Inside Media And Art Careers

Insider tips you need to know to choose and succeed in the right career

Career Background

  Media And Art Salaries

Career Video

Surprising and Helpful Information

Detailed info from people on the job

Examples of likes and dislikes:

Like

"doing something you have a talent for and that is going to benefit others by entertaining them and making them think. It is a job that you can do for as long as you have something to contribute."

Dislike

"its unreliability as a source of money. And it requires great discipline. There is no back-up team. You are it."

Career Overview

Creative individuals who want to use their artistic talents to earn a living have many career options in the fields of media and art. Whether you’re interested in a career working in front of the public or would rather work creatively behind the scenes, there are a variety of jobs in the marketplace to utilize artistic talents. Depending on an individual’s interests and skills, positions range from entertainment careers as a professional artist, performer, or filmmaker, to positions in media arts such as a journalist, broadcaster, or graphic designer, to other creative fields such as writing and photography. Competition in these fields tends to be strong, requiring individuals to be highly dedicated to their work.

Education

Educational requirements vary by profession, but individuals interested in a media or art career should have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Many artists such as actors, dancers, and musicians seek formal training by attending a higher education school for their particular field, such as film academy or conservatory. Programs at these schools range from certificate programs, to associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs. For many media and art careers, such as graphic design and writing and editing jobs, a bachelor’s degree is required with a master’s degree preferred.

Career Skills

Careers in media and art are generally creative, requiring individuals who are imaginative and are able to communicate their ideas either verbally, visually, or in writing. Due to the vast nature of the industries, other skills vary greatly depending on the profession, but may include the desire to perform, with a high degree of self-discipline and the ability to work under pressure. Due to the competitive nature of many of these careers, individuals need to be hard-working and open to new ideas and trends. In addition, some careers such as graphic design require a strong technical aptitude.

Career Options

There are a wide variety of careers for creative individuals interested in media and art. The following are a few examples of job choices in these fields:

  • Actors use a writer’s script to entertain audiences in television, theater, film, and radio, among other venues such as nightclubs and theme parks. Actors portray characters and may also entertain through song and dance. A very competitive field, many actors have difficulty finding regular work, and may find work as an extra in film or television, narrating, or teaching in a school drama department.
  • Editors prepare a writer’s work for final publication or presentation through reviewing, rewriting, and editing. There are many career paths that an editor may take, with options working as a book, magazine, newspaper, or film editor, to name a few. Within each field, responsibilities vary and may include duties such as writing, content planning, editing, and reviewing of writing proposals.
  • Graphic Designers are artists who design visual solutions to convey messages in print and electronic media. Working in a variety of industries, graphic designers may develop the layouts and designs for print media such as magazines and newspapers, design graphics for television and Internet web sites, produce promotional displays and packaging for products, and create signs for businesses.
  • Journalists reports the news for broadcast or publication in newspapers, television, magazines, radio, or the Internet. Covering a story includes a gathering all necessary information such as leads and tips, interviewing people, and observing the scene or event. After organizing all material, journalists write their story in the most objective way possible. Many individuals interested in journalism careers take courses or earn a degree in journalism.
  • Technical writers take technical or scientific material and write materials such as manuals, policies and procedures, and operating instructions, in a simpler form for readers to understand. Technical writers often work as consultants and also work in a variety of businesses such as computer companies, book and magazine publishers, equipment manufacturers, and engineering firms, among others.