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Topic: To EA or not to EA?
| Author | Message |
| HoboWriter | Posted – 6/6/2006 12:47:32 AM | show profile I'm a newspaper reporter in my mid-twenties with a decent amount of experience covering trend stories and hard news for mid to large-size papers. I'd like to break into magazine work, but with staff writer jobs few and far between, applying to be an editorial assistant somewhere seems like the most available option. Problem is the posted salaries I see are a much lower than what I make now, and the work will likely involve a great deal with respect to administrative duties -- something I usually manage to avoid in my current job. Do I bite the bullet and go for the EA jobs anyway, or is there a better way for someone with my background? Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks! |
| Jen480 | Posted – 6/6/2006 8:15:07 PM | show profile It sounds to me like you are qualified for assistant editor & associate editor positions. I think you have enough experience to forgo the EA route. You might also consider staff writer positions (even though I get the impression that these are largely by word of mouth, b/c I rarely ever see postings). But that's just me. Anyone else care to chime in? |
| HoboWriter | Posted – 6/6/2006 9:19:32 PM | show profile Thanks, Jen! |
| janbrady1 | Posted – 6/7/2006 1:23:08 PM | show profile I hate to be the naysayer here, but I think that it depends on the publications. Some bigger magazines may require you to start as an editorial assistant (unless they have some other writing position that's somewhat junior) because they like to hire people who have magazine experience from the ground up. Magazine editors don't always feel that newspaper experience translates directly (and they're right, in some cases). I've seen several newspaper reporters take EA jobs and then go back to papers because they missed being out there and writing (vs. doing the necessary admin). That said, I think you'd have better luck as an assistant, associate, or other type of staff writer if you try a smaller magazine, or a trade. It's definitely possible. |
| HoboWriter | Posted – 6/8/2006 1:07:54 AM | show profile >Magazine editors don't always feel that newspaper >experience translates directly (and they're right, in some >cases). Thanks, Jan. Do you think magazine-style clips (I have a few through some freelancing and an internship at a weekly publication) would help ease the concerns of editors who feel that way? Thanks again. |
| Hannah | Posted – 6/8/2006 8:13:04 AM | show profile Hi, Celia. I began my career as a newspaper reporter, too, then jumped directly to an associate-level position at a Time Inc. magazine. Even now, five years later, hiring editors are still impressed by my background -- newspaper deadlines are more intense, and newspaper reporters are often expected to branch out into page design and copyediting. Your skills are definitely of value; don't settle for an entry-level position. A friend of mine has an even more dramatic story: She began as an occasional freelance writer, then published a memoir, then moved straight into a senior editor/writer spot at a major women's magazine. Many trajectories can point you to your dream job, so don't feel as though you have to begin at the bottom. |
| mumbo jumbo | Posted – 6/8/2006 10:27:47 AM | show profile Hannah's right. Newspaper experience does translate. And many EA jobs at consumer magazines have very few real editorial functions; they're glorified secretaries. Serious trade publications generally consider newspaper reporting experience as a plus and a good qualification for a staff reporter, associate editor or even a senior editor, depending on the size of the staff. |
| HoboWriter | Posted – 6/9/2006 11:43:10 AM | show profile | email poster Thank you for your advice everyone! |
