Sarah Niblock works as both a journalist and a lecturer After graduating with an honours degree in Communication Studies, she worked as a reporter for a local newspaper She gained her NCTJ Proficiency Certificate and joined the Liverpool Echo as a senior journalist before moving into lecturing While lecturing on the University of Manchester BA (Hons) Degree in Media Studies with Business Management she developed and taught modules in Multimedia Journalism and continues to have a specific interest in advances in new technology including multimedia, CD-ROM and the Internet and the effect these developments have had on the working lives of journalists Sarah continues to work as a freelance journalist, contributing to national broadsheet newspapers, radio and women’s magazines Inside Journalism CAREER BUILDERS GUIDES Inside the Music Business Tony Barrow and Julian Newby Inside Book Publishing Giles Clark Forthcoming Inside Broadcasting Julian Newby Inside Journalism Sarah Niblock BLUEPRINT An Imprint of Chapman & Hall London • Glasgow • Weinhe im • New York • Tokyo • Melbourne • Madras Published by Blueprint , an imprint of Chapman & Hall , 2–6 Boundary Row, London, SE1 8HN, UK Chapman & Hall 2–6 Boundary Row, London SE1 8HN, UK Blackie Academic & Professional, Wester Cleddens Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 2NZ, UK Chapman & Hall GmbH, Pappelallee 3, 69469 Weinheim, Germany Chapman & Hall USA, 115 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, USA Chapman & Hall Japan, ITP-Japan, Kyowa Building, 3F, 2–2–1 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102, Japan Chapman & Hall Australia, 102 Dodds Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, Australia Chapman & Hall India, R Seshadri, 32 Second Main Road, CIT East, Madras 600 035, India First edition 1996 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005 “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge's collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 1996 Sarah Niblock ISBN 0-203-40140-9 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-40173-5 (Adobe e-Reader Format) ISBN 85713 022 (Print Edition) Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may not be repro duced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction only in accordance with the terms of the licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK, or in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the appropriate Reproduction Rights Organization outside the UK Enquiries concern ing reproduction outside the terms stated here should be sent to the publishers at the London address printed on this page The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Printed on permanent acid-free text paper, manufactured in accordance with ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992 and ANSI/NISO Z39.48– 1984 (Permanence of Paper) Contents Acknowledgements ix Foreword Lord Clive Hollick x Introduction Newspapers 13 Magazines 52 Print journalism: training and entry routes 70 Radio 80 Television 103 Broadcast journalism: training and entry routes 126 Agencies, freelancing and public relations 133 The mechanics of getting a media job 145 Further reading 156 Index 157 Acknowledgements This book is dedicated to Scott Callanish With thanks to the following people for their input and encouragement: Simon Cadman, David Charters, Charles Chuck, Andrew Culf, Ken Dennis, Nigel Everitt, John Griffith, Niki Hinman, John Holden, Ian Jolley, David Longbottom, Maria McGeoghan, Iain Mann, Jessany Marsden, Terry Moore, Charles Morrissey, John Pullin, Janet Tansley, Paul Walker, Ivor Yorke and to the countless organizations who assisted with this book The mechanics of getting a media job 155 Don’t always feel you have to agree with the interviewer They often ask leading questions to see how you react So if they openly question the way you would cover a story, but you are sure your idea would work, stick to your guns and explain your viewpoint Most of all stay calm, think clearly and