography, wildlife photography, aerial photography, scientific photography, etc. as his/her specialized field.

Careers in Electronic Media

2012-01-25T01:03:00.000-08:00

Careers in Electronic Media

One of the biggest means of entertainment is television and radio. Although utilities of radio have dipped down a little bit, still with the emergence of FM radios in various cities, the popularity remains intact. According to a government study more than eighty percent of the households in the country have TV sets and more than two thirds people in metros have cable connection which is even spreading rapidly to smaller towns and sub-urban areas through DTH services. Undoubtly electronics media is playing a significant role in nation’s making by disseminating information to the people and also being an alternative public grievances redressal mechanism.

Career Prospects
The proliferation of TV channels particularly a number of 24/7 channels have opened up career opportunities in electronics media. Career options are there in public broadcasting agencies like Doordarshan and All India Radio or in private broadcasters. One can be a field reporter, writer, editor, researcher, correspondent and in-studio anchor, presenter and news analysts. These professionals also can work in a number of fields like direction, production, camera, graphics, editing, sound, programme research, script writing etc. Moreover one can open his own TV/RM Radio channel.

Careers in Video Editing

2012-01-23T20:32:00.000-08:00

Video editing is all about selecting and rearranging fragments of video/footage collected from various sources in order to construct a meaningful visual. An important element of post-production work in electronic media, video editing has speedily emerged as a lucrative career option, due to the increasing popularity of the audio-visual media. Production houses and news channels are now on a hunt for highly skilled video editors, who can give meaning to the episodes and news items produced by them. The aesthetic beauty of the final product depends on the talent and proficiency of a video editor. A video editor should be a self-motivated person, since this position demands lots of patience and dedication towards work. He/She should be a visionary, technically skilled, and possess a logical and critical mind, who can revise his/her knowledge constantly. He/She should be able to visualize the ideas running, hither and thither, in the mind of the producer/director of the show.

Course Details
Video editing requires technical training. Only a person with sound knowledge of video editing software can pursue a career in this field. Numerous institutions conduct diploma and certificate courses to train young aspirants. The courses are offered at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Any person, who has an inclination towards working on computers and is capable of handling digital equipments, can think of a career in video editing. Generally, the curriculum of such programs provides detailed knowledge of software like Final Cut Pro, U Lead Media Studio, Avid's Media Composer, Xpress Pro, Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas Pro, Blender etc. which are extensively used in video editing.

Career Prospects
Numerous film and TV production studios, web designing companies, news channels, advertising houses, and multimedia companies hire video editors. The emergence of video and movie clips on websites has widened the scope of video editors in cyber media as well, where they can earn handsome salaries on part-time jobs. Also, a number of organizations recruit video editors on short-term contract basis and full-time employment basis, depending upon the choice of the candidates.

Careers in Screenplay Writing

2012-01-22T20:27:00.000-08:00

Career Prospects
Screenplay can prove to be highly lucrative yet challenging, at the same time. The result of a film or a television program largely depends upon the way the screenplay is written. After pursuing a course in screenplay writing, one can develop screenplay for stories from different genres, such as comedy, drama, science fiction, action, romantic etc.
Remuneration
Screenplay writers can earn respectable five- to six-figure salaries. However, the remuneration solely depends upon the writer’s work, creativity, and thinking. The salary also varies according to the type of project one is associated with – whether it is a film, short-story, telefilm, or television serial.

Radio Jockey as Career

2012-01-19T22:04:00.000-08:00

Radio Jockey is specially someone who plays music on radio of his own and audiences’ choice simultaneously interacting with people, delivering relevant local, national & international news and information in his very own style. As a backstage performer a RJ has to visualize the words comes out of his throat. A RJ career require enthusiasm, rationality , creativity of mind , good sense of humor, excellent communication skills & ownership of a live appealing voice. Radio jockeying, though a non-conventional career, is fast catching up with other traditional jobs. With the advent of FM channels, Radio Jockeying has become a popular career option for many youngsters.

Career Prospects
The domain which was previously dominated by the state owned AIR is seeing huge investment by private concerns. This factor has led to an increase in job opportunities for radio jockeys. The job of a Radio Jockey is of diversifying nature depending on the subject matter of the programme. Radio Jockeys can find work in organizations like AIR (All India Radio) and other independent radio stations. AIR (All India Radio) holds auditions for RJs every 3 months in their radio stations in various cities especially in metros. Because of their voice standard, RJ can do voice-overs for television and radio advertisements. They can also lend their voices to audio magazines and documentaries. RJs also can anchor or compeer TV shows or live shows or events.

