What Does The Media Job Market Value?

This morning I sent out a newsletter named The Alex Reads Newsletter, a newsletter that pertains to my audience's shared interest in writing, motivation general wellbeing.

Each week, I write a column in the newsletter where I express my thoughts on an idea of some kind to uplift and encourage thought and generate an internal discussion, as well as provide other recommendations for long reads and the like.

In this week's newsletter, I discussed Personal Value and where that comes from, how we should hold onto it and what to do if we are in search of it. In writing it though, I came to think about where I am in my career and what that means for the market I want to navigate; broadly media, specifically broadcast and digital journalism.

Throughout my five years of working in journalism, before deciding that I wanted to take a break from, frankly, not very diverse newsrooms - I shall explain soon - that didn't value me as a person in their operation, and thus left me thinking less and less of my own personal value and achievements that had come from outside of said newsrooms itself.

Firstly, let me explain what I mean about diversity.

In recent times we have been engaging on every level about diversity on screens, in the media, in publishing and in nearly every sector of industry in this country. Diversity has, and will continue to be, since I do think there is a strong case of myopia among gatekeepers, about race, gender, ability and sexuality. This is absolutely valid.

I worked in environments that would use me as a showbunny. As someone who was the epitome of what they thought the world wanted to see. A token. Something that justified why hiring more of us would be necessary. (One editor of mine once even took to mentioning me as a justification for why the media isn't institutionally racist, which I thought was absurd - but I digress.) Yet, when it comes to people wanting there to be more and more people of colour, BME or whatever you want to name us, working in these newsrooms they are very rarely hired, commissioned or held as retainers to write for these outlets. Many, including myself, when inside the building are overlooked, undermined and alienated from the culture of working - ideas get dismissed in ways white colleagues would not, and there are also elements of distrust when it comes to autonomy over stories, self, and ability.

But further to diversity, is diversity of thought. As a young journalist, I walked into these 200-year-old institutions with a clear understanding of my generation. What it wants, how it wants it, and where it wants it from. Valuing people's ideas are an important way of progression.

Journalism in 2019 is at its strongest content-wise. From Brexit to Trump, there has never been more of a need for journalism in this decade. But it has also been one of the worst.

Buzzfeed has had to cut a majority of its staff this year alone. Papers aren't hiring like they used to, and other outlets are suffering. and it may be, not entirely, but just may be because of a questionable decision: the model they use to publish and produce online content. That is another article for another day, but the point of the matter is, most of the job market isn't assessing what value people have and how they think laterally, but more about what has already been stated on paper and thus for some reason cannot be altered.

Take me. I have been applying for jobs in radio, magazines and papers for the past year-and-a-half, with the past four months having the most time to make applications. Given my CV, I have been told that my experience is 'very valuable' but not valuable enough for an interview or trial shift.

It is very curious to me that a job role for a podcast or radio producer should look at my CV and think I haven't got the relevant experience to do the job. What is the hill? Three podcasts produced, one being award winning, one for a major British newspaper and one being pitched for strong partnerships? Or is it the ample experience teaching oneself how to edit, produce, and engineer on pretty complicated software? Or the acquired marketing knowledge and expertise that comes with content curation?

When it comes to print and digital journalism, how does one justify two front page stories at one of the largest papers in the country? Or working on breaking stories, interviewing amazing people and producing strong and pertinent write-ups?

Where does the value lie in the media job market, when so many skills go overlooked? The idea is to walk into these companies and careers with an assured sense of self, not questioning your ability because the people who are in charge of hiring don't see it in you. In my personal opinion, I think it's because a lot of people hiring don't look like the people applying. Editorship roles are difficult to gain in my case. Producing roles are difficult too.

They are difficult because they hire the same people, with the same experience and the same backgrounds. They are difficult because there is not space in these spaces to be challenged or questioned. A mentality of, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' but it is broken.

But the important thing is that I do not lose sight of what my ability is. I know I am a decent writer, and am consistently improving on that. I know that I can edit copy, audio and produce a myriad of content. I know that I can market myself, my product and my intention well. And I know all of this because I do it everyday whether I am being paid or not.

The value I see in myself, the job market doesn't see nor seem to understand. But I'll continue to be annoying and message people. I'll continue to persistently post my newsletter on my feed, my events and my articles. I'll click 'connect' in the hope that somebody actually wants to do so with me and collaborate. Why?

I may not have come from large impressive radio stations, gained an editorship in the papers I worked, nor even given the space to gain that kind of experience in a jobspace, but what I lack in those areas that people are accustomed to, I make up for in sheer graft, ambition, courage, curiosity and a willingness to grow.

And it all boils down to the fact, that I am determined to make the change the media so badly want to see, that they are too limited to make. I am here to bring value.

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