Working for a Bike magazine

[Blunet600]

Hi - I would love to get some information from anybody who might know how to get a job in the bike magazine, any bike magazine.
I have sent numerous emails to different magazines but not had any replies. I would like to become a video producer and editor for the bike mags, or anything relative. Anyone got or know what experience or things that are looked for, and also how to get in contact with them and maybe train with them?
Thankyou

[Adam_P]

What expecrience and qualifications do you have to offer them?

Are you trained in video/audio production already? A journalist? Photographer? Page layout and design? Editing? Can you make good mugs of tea?

You'll be lucky if you get into a production office with no qualification or experience, not impossible, but they'll be looking for something that they can use straight away, rather than train up over the long term.

I presume the video/audio stuff is for the internet side of things? Do you have experience of that already?
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Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[Blunet600]

Not really any experience. I did Media at A levels and can only show them the video i made for A level as well as home made videos that i have put alot of work into.
I know it looks unlikely but if i can get a job somewhere doing videos or editing then that will help, but may take a while. Also want to get into mechanics.... but need somewhere to take on an apprentice, the places round me seem to not want anybody to train

[Steve H]

Getting your foot in the door is the hardest part, propping the door open for a nanosecond and attempting to get ANYBODY to give you an opportunity to show your wares is a lesson in futility that I've had first hand experience of.

I've written a couple of articles for the major mags and submitted more letters than I care to remember offering my services to them (again!) and many others.

I (personally) reckon that I could do an equal (if not better) job than most of the 'staff writers' who regurgitate the same ol' same old when writing articles on their most recent trip around the 'Trike Test Route' or wherever their journey takes them.

Tossers, the lot of 'em - although if they're reading this...

'Hi' How's about a 6 month probationary contract letting me show you what I might be able to do [/i]
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[st3v3]

Might not be so keen on training you up, incase you decide to take a better offer a few months down the line
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[G]

[Trixie]

Firstly, what is it you want to do? Do you want to go down the media route, or the mechanics route?

If the media route, then submit articles, write letters for inclusion, make a pest of yourself and have a look at www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk for jobs (and be prepared to relocate for the right job - even a junior position). Will your local paper take you on as unpaid work experience? I know it's not bike journalism, but you've got to show willing as it's a very competitive industry. I used to deal with recruitment for the local newspapers here, so I speak from experience!

And be prepared for the pay to be crap!

If you want to go down the mechanics route, then I'd suggest you book yourself on a college course PDQ, as media studies won't hold you in very good stead if you want an apprentice mechanic job. A number of my mates are bike mechanics and they've either got on the job training with day release to college (the lucky ones), or they've got the qualifications then gone onto do an apprenticeship at a local dealer - then moved on from there. They'll also do a fair bit of private work to supplement their income.
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Dead nobodies in company cars...

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[Steve H]

[cqueen]

Maybe try offering your services for free, for a year? It might work, probably won't though!

[pwntifex]

Unlucky choosing Media for A-Levels, as that is one of many qualifications that mean absolutely nothing, especially with no further experience.
Similar qualifications include:

Drama Studies
Dance Studies
Film Studies