Remuneration
Radio Jockeys are in much demand with the opening of the air waves to the private sector. The beginners in the initial stage can earn between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. For sponsored programs, software producing companies may pay between Rs 1400 to Rs 2500 per show. After a few years of experience, the earnings can be raised double and depending on the popularity of their shows, RJ's can earn between Rs 15,000 up to Rs 85,000 per month. As a radio jockey, besides getting contractual good money you earn by doing Ad commercials. You can earn more by doing voice-overs for television and radio advertisements.

Public Relation- Career Option

2012-01-19T02:00:00.000-08:00

In simple terms public relation management is concerned with maintenance of mutual relations and understanding between an organisation and the whole group of public related to it, which includes shareholders, government, consumers, employees and the media. The main function of public relation managers is to ensure proper channel of communication between the management and employees. PR management is becoming a promising career option at a time when private as well as government companies and organizations are facing cut throat global competition to market their product, service and facilities.

Course Details
Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma courses are available in PR management. Duration of most the courses is of one year. The minimum eligibility for these courses is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Apart from this there are also short term certificate courses. For these courses the minimum qualification is 10+2 pass or equivalent.

Career Prospects
PR managers are responsible for effective communication and play a very important role in the matter of policy planning. They also maintain healthy coordination between various departments within the organisation itself. Thus in future bright career options are waiting for PR managers. They can find suitable employment opportunities in both public and private sectors. Government departments and agencies require the expartisation of PR managers. They also can find employment in corporate houses and media houses. Banking, finance, insurance, investment and export companies also require the expartisation of PR managers. Hotels, tour and travel agencies and private consultancy firms also employ PR managers. They also can find work with political figures, models and film stars to deal with various aspects of public relation.

Remuneration
Job opportunities for public relation managers are increasing in leaps and bounds because of increasing market demand. So the remunerations of public relation managers are also very high. One can expects Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per month in the beginning. With gaining of experience and expartisation one can reach up to the top level of public relation department. At this level one can expect lakhs of rupees for annum.

Careers in Mass Communication

2012-01-15T23:37:00.001-08:00

Mass communication is an exciting career option, which is fast gaining popularity among the young generation. Although it is not a new career option, but it has gained recognition now, because of the professionalism that has been added to it. Covering a wide array of fields like journalism, film making, advertisement etc, mass communication is a challenging career that requires extraordinary communication skills, hard work and willpower, though the attributes differ from field to field. Being a contemporary field of study, the main purpose of this field is to communicate the message to the masses. The prime media of mass communication, which have been developed over a period of time, range from newspapers to radio, television, films etc. Today, mass communication provides a plethora of opportunities for those who intend to build a career in this industry. In India, mass communication has developed into a highly comprehensive field of study and a challenging and bright career prospect, at the same time.

Career Prospects

The career prospects in mass communication are very bright, offering a myriad of opportunities to explore. Since it is fast developing as a comprehensive field, one can find lucrative job opportunities in public relations, newspaper, radio, television, publishing houses, advertising agencies, government organizations and many other sectors.

Career As Voice-Over Artist

2012-01-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

A professional who lends his/her voice complement visuals being telecasted on the screen, is called a voice-over artist. Considered as an off-camera commentary, voice-over is a technique wherein the voice is modified and changed to complement the visuals of a tele-film, documentary, advertisement, television serial or news, so broadcasted. Voice-over artists are required in most sectors of media, be it television, films, or even radio, for conveying the messages with precision. The growth of the media industry in India in the last few years has led to the popularity and demand of voice-over artists. Moreover, this profession has become a money-making affair. Good command over the language, voice clarity, and correct diction are the essentials of a voice-over artist. Additionally, a voice-over artist is required to properly synchronize his lip movements, voice pitch, tone, and silence with the gestures and body language of the character, so depicted on the screen. He/She should be skilled enough to convey all emotions, through his/her voice and create a perfect sync with the visuals. To become a good voice-over artist, one should be a great voice modulator.

Career Prospects

There are ample opportunities for a trained and professional voice-over artist. He/She can provide his/her voice in video and radio programs, documentaries, presentations, jingles for advertisements, sports, phone software, multimedia, and news. Media channels and production houses are always in search of good voice-over artists. One can utilize his/her talent by working as a narrator or a dubbing artist. A person with good voice modulation can even try out radio jockeying as a career option. Radio is always in search of proficient radio jockeys. Documentaries are always open for talented voice-over artists.