be polite—that is what the editor will expect when they send you out to represent their organization Editors are looking for the person with the sort of personality that will help a young journalist go out and meet all sorts of different people in a variety of situations and will work well in an informal but friendly team environment Journalism is a very competitive type of work which isn’t going to attract people who want a regimented nine-to-five existence It’s always going to need people who can think or breathe news 24 hours a day It’s a job you never leave behind All our mistakes and failures appear in public so a journalist must have scrupulous attention to detail and be prepared to dedicate time and patience to ensure they get their stories right Always try to have a couple of questions to ask at the end of the interview which should not relate to how much time you get off Make them something pro-active, like asking about promotion opportunities or in-house training You can also enquire what the next stage of the selection process is and when you are likely to hear the outcome Follow-up letter It is always a good idea to send a short letter the day after your interview (any longer and they’ll have made their decision) thanking them for the meeting and re-affirming your commitment to the position and the company That way, you’ll stay in their minds Whatever the outcome of the interview, it has been a most valuable experience In fact, to be shortlisted for interview at all is an achievement in itself So not be too deflated if you have not been successful this time Don’t dwell on the experience but learn from it and you will be better prepared next time The pace of change is so rapid that any would-be journalist should acquire as broad a range of skills as possible and assume that it’s all change from that point on Some will go into a particular title or branch of the media and stay there but many more will switch around and will find their working week will consist of three or four different jobs Technological advancement has made viable an enormous range of publications and broadcasting services One of the plus points of working in the media is that it is one area of the economy that is exploding Every medium appears to be under threat—in fact it would seem that traditional ideas about television being the ‘superior’ journalistic format are seriously drawn into question by the rise of the computer as the new medium But for the journalist, the information provider, you are a winner either way because the more outlets that exist the more means of delivery mere is for your work While the people manufacturing newsprint might see the electronic media as a threat, all young journalists see it as an opportunity because you are lucky to be in a business where opportunities seem to be widening all the time Good luck! Further reading PRINT JOURNALISM Aitchison, J (1989) Writing for the Press , Stanley Thornes, Cheltenham Hodgson, F.W (1984) Modern Newspaper Practice , Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford BROADCAST JOURNALISM Boyd, A (1993) Broadcast Journalism , Focal Press, Oxford Yorke, I (1990) Basic TV Reporting , Focal Press, Oxford Yorke, I (1995) Television News , Focal Press, Oxford GENERAL INFORMATION Peak, S (1992) The Media Guide , Fourth Estate, London Index Academic journals 56 Advertising 54, 152 Advertising department 17, 43–4, 45, 85 Art editor 57, 59 Art editor/designer 62 –3 Assertiveness skills Assistant editor 62 Associated Press 115, 135 Audiences, knowledge of Auto-cue 120 BBC 81–4, 93, 99, 102, 106, 107, 130 local radio 83 national radio 83 –4 Network Radio Production Trainee Scheme 132 –3 News and Current Affairs 84, 106 News Trainee Scheme 130 –1 Radio 92 Television Production Trainee Scheme 131 –2 World Service 82 World Service Production Trainee Scheme 133 see also Broadcasting; Radio; Television Bias in reporting 11 Bi-media journalist 85, 99 –100 Bi-media policy for new intake and trainees 85 Black, Conrad 14 BNFL News 55 