How to Learn More About Media Careers

Due to the continued growth of the Internet, careers in areas such as broadcasting, public relations, advertising, and writing for media have also continued to grow. In this article, I will direct you to resources to help you learn more about media careers.

1) In every one of the career articles I'm writing, I'm directing people the Occupational Outlook Handbook website which is operated by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Here you can find specific information on average pay, future growth, and typical working conditions for many careers. I'm including links below related to several media careers.

2) Something I really wish I had done when I was in college was gotten an internship with a TV station (I was a broadcasting major).

What isn't always told to students is that practical experience has a high priority, sometimes even over formal education. To be successful, you need a healthy balance of both.

3) Make efforts to find someone in the field you're interested in that can tell you more about their everyday life.

They can give you information on what to expect and help you determine if the career has the lifestyle that you want.

4) Another great resource to explore are conventions and expositions held by media organizations where you can meet experts in the field.

These usually range from free to less than $100 according to the length of the event and if it is sponsored by a corporation. I'm aware of NBS (National Broadcasting Society) and NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) for my field but doing a Google search on National (insert your field here) Society will likely help you find more information. These conferences are fun, and be prepared to carry away bags of free stuff like pens, mouse pads, sticky notes, etc. from vendors. I've even met famous authors in the field and received free autographed books before!

Additional Tip:

• I think something important to remember about media careers in general is that they're constantly adapting to new formats. I think the future is heading to where Internet-related careers are going to equal or surpass where most of the jobs are now. Now is a good time to get on the leading-edge of that if you can find the right opportunity.

Resources:

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Advertising, Marketing, and Promotions Information
News and Journalism
Career Search