The fun of smashing glass ceilings

I’m not posting this to be smug about my new position. Don’t worry, I went to town on the Facebook status updates and sent a month’s worth of free text messages to send the news out to my friends. I am posting this because I got in. And even the most succinct blog poster in the world wouldn’t be able to accurately portray the happiness while keeping the reader genuinely interested.

So what do you need to know to get in? There’s quite a bit. More than I could possibly cover. But I’ll give it a go.

Journalism is an industry. And within any industry, your approach to the recruitment process bares great relevance to your successful navigation to your first pay packet. Before I landed the big one, I went on countless, pointless interviews. A lot of the time they were interviews for jobs that I really didn’t want (and that’s probably why I didn’t succeed at them). But as we all know, practice makes perfect.

Failed interviews sting but you can take something from every situation. Think about the areas in which you were stumped, how would you answer it a second time around? Fast thinking is key.

I’m sure you’ve done plenty of unpaid work. If you haven’t already, get a move on. Although it can be a pain in the ass reviewing CDs you don’t care for, for no money, it’ll prepare you for having to review CDs that you don’t care about for your future employer. And it also shows desire and dedication. These are highly sort after traits.

You need to know your CV inside and out. Writing a CV that looks good and reads concisely is one skill. Another skill is being able to go into an interview room and (with sweaty palms and a rapid heart beat) explain exactly what those bullet points mean. How and why you have done the things you’ve done; how can you apply these skills to the role; how many more questions can you think that they are going to ask about you? Preparation is everything.

This is why researching your prospective employer is so important. You won’t need to know what the weather was doing on the day that the first editor was born, but you will need to show your interest in the company you’re applying for. Buy (borrow or steal) copies of their publication and their competitors. This again shows initiative. What do you like/dislike; what do you think of the publication? We’re quick thinkers right. Come up with answers that catch the interviewer off guard and you’ll stick in their head.

Show interest, but don’t sound desperate. I had an interview for a copy controller position during the summer. The interview went perfectly. I had good vibes. I asked, ‘When will you let me know?’

When I didn’t hear on the Thursday, I waited till Friday. On Monday, after a few inquisitive emails, I called (to show determination). I was told that my conduct was out of line. I never heard back. I don’t think there’s an empty desk still waiting for me.

Believe in yourself. I was angry as hell after that situation. But you learn from your mistakes. I believed I was good enough for the job. I just didn’t get it. You’ll take a few hits along the way, but as Catch 22 trainees, I’m sure you already know that. It’s how you deal with them that counts. If you believe in yourself and you’re right to be in the painful situation of the interview room, they’ll believe in you. I need to move on to another paragraph before I get any more like Tony Robbins.

Apply for jobs every day. It would scare me if I found out how many positions I’ve applied for in the last two years. Out of the hundreds of applications I’ve sent, I’ve had three interviews for positions that I wanted. Three. Admittedly, there have more interviews for jobs that I didn’t want. But they all taught me something. And it’s a bloody good job I didn’t get them.

Two weeks ago, I worked in a bar. I received an email offering me an unpaid placement at the BBC on the Radio Times. I was ecstatic. Two days later, I was invited to interview for a full time editorial assistant role. Last week, I stood in an office’s car park audibly laughing to myself with a grin that hasn’t gone down.

I work for a publisher of adult entertainment. I write for porn magazines. I get paid to write and look at naked women. The elation is incomparable.

By Tim Horner – joined Catch 22 as part of the Spring 2010 Cohort)

Why trainee journalists should work in B2B (business to business)

“It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine” said Biggie Smalls in his record, Juicy. The thing is, Word Up was a music magazine neither you or I stand a high chance of writing for, because there are too many people wanting that same job (and if not Word Up, then Vibe).

Scour the 160 character biographies of music enthusiasts on Twitter and it’s the same story. “Music is my LIFE! Check out my blog!” “I can never be without my iPod – look at my music Tumblr!” and many more claims to fame as to why they’re a leader in their bloggy field.

It’s a similar story with fashion too. You’ll find them for ten-a-penny, making you have to ask yourself: “How can I stand out?”

It’s increasingly difficult to get a break in these sectors in journalism, because they’re both ridiculously competitive, saturated with someone else that has the same ambitions as you, and full of eager interns who are happy to replace you at short notice. How are you meant to rise above that?