British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) 106 –7 British Sky Broadcasting 106 –7 Broadcasting bi-media for new intake and trainees 85 entry via print journalism 130 full-time pre-entry course 128 –30 role of training and entry routes 128 training schemes 130 transfer from other broad-casting jobs 130 see also Radio; Index Television Broadcasting Act 1981 106 Broadcasting Act 1990 107 Broadsheets 16 Brody, Neville 69 Business and professional magazines 54 –5 Business-to-business periodical sector 69 Cable technology 106 Cable television 50, 125 –6 Camera operator 108, 123 –4 freelance 123, 139 Camera technology 50 Career prospects 61, 148 –58 characteristics required 148 –9 prior experience 149 Cartoons 40 CD-Rom 52, 68 CEEFAX 154 Celebrity interview 56 –9 Central Office of Information (COI) 146 Chief sub-editor 17 City Desk 27 Classic FM 82 Classified advertising 44 Clips 93 Colour magazines 49 Comment and opinion 33 Commercial radio, national service 84 –5 Commissioning editors 31 Computer disks 102 Computer graphics 105 Computer networks 25, 49, 68 Computer tablets 49 Computer technology 20, 44–6, 47–8, 49, 59, 139 Computerized receiving systems 49 Construction News 55 Consumer magazines 53 design 69 Contact/sources Contacts book Contempt of Court 10 Copy production 66 Copy story 87 Copytaker 20, 88, 140 Copytaster 25 –6 Corporate identity 142 –3 158 Index Correspondents 121 Cosmopolitan 70 Coventry Evening Telegraph 15 Cropping 43 Crosswords 40 Cues 89–91, 92, 93, 110 Curriculum vitae 155 –6 Cuttings file 150 Daily Express 14 Daily Mail 14 Daily Mail and General Trust 14 Daily Mirror 14 Daily Record 14 Daily Star 14 Daily Telegraph 14 Darkroom assistant 42, 43 Databases 55, 69 Degrees and degree courses 73– , 128 Departmental editor 62 Designers 126 Desk/section editors 25 Desktop publishing (DTP) 49 Diary events 19 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) 102 Digital technology 42 Diploma courses 128 Director 122 Display advertising 44 Documentaries 81, 85, 105–6, 122 Down-table sub-editors 45 Duty editor 96 –7 Editor-in-Chief 17, 19, 24, 31, 42, 56, 59, 62, 113 Editorial assistant 26, 58, 67 – Editorial department 6, 17 –62 Electronic news gathering (ENG) 108 EMAP 54, 61, 76 EMPAS 15 ENG 112 Entry routes, see Broadcasting; Magazines; News agency; Newspapers; Photography; Print journalism; Public relations 159 Index Environment correspondent 27 Extel 48 Face-to-face interview 77 Facsimile services 50 Fashion editor 62 Fashion writing 33 –5 Feature writers 30, 32, 65 –6 Features 30 –2 job descriptions 31 –2 Features editor 17, 31, 62 Features sub-editor 32 Filing newspapers 20 radio 88 Fillers 151 Film processing 42 Financial Times 14 Fleet Street 14 Floor manager 122 Football matches 36 Foreign correspondents 121 Freelances 2, 15, 31, 138 –40 camera operators 123, 139 increase in intake of 106 magazine contributors 106–62, 140 methods of working 138 opportunities for 140 Freesheets 15 Gallery/gallery team 112, 122 General news reporters 26 Government Information Service 146 Granada Trainee Programme Maker Scheme 133 Graphic designer 123 The Guardian 27, 28, 50 Guardian Media Group 14 Haymarket Magazines 54 Higher National Diploma courses 73, 128 Highlights 85 Hollinger Group 14 Home banking 126 Home shopping 50, 126 Horoscopes 40 Human interest angle 160 Index 161 Idea generation 65 –6 The Independent 14 Independent local radio (ILR) stations 81–3, 93 Independent Radio News (IRN) 82, 83–5, 89, 93 Independent Television Commission (ITC) 107 Independent Television News (ITN) 100, 106 Information gathering 66 In-house magazines 55 Institute of Public Relations (IPR) 140, 146 Intake editor 84 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) 88, 101, 102 Interactive services 126 International news agency Internet 58 Interviewing 8, 20, 57–67, 66, 77, 89 –90 Investigative programmes 106, 122 Investigative reporters 118 IPC Magazines 53, 79 ITN Radio 100, 101 ITV 106 franchises 107 Network Centre 106 regional news programmes 106 Job