EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE CREATIVE MEDIA

SECTOR

EMPLOYMENT STATUSES• Firstly, you have full-time employees. There are a lot of roles in the creative industry that require permanent employees, some of which are not just

office-based. For example, Livenation, have full-time employees that work solely on design, while Studio Canal, have those based in different parts of the distribution sector. Saying that, part-time employees fall under the same category as full-time employees, the major difference being that they don't work five days a week.

• Next is the contracted-employees. Contracted employees have a specific amount of time they will work on a project/at a place. This type of employment can be seen when a production of a film is taking place. I, for one, have come across many contracts where a fair few people have been employed for a specific amount of time (usually referred to as weekly contracts). With this type of employment, unlike the one I am going to speak about below, usually, you will only be able to work on one specific project at a time.

• Freelancing is another common type of employment in the creative industry. As a freelancer you are selling a product that you supply, whether that be your make-up services, something you have made etc. Most people, as with contracts, work in this way because there aren't many full-time jobs that let you deal with the creative side of the industry as much. Freelancers also have the freedom to work on other projects, not just one in a way that a contracted employee would.

• Unpaid work is very common in the creative industry. As the old saying goes, "The more experience, the better" there are many people that will go without pay when it comes to getting a good job. These people can fall under either being volunteers, where they have signed up for a job under the guise as a volunteer (mostly applied to when it comes to charities) or as interns who are usually taken on when a helping hand is needed, sometimes for a few weeks, in other cases, a few months. Interning is similar to having an extended time of work experience, which is for much shorter type than internships are. In some cases, interns do get paid, but very rarely.

FREELANCE JOURNALISMKey responsibilities:

• Show an understanding of the website's key areas and ensure a steady flow of copy around these issues.• Use your contacts to pull in original and exclusive content and video-led stories.• Push content via the company's social media platforms.• Optimise stories in accordance with the digital SEO strategy.• React quickly to breaking news stories - and look for the best video angle.• Wherever possible, identify fresh angles for stories which have been covered elsewhere.• Write and edit in accordance with digital house style.• Monitor social media for potential stories.• Deliver original and exclusive video-led content on a weekly basis• Have good working knowledge of sub Reddits and video uploads which have not been seen before.• Be competent and confident in approaching sources and carrying out interviews face-to-face, over the phone and via email.

Key skills and experience:

• Experienced digital journalist with familiarity using CMS, Photoshop, and Google Analytics.• A working knowledge of SEO. • Professional understanding of media law.• Attention to detail and developments in the news.• Write perfect copy and irresistible headlines.• Flexible approach to working hours including weekends and late shifts.• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines, multitask, forward plan, and develop relationships with PRs. (job description for

express.com)

PROS AND CONS OF BEING A FREELANCE JOURNALISTThe Pros of Freelancing

• You get to be your own boss.

• The money is better.

• You get to work on a variety of projects.

• You get to work from anywhere

The Cons of Freelancing

• You do less of what you really like doing

• You have to manage yourself.

• You have a lack of security

• You don’t own your work.