Watch the video below before I continue…

So You Want to Be a Journalist?

I would encourage any wannabe journalist hoping to change the world (or work for the New York Times!) to consider starting off their career via the B2B route. Although some industries may not seem ‘glamorous’ at first you’ll soon realise the news they cover relate to aspects of everyday life, especially when you see a story written from the same press release you received appear in the Evening Standard.

What is B2B?

In every industry from printing machines (Printweek) to ambient lighting (Lighting) there’s a market for news and magazines that B2B, or ‘business to business’ in its longer form, cover. And that industry is huge and diverse.

Unlike lifestyle magazines, which rely on readers shelling out a few quid to look at magazines with features about what to spend additional income on (which was hit with a drop in sales around 2007 because, amongst other factors, people spent less on small treats such as magazines), business to business will always be around because it’s of value to companies and investors needing to know the latest news in that sector.

From personal experience at Catch 22 Academy I can tell you an infatuation with London Underground (Autumn 2009 issue!) led to a work placement at New Civil Engineer writing about Crossrail news (it’s like the Underground, but on a bigger scale); a penchant for buying Wired magazine, reading Mashable and paying attention to advertising helped immensely when accepted for work experience at BrandRepublic and MediaWeek (all are media partners for Catch 22).

Does B2B apply to me?

Just because I cite examples from experience doesn’t mean it can’t apply to you too. A reference from a glossy magazine or daily newspaper is fantastic, but won’t come easily. I personally stand by the belief that specialtist knowledge is better than the mainstream.

• An obsession with observing how people dress can lead to a job at WGSN who put together fashion reports nearly two years before they hit the catwalk (and send reporters to Japan too, or so I hear).
• Helping out on an events magazine could have you helping out at a summer festival, meeting a few rock stars, but also gives you an insight into how something on such a huge scale like Glastonbury or V Festival is put together.
• Even people obsessed with TV besides soaps may fit in well with a B2B title like Broadcast keeping TV executives up to date with the latest news relating to what’s popular on the box – and what isn’t.

Back to the point about B2B “relating to everyday life.”

As a journalist your motivation is your curiosity. Replace a need for gossip with a need to know what’s happening in the boardrooms of big businesses that shape the way we live our life, from transport to fashion to infrastructure. Now imagine being the journalist that scoops the about a multi million pound story as an exclusive – all the quality newspapers will pick up on it and use your story as a reference.

Whether or not you aspire to work for the New York Times, if you want to change the world, consider B2B as an option when starting out in journalism.

Dave

To shorthand or not to shorthand?

Hello everyone!

Shameful to say being the assistant editor and all, this is my very first blog for Catch 22. To tell you a little bit about my role I commission, research sub and write features and reviews (that is I write reviews not all the other things, our lovely reviews editor Giulia does that). I also manage our brilliant editorial team, as well as going through e-mails and ignoring lots of highly irrelevant press releases.

As Catch 22 and it’s academy is all about training young people in acquire essential skills to gain that much coveted media job I thought I’d focus on the ongoing argument about the merits of shorthand. Today I heard an experienced journalist say that shorthand was “essential” for a news reporter and yet he himself had never mastered shorthand and was a deputy editor of a highly prestigious weekly. While other established journalists I know have forgotten any shorthand they’ve learnt or have also never learnt shorthand in the first place. This is especially in the case of magazines I’ve done work experience at, hours of transcribing other people’s interview will attest to that (and it’s really surprising the dodgy recordings some established journalists will make too). While learning shorthand is time consuming and you may still have trouble deciphering the notes afterwards.

On the other hand I realise that news writing is an essential skill for a journalist to have, and that my handwriting can be pretty hard to read at the best of times, let alone when I’m frantically jotting down a member of the public’s opinions. While Kim Fletcher, chairman of the NCTJ, has said shorthand “demonstrates a real dedication to the craft.” It made me wonder if  I should have actually done shorthand at uni and done it when I could for free, despite our magazine journalism course director telling us that it wasn’t necessary (a fact which shocked a journalist at one of my placements). So far I haven’t really felt I’ve needed it too badly whilst at Catch but then again I really do not like transcribing, especially when you have to keep rewinding to get that one incomprehensible sentence which may or may not be essential. Hmmm only time will tell…

As everyone else so far has included a nice video I’ll follow suit, here’s a lesson on shorthand, it may inspire or detract…

Priscilla

The beauty of printing magazines

Being a journalist these days is way different to how it used to be. I don’t speak from experience, of course, because I’m too young to know what it was like before InDesign and Photoshop became the industry standard. All I have as references to such times past are scenes from Spiderman where Peter Parker has to file a story to his cigar chomping editor, J Jonas Jameson.