applications 148 –58 covering letter 154 –5 curriculum vitae 155 –6 follow-up calls 156 follow-up letter 156 –8 interviews 157 speculative applications 153 where to look 152 –3 Job descriptions, see Features; Journalism; Magazines; Press photography; Radio; Sports journalism; Television Journalism career progression in combined roles in 50 first rule of job description – mystique and glamour profession of – realm of Index skills requirements Judgement 2, – Jump-cuts 109 Laptop computer 20, 48 Leader writing 62 Letters of application 151 Libel 10 Library information 50 Lineage 138 Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Ltd 76 Liverpool Echo 50 Local correspondents 150 Local newspapers 13, 15, 150 Local radio 82 –3 London Evening Standard 14, 15 Magazine writers 64 –6 Magazines 1, 34, 52 –69 agenda career prospects 61 categories 53 –6 company training schemes 79 –80 controlled circulations 54 design 69 editorial department 69 –2 freelances 62, 139 general interest 53 hybrids 54 job descriptions 62 –8 leisure market 52 market for 53 new and future developments 68 –9 new technology 52 niche marketing 54 pictures 67 –8 pre-entry courses 78 publishing companies 54, 61 role of journalist 56 specific interest 53 subscription-based 55 tactile pleasure 52, 69 training and entry routes 78 –80 women’s titles 53 Mail on Sunday 14 Manchester Evening News 15 Maxwell, Robert 14 162 Index 163 Media range of –2 traditional forms Media Correspondent 27 Media courses 73 – Media relations 142 Media world 11 –2 Mercury 135 Meter reading through cable 126 Mini-computers 102 Mirror Group Newspapers 14 Mobile phones 88 Modems 140 Morgan-Grampian 55 Multi-skilling 53 Murdoch, Rupert 14 Music press 56 National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQs) 76–8, 79 National Certificate Examination (NCE) 76 –8 National Council for the Training of Broadcast Journalists (NCTBJ) 81, 128 –9 National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) 71–2, 74, 76 National newspapers 13 –4 National Union of Journalists 128 New Musical Express 65 News 17–29, 104 covering a story 19 –23 definition of News agency 2, 25, 26, 48, 135 –7 international newsroom 136 –7 training and entry routes 137 News and Current Affairs Directorate 99 News conference 19, 108 News department 23 News editor 17, 94–6, 108, 113 –4 News globalization 105 News International 14, 46, 76, 106 News of the World 14 News producer 97 –8 News programmes 83, 104–5, 106, 108 News reporters 26–9, 65, 66 News stories analysis of –5 coverage exercise 77 News Team 135 Index News writing 20 –3 Newsdesk 18, 136 Newsflash 86 Newsmaking process 105 Newspaper Society 15, 49 Newspapers 1, 13 –51 agenda categories 13 –6 company training schemes 76 direct entry 75 distribution 48 entry qualifications 72–3, 75 interactive 50 new and future developments 48 –51 pictures 39 –42 post-entry training 75 practice test 77 structure of 17 student assessment and examinations 76 –8 training and entry routes 71 – training courses 71 –3 transferring from other print media jobs 75 Newsprint 47 recycling 48 Newsreading 91 –3 Newsroom 19, 83, 94–101, 113 –25 agency 135 –7 Newsworthiness 3, – Night news editors 18 Objective reporting 11 The Observer 14 Opinion 33 Outcue 90 Outside broadcast (OB) 112 Packages 88, 92, 93, 105, 108, 109 Pearson plc 14, 16 The People 14 Periodical Publishers Association 52 Periodicals, see Magazines Periodicals Training Council 69, 79 –80 Personal interviews, see Interviewing Photographers 39, 42–3, 67–8, 69 combined roles 50 see also Press photography Photographs 164 Index colour and black-and-white 40 newspaper 39 –42 Photography, training and entry routes 78 Photography department 17 Picture desk 40 Picture(s) editor 17, 40, 42, 67 –8 Picture/film/TV editors 125 Picture library 41 Postgraduate courses 74 –5 Postgraduate diplomas 128 Pre-chat 108 Presentation Press Association 115, 135 Press conferences 94 Press officer 142, 143 Press photography job descriptions 42 –3 practice of 41 –2 Press releases 143 –5 Print