Careers in Media

2012-01-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

This tremendous and unbelievable achievement has given rise to challenging and highly rewarding career opportunities to explore in the vast field of media. This industry is responsible for communicating unbiased and objective information and generating public opinion on the same. Further, the privatization of this industry has opened doors for creative minds and innovative skills to utilize to the best. The expansion of the media industry owes a lot to the interactive nature and technological innovations. Individuals with futuristic ideas, technical knowledge, and willingness to adapt to changes, have promising and lucrative career options to explore in media.

Careers in TV Anchoring

2012-01-12T07:52:00.000-08:00

The Best media College

TV news anchor or program anchor is a person, who delivers news or programs of any kind - whether it is a film-based program, comedy show, reality show, or crime-related report. A mediator between the channel and the audience, a TV anchor is a reservoir of knowledge, is aware of the current political scenario, and possesses detailed knowledge of issues. With the increasing popularity of the telecast media, the task of news reading and presenting a program has become highly challenging. a news reader or a program presenter not only has to provide information, but also has to convey the same in an entertaining and compelling manner. A successful TV anchor is one who is enthusiastic, passionate, energetic, dynamic, and vivacious. He/She should be aware of his/her duties and responsibilities, and collect information to his/her best knowledge and sources, without exaggerating the actual facts. The nature of the program determines the conduct of its anchor. For instance, if the program is an entertaining show, the anchor must indulge in light-hearted and jovial conversation with the guests/audience, should crack jokes at the right time, and must exude a vibrant attitude. Conversely, if the program, so aired, revolves around a delicate and serious issue, then the anchor should prefer to stay calm and composed.

Career Prospects The scope of TV anchoring is very wide. With the launch of many news and entertainment channels, job opportunities in this field are on the rise. One can work with any news channel as a TV news/programme anchor or with any entertainment channel as a host/programme presenter in a reality show, game show, comedy show.

2011-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

DUBAI AWARD

Take One institute of mass communication and VISIONS CORPORATION ( DUBAI) decided to award the eminent persons from the world of media and fields of society for their contribution to their field. Last year two eminent persons were selected for Take One Vision Media Icon Award and Take One Vision Excellence Showman of the Year Award.

The Media Icon Award was presented to Mr. Rajat Sharma, who had given a new language to Television medium and the Showman of The Year Award was presented to Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, who is not only a leading personality of Indian Cinema, but has defined the meaning of life in a different way. Vision Corporation and Take One will keep the idea on in future.

MEDIA WORKSHOP IN DUBAI

To provide the opportunity to aspiring media personals to utilize their skills and talent and to size the endless opportunity in the fierce competitive world of demand. Workshop on news reading and anchoring was held by the prestigious Indian media training school, Take One institute of mass communication in DUBAI, in association with ARY TV and HUM FM. United Arab Emirates witness first ever media communication workshop in year 2007, In the guidance of Imran Zahid director take one school of mass communication. The faculty for the workshop includes eminent political reporter Yusuf Ansari, film critic of Hindi Cinema Pankaj Shukla, News Reader Ved Prakash, Ambika Bakshi zee News, Dinesh Gautam Sahar Samay, Sayeed Ansari Star News, Arfa Khanum NDTV and anchor from Aaj Tak, Parul Sanan. VOICE OF DUBAI the favorite RJ Mr. Sikandar revealed his secrets on how to be the best Rj, Film actor Emraan Hashmi, film Director Mohit suri and producer Mukesh Bhatt were the special guest. On the last day there was a certificate distribution done by Honorable (MOS) External affairs Minister Mr E Ahamed. Some of top scoring students from the Workshop got a Chance to begin their dream career with HUM FM and ARY

Lokpal Bill battle

2011-12-24T02:27:00.000-08:00

Lokpal bills were introduced several times since 1968, yet they were never passed by the Indian Parliament. After a fast by veteran social activist Anna Hazare and widespread protests by citizens across India the Government of India constituted a 10-member Joint Committee of ministers and civil society activists to draft an effective Jan Lokpal Bill. The primary focus of IAC movement is to ensure a strong Lokpal bill.

We are all part of this historic movement to eradicate corruption. Together, under the leadership of Anna Hazare ji, we are demanding the “Jan Lokpal Bill” – a strong law to ensure swift and certain punishment to the corrupt. Jan Lokpal Bill is a Law being made by the people and for the people.

Mr. Mahesh Bhatt's visit to Take One School, Delhi

2011-12-24T02:10:00.000-08:00

Mahesh Bhatt ji visited Take One School of Mass Communication.

The Veteran shared the experiences of industry and also guided our students about their future. Students were overwhelmed by his words and presence moreover enjoyed the G.D. on the topic "Hindi as the medium of Mass Communication"