Media Sector: Breaking In

What does it take to break into the media sector after university? Our guide looks at what recruiters in this competitive industry want.
Like most industries, this starts with multi-skilled self-starters who can stand out from the crowd with their originality, creativity, curiosity and specialist knowledge.
Media roles have always demanded passion, curiosity, analytical power, ability to handle pressure and a staunch belief in the sanctity of deadlines. Recruiters still seek for those with a nose for the news, ability to report with authority and keep a hold on their ethics.
Changing context, new demands

However, the face of media has changed, and by implication, so have the demands of the media recruiters. Besides these must-have evergreen skills, there are some more boxes to tick before you can enter the media industry.
Today’s ideal media candidate should be professionally competent, brimming with fresh ideas and industry-ready.
Perhaps most importantly, candidates should combine expertise in one or more sectors, with an ability to work across multiple modes of communication, while keeping pace with rapid technological change.
“Media is no longer about just one platform, but working across a range of platforms and being prepared to work on emerging ones. Candidates need to show that they are ahead of the times in terms of their thinking about the media and their awareness of new trends and required skills,” says Alex Gerlis, former head of BBC Journalism Training.
To survive the competition of today's media world, you are first and foremost required to be a multi-skilled player and gain new expertise as and when required.
“Media requirements have changed dramatically with advances in new technology. Employers these days are looking for candidates who are multi-skilled and can work across three platforms: print, broadcast and online. More and more employers are looking specifically for people with skills in digital technology,” says Rita Payne, Chair, Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK) and Editorial Director, Global.
Become an expert

Ernest R. Sotomayor, Assistant Dean of Career Services at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, feels the same. He says, “Increasingly, employers seek candidates versed in technological tools such as videography, editing and processing video and audio to create stand-alone reports and content to accompany other text stories, strong internet research skills to mine deeply for databases that can be used to find stories or supplement reporting, and turn data into visual elements like charts, graphics, sometimes in very interactive formats.”
Moreover, it is now common for media people to interact with the audience and promote stories using social networking sites. Today it is Facebook or Twitter, tomorrow perhaps Google+ and Pinterest.
Consequently, you are required to be swift enough to keep up with the latest developments in technology to be a much-valued candidate. “New mind and skill sets are required for the digital environment by the employers looking to connect with the audience,” says Michael Bromley, Head, School of Journalism and Communication, University of Queensland, Australia.
The forever-in-flux nature of the profession also demands that you learn fast, act fast, and use initiative. "Self-starters are highly valued, so are people who are able to spot new trends and gaps in the market. Since the pace of the work is so fast, especially in the 24-hour news culture, there is no space for those hanging around waiting to be told what to do," says Payne.
Since there is an increasing trend of singular focus on niche areas, specialists rather than generalists are also in greater demand. This could mean specializing in a particular aspect of media technology during your studies - or it could mean being an expert in a particular field of knowledge, such as health, economics or politics.