In past placements with Catch 22′s media partners work has consisted mainly of reporting tasks – in essence, writing copy, sourcing images and submitting it. That’s fine with me: writers do their job, designers take that work and lay it out. It’s sent off to the printers and a few days later a glossy new magazine comes back. Ooh, don’t new magazines smell nice?

Not often do journalists have the opportunity to see what happens once a magazine goes into production because they’re too busy focusing on their next assignment. I mean, what goes on at the printers? Is it a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory affair with elves running around throwing lashings of ink at sheets of paper like a Jackson Pollock painting? How does something designed on a computer screen transform into something so crisp and bright on page?

Part of my reason for pursuing journalism is because I like to know how stuff is made, so out of curiosity I searched online and came across this short documentary on YouTube about how ink is made.

Magazines are beautiful. Which leads perfectly into my next point.

Like the ‘how is ink made’ video, rarely is an infomercial so gripping, so emotional, so… informative.

If you haven’t watched the Catch 22 Academy online trailer yet, here’s your chance to learn more about the Catch 22 Academy in a short documentary video.

Make sure to download the latest issue of Catch 22 Magazine here.

Dave

Why hello there…

So we finally have a blog do we, about time we got with the programme!! Who agrees?
Well since others have introduced themselves let me follow suit and do the same.

My names Karine and I work in the PR department at this wonderful place we call Catch 22. My job mainly involves me searching for ways to get Catch some well deserved publicity, drafting up press releases and annoying journalists with my constant phone calls.

I’m very new to this role so bless Toks for giving me a chance!!

Having spent most of my working days in retail, I’ve never really worked in an office before but I must say I can’t fault it. We’re a close knit bunch of 20 somethings in this ground floor room, working hard, eating our favourite Caribbean ready meals whilst re-living our teenage years listening to old school tunes (Oxide and Neutrino anyone?).

We’ve had a busy time of it these past couple of months. We’ve held our annual event and organised our christmas shin-dig, had a visit from a Government Minister, released the next issue of the mag and launched this delightful blog. WOW!! I told you we have been busy.

The event was a massive success and it was a great way for us to celebrate the success of our Catch 22 alumni so a big well done to them. Having an accredited reporter such as Charlene White (I’m her biggest fan) hosting the whole thing was just the icing on the cake- well that and the sushi (I’m a huge lover of sushi).

So the new trainees have arrived and after hearing some of their feature ideas, I know we’ve got another talented bunch. As always, the magazine should make for some good reading.

Anyway, I’m going to get back to work as I have phone calls to make, press releases to write and a secret Santa present to buy.

Until next time people.

x.K .x

Merry Christmas!!!

Cop yourself a regular dose of Catch 22

Good day to you all! Dave here, the online editor.

We are gathered here today to talk about our beloved magazine. Glossy, nice smelling (hands up who smells magazines?) and also interactive Catch 22 Magazine (click on the image, right, to view the magazine in its digital edition).

Since being appointed in this role I’ve been in charge of making sure that people who can’t get a physical copy of the magazine can still get their Catch 22 fix in regular doses – and so the Catch 22 blog was opened last week.

As the magazine is only published several times a year how does one do that you ask? Fresh content!

Since I started my voyage with Catch 22 way back last year, the magazine and indeed the course has transformed from print to print/online. In that short time frame Facebook overtook from MySpace as the king of social media, meanwhile the world is updated by the second using Twitter – times are moving so fast, and nobody, especially us, wants to get left behind!

I’m in charge of the online side of things around here. To define that better, when it comes to waiting for your next hit of Catch 22, I’m your pusher, man.

We have a Twitter, a Facebook (see right), FourSquare (we’re planning ahead, guys!) and somewhere in the mix I’m sure there’s a LinkedIn too!

