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VANESSA BERRIDGE - Wimbledon High School 1960-1973
Magazine Journalism
I have been a magazine journalist for the past 20 years. My experience is primarily in the home interest and women’s market. I started my journalistic career on Family Circle and subsequently worked at Condé Nast Publications for House & Garden, Brides & Setting Up Home and The Harrods Magazine. Between 1986 and 1991, I was Editor of Country Homes & Interiors, and later, in 1997, I launched The English Country Garden magazine, which I edited until the end of 2001.
I am now a freelance writer, contributing regularly to The English Garden, The Times, The Lady and BBC Good Food Magazine.
I am very happy to offer advice to anyone who is interested in a career in magazine journalism. Through my connections with The English Garden (I remain Consultant Editor of the magazine), I may be able to arrange the occasional work placement.
For anyone considering a career in magazine journalism, I would give the following basic advice:
- Do work experience on a magazine if you possibly can.
- Involve yourself with a school/college/university magazine or newspaper. If there isn’t one, start one. Its shows commitment and initiative, and, in a very competitive field, you’ve got to shine out.
- Spend hours reading different magazines. Get to know which ones you like/don’t like and why. Look at them to see how print/pictures are used.
- Don’t just think in terms of writing – there are many other interesting jobs on magazines, including styling photographic sessions (e.g. cookery/fashion) or preparing copy for publication (known as sub-editing).
- If you are applying to a magazine (for a job or even work experience), make sure you have the correct name and job title of the editor to whom you are writing. Make a mistake there and your letter will hit the bin.
- If you are called for interview, make sure you’ve read the magazine and have some opinions on it before you turn up.
I am happy to be contacted via the Minerva Network Development Office. |