journalism, training and entry routes 71 – Printing plates 46 Printing presses 46 –7 Printing technology 48 Problem pages 39 Production assistant (PA) 122 Production department 17, 44 –7 Production journalists 44 Programme producers 114 –6 Proofreading 49 Public relations (PR) 2, 140 –6 consultancy 141 definition 141 in-house 141 mechanics 145 –6 programme planning 142 role of 140 –6 special events 143 training and entry routes 146 types of operation 141 Publisher/publishing director 62 Quotes 11 Radio 81 –102 agenda bi-media journalist 99 –100 filing reports 81 –102 165 Index national services 81 new and future developments 100 –2 news 83 news agency 136 newsroom 83, 94 –101 job descriptions 95 regional services 82 reporters and senior reporters 85, 98 –9 role of journalists in 85 –95 story presentation 85 telephones 88 see also Broadcasting Radio Authority 82 Radio car 88, 92, 94 Radio Caroline 82 Radio Live 84 Radio Luxembourg 82 Reader-writer 85 Readership, relevance to Reed Business Publishing Group 54, 61 Reed International 15 Regional newspapers 13, 15, 50 Reith, Lord (John) 3, 82 Relevance in journalism Reporters, ‘doing the calls’ 19 –20 Research/researchers 7, 66, 117 –8 Reuters 115, 135, 137 Reuters Journalist Trainee Scheme 133 Reuters Radio 82, 83 Reuters World Service 137 Rothermere, Lord 14, 16 Royal Charter 107 Rushes 109 Sadler Inquiry 16 Sales representatives 44 Satellite technology 102, 106 Scale of events –4 Section editors 32 Share-prices 48 Shift work 138, 139 Shorthand 78, 152 Skills requirements 2, 55, 152 Sky Television 106 Software manufacturers 53 Sound Broadcasting Act 1972 82 Sound effects 93 166 Index 167 Sound recordists 125 Specialists and specialist reporters 27, 32–5, 100, 118, 138 Speech reporting, write-up and follow-up exam 77 Sports coverage 35 –9 Sports editor 37 –8 Sports journalism, job descriptions 37 –9 Sports pages, layout and content 36 Sports photographers 39 Sports reporters 38 –9 Sports sub-editors 39 Standard out-cue (SOC) 93 Stock Exchange 48 Stringers 150 Sub-editors 45, 64 combined roles 50 Sub-editors desk 45 –6 Sun 14 Sunday Express 14 Sunday Mirror 14 Sunday Post 13 Sunday Sport 14 Sunday Telegraph 14 Sunday Times 14 Syndication 40 Tabloids 16 Talk Radio UK 81 Tape editing 93 Tape recorders 102 Teasers 91, 92 Teeline shorthand 20 Tele-ad department 44 Telephone interviews 8, 89 Telephone voice-dating agencies 50 Television 2, 24, 50, 104 –27 agenda Channel Five 107 Channel Four 107 Channel Three 106 comparison with other types of journalism 104 forward-planning 104 gathering stories for 108 going on air 112 input and output 107–8, 114 interviews 108 job descriptions 113 –25 job opportunities 105 –6 Index new and future developments 125 –7 news 104 news conference 108 news globalization 105 news programmes 104 –5 newscasters/presenters 121 –2 newsmaking process 105 newsroom 113 –25 off-screen journalists 119 on-screen journalists 119 –20 prerecorded report 110 –1 programme producers 114 –6 programme production 111 –2 programmes editing 108 programmes riming 108 regional news programmes 106 reporters 118 –20 reporting 107 –12 shape of the industry 106 –12 technological advances 125 traineeships 113 24-hour rolling 106 work of television journalist 104 –6 see also Broadcasting Thomson 16, 55, 61 The Times 150 Today 14 Top-table sub-editors 45 Training and entry routes, see Broadcasting; Magazines; News agency; Newspapers; Photography; Print journalism; Public relations Typing 152 UCAS Handbook 75, 129 Unexpected events United Newspapers 14, 15 Universal News Services 135 Videotape 105, 109, 113 Virgin 1215 82 Visual presentation 66 VNU Business Publications 54 Voice delivery 91 168 Index Voicers 87, 92 Voicing a report 89 Vox pop 152 Web-offset litho process 46 Western Mail 15 Wildtrack 88 Wolverhampton Express 16 Wordprocessing 20, 152 Work placements 150 –2 Working environment –6 World Service Television 102 Wrap 89, 93 Writing ability 6, –12 accuracy 10 clarity 10 conciseness 10 content of story –10 structuring 10 169