LO1 - Task 2 Job Roles Report

Employer Input

As part of Unit 14 I was asked to create a print based media product (a magazine) with up to 6 different pages. I was given key tutorials and advice in how to produce  a magazine. Work the appropriate software such as InDesign and Adobe Photoshop to make some of the essential graphics to create my magazine of choice. 

Job Roles Report

Topic of Research

I will be investigating roles of the development teams in the production of print based media, more specifically the role of a Magazine Journalist and a  production manager.

Inductory Description

• Duties
• Contribution
• Equipment
• Skills

Magazine Journalist

This member of staff is responsible for all of the writing and articles within a magazine. This includes generating ideas for topics, researching topics in depth, and fulfilling a specific word count. They help to shape and mould the main content within the magazine. They use programs such as word to help correct any spelling, and to help keep track of their word count. They also use pen and paper to gather notes and draft articles to make sure they are sticking to the specific agenda that a magazine has. The journalist helps to make a narrative interesting and also trying to create a specific idea wether it be advertising or reporting on a specific story. They attempt to make the reader feel a certain way wether that be happiness, anger or a general interest . Their role leaves them responsible for creating some of the largest bulk of a magazine and essential content.

One of the main issues which a Magazine Journalist goes through is getting across a specific point while fulfilling the entire word count. This is a particular issue for them due to the fact that the Chief Editor and Production Manager.

My suitability for the role

Personally, I believe that I could have the required attributed that would allow me to be a successful Magazine Journalist. Journalists need to be dedicated and have a huge interest in reading and crafting their work to fulfil the needs of the company that they are writing for. They need to know how to captivate an audience and then hold their attention. They also need excellent communication skills as they will need to be constantly reporting to magazine editors and Production Management to ensure that the¥ are fulfilling the the job that they have been given. A Magazine Journalist needs to be incredibly passionate about the industry as a lot of the time their work may not be used as it isn't to the specific requirements, they will need to dissociate themselves from a lot of their work as a lot of things may be edited out, due to lack of space, not fulfilling the agenda, or the director simply thinks the standard is weak. I believe that I am passionate about the industry and have a thick enough skin to be able to make a career within the industry. However, in order to achieve my goal of working for large scale publications I would need to practice my writing in any way possible. This will help me build up confidence and the range of skills I will need to be successful in a variety of different forms of writing. The best way about doing this is practising as much as possible . It is said that in order to become successful in this industry you would need to be working during your job hours, and a lot of your own time to fulfil assignments and briefs, as the industry is very fast paced. 

Production Manager

The production manager for a magazine company has one of the most intense roles in the entire industry. There responsibility is to oversee every aspect of the production of a magazine, they have to create production plans and time scales as well as ensure the magazines is following the correct guidelines that head management need. One example of something they might work is guiding the entire Journalist team and pushing them to ensure they meet specific deadlines. They would need to make the wheels turn, and push the entire production team to their fullest potential, ensuring the entire production of the magazine comes together as smooth and streamline as possible.

Role Comparison

Both of these rolls share vital importance with the production of a magazine, as without each other they wouldn't be able to craft or make a full magazine. Without the direction of a production manager none of the ingredients would corollate and create the magazine and without the Journalist the actual bulk content of the magazine would not have been produced. I believe that the Magazine Journalist is why a magazine can be enjoyable and interesting however without the guidance of a production manager a full product would not be achieved, and all of the key elements would not be within a magazine to the correct ratio that would be needed.