Careers in Communications, Media & Publishing
Media, publishing and communications Careers in communications and the media continue to be a major growth area in today’s global employment market. Arts graduates are equipped with the requisite written and verbal communication, research, analytical and time management skills to excel in the areas of media, marketing, publishing and public relations.
Careers for Arts graduates in this sector include:
- publishing and editing
- media management
- journalism
- marketing
- public relations
- advertising
Samantha Lane
Sports journalist with The Age and Network Ten’s Before the Game
Bachelor of Arts
Diploma in Modern Languages (French) 2000
The skills I gained from studying Arts at the University of Melbourne are integral to the job I’ve gone on to do as a news and feature writer for The Age, where I chiefly cover AFL football, and as a weekly panelist on Network Ten’s football program, ‘Before the Game’. Arts not only helped to develop my communication and research skills, the course also taught me how to bring a critical mind to all subjects. By studying arts, I was also able to continue the language study I began in secondary school, and completed a concurrent Diploma in Modern Languages in French. I spent a semester studying in Bordeaux in 1999, which was one of the best times in my life. The best advice I have for Arts students about potential career opportunities is to do as much work experience and extra-curricular activity as you possibly can. If you are interested in journalism as a career, write for anyone and write anything. The more work you can get published, before you go for a job, the better.
Andrew O'Connor
Author
Bachelor of Arts 1999
Melbourne Arts graduate Andrew O'Connor was awarded The Australian Vogel Literary Award of $20,000 in 2005 for his novel Tuvalu. The highly respected prize, in its 25th year, is awarded to unpublished writers under 35 years of age. Past winners include Tim Winton, Andrew McGahan and Kate Grenville.
The best thing about my Melbourne Arts degree was that I was able to select from a diverse platter of subjects without ever being told which ones I had to do. It didn't lock me into a set job, so after my degree I was able to choose my own path.
Trinity Fredrick
Director, Newsletter Communications
BA 1995
Fresh from University, Trinity picked up some freelance writing jobs before being hired to produce Mitre 10’s newsletter. Subsequently, she started her own company, Newsletter Communications, which specialises in producing custom magazines and newsletters for companies.
Her time at University taught her, ‘how to research and analyse an idea thoroughly. And while most of this was related to literature when I was doing my Arts degree, I’ve found that business plans and business decisions require gathering and analysis of industry information…so my degree gave me a level of confidence here.’
‘Sometimes it can feel like there’s not enough direction, and I found this a bit difficult earlier on, but over time, I was glad I left my career path more open. It gave me the space to end up where I am today.’
What do employers want?
We need people who have initiative, who can chase down information, images and all of those other things that are required for a publication. Graduates need to be able to follow something through to the end, and if a challenge arises, keep trying until a solution is found.
Katya Johnson
Editor, Deakin University
BA (Hons) 1994
PhD (History and Political Science) 2001
I have been an editor of academic and educational publications and am now working as an editor at Deakin University. Having a PhD has certainly helped in this field, but most of my skills were acquired during my undergraduate years. The most important of these is the ability to write clearly and well, and to recognise and foster such writing.
I see this as the result of the long hours of redrafting essays and my diligent attention to tutors’ feedback. I now edit work written by specialists from a variety of disciplines, and my job is often to turn their complex knowledge into a clearer and more readable format. When that writing is for students, my sense of students’ needs—gained from my own student years—is also an advantage.
While I always enjoyed my Arts degree, there were occasions when I wondered why I was doing it, but I don’t regret a single day. I still use the skills I learned every working day.
Sheri McHale
Vice President, Marketing Services, Epsilon, Boston, USA
BA 1991
Sheri came from the US to do her BA and has spent the last 12 years in advertising, working for well-known ad agencies in NYC including Young & Rubicam. In 1999, she moved to Boston and was appointed VP, Marketing Service at Epsilon.
Sheri says, ‘I was the odd “American” studying political science, learning to navigate the Student Union, trams, Aussie Rules football, cricket (the longest game in the world!) and basically exploring the “joie de vivre” of Australian culture…This stays with me in everything I do.’
‘The skills I acquired at Melbourne Uni … took me on a path less travelled than most Americans; to a place of humility, of open-mindedness and of compatibility, with men and women from diverse backgrounds and cultures,’ Sheri tells. ‘Arts integrates all things, allows you to synthesize what you learn and adapt it to any category, any company or environment. Arts defines diversity, Arts defines integration in all things and leverages the science of life toward the goals of business, humanity, politics, creativity, expression or invention.’
What do employers want?
Employers look for much more in graduates than merely academic success. They want to see what kind of person you are. What are your interests and how you will hold up in a working environment.
They want to see how you can work with a team, perform and learn to be the best at everything you do in your work and life.