But life isn’t all status updates and friend adds, so let’s slow things down. Things can get frantic in the Catch office what with each of us working our individual roles, let alone updating people constantly with what goes on between each issue of the magazine, so allow me to round up the sections of the main site that get the most fresh content:

• The reviews section of the website is updated with four reviews every month;
• Trainees’ and graduate’s work continues to get published every month – in the local and national press;
• The company itself always has news going on, or other figures frequently talking about us;
• Finally, the revolving door of media jobs sees successful employees go on to further success, so we’re occasionally looking for people to work with us.

That’s fresh! So while the blog is a little ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at Catch 22, our main site is where the serious content is!

You can reach me at online[at]catch22mag.com with any suggestions about improving the site. Alternatively if you prefer ‘keeping it 140′ then ping @catch22magazine with your message, and finally, don’t forget to suggest us to your friends on Facebook.

Peace.
Dave (aka, The Flave)

Pop that cherry!

Welcome to the weird yet wonderful world of Catch 22. We’re a social enterprise that has set itself the audacious challenge of revolutionizing the media industry and then the creative industries and then any other sectors we can penetrate within the UK with our mantra. A daunting task, but someone’s got to take on goliath, right?

Time and time again at team meetings the idea of a Catch 22 blog has piped up, so finally here it is. And as the founder of Catch 22 I’ve been coaxed into writing what happens to be, believe it or not, my first ever blog post entry… sad but very true.

The reasons are simple: 1) I’ve questioned how engaging the musings of a self-confessed workaholic social entrepreneur could be. 2) My to-do list is extensive as it is thank you. 3) I’m busy trying to make things happen, let alone write about them too.

Like the first time “knockin’ da boots”, the idea of writing a blog did fill me with slight anxiety; am I doing it right? How long do I go on for? Am I brave enough to bear all with the lights on? Then I realized as usual I was over thinking things. So instead I’ve decided to just write what pops into my head and conclude by hitting the post button.

Anyway back to the reason I’m here. Catch 22 is an interesting animal that over the last three and a half years has grown organically and consists of many segments all under one roof. Inspired by the likes of Dickie Branson and that Stelios bloke, I decided to do a number of things at the same time and house them all under the Catch 22 brand. What they all have in common within their fabric is quality and that special ingredient known as undiscovered young talent.

At this point it’s appropriate that I give a shout out to fellow social entrepreneur and east-end boy Jamie Oliver. His Fifteen concept reflected exactly the kind of thing I wanted to do in my industry being the media. If he could turn a “street doctor” into a chef at a Michelin star hotel, then I knew I could transform a disillusioned inner city youth into a media professional capable of holding their own at somewhere like The Economist.

Trading Places is a hilarious 80s classic that totally symbolizes the quest of Catch 22. Starring Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy (at his best) the film tackles the old nature versus nurture debate.

Today is a very special day for me, as it’s the anniversary of the day that I think changed my life forever. Ten years ago on November 1st I set off on an amazing adventure around the world. Along with three friends we explored what the globe had to show us. In Brazil we witnessed the dictionary definition of female beauty, in Miami we partied with rap stars, in Hong Kong I trained with renowned kung fu masters and in Thailand we rode on elephants and motorbike taxis through the fields and streets of Chang Mai and Bangkok.

That trip of a lifetime taught me that through my determination and tenacity I could supersede the prejudices, insecurities and pigeonholes that society had laid out for me. It inspired me to transform my potential into product, regardless of the fact that I am first generation African-British from a low-income single parent home. By hook or crook I was going to make things happen!

My narrative has always been that of the underdog, so really it probably comes as no surprise to those that know me that I ended up establishing something like Catch 22. It champions the underdog to excel and to smash all glass ceilings in their way…a bit like this dude has.

Via this blog you’ll get to hear about all that we’re up to at Catch 22 HQ. It may relate to our multimedia journalism training academy, or our youth culture magazine, or our communications agency or our new diversity recruitment service called LaunchPad. In addition we’ll also keep you posted on other new mini ventures we’ve got in the pipelines.

Ok, I’m starting to feel fatigued from the ramblings of my first post, so on that note like Bannatyne “I’m Out!”

Peace

Billy Ray Valentine aka Coach Carter aka Tokunbo (just in case you were wondering, it’s pronounced toh-koon-boh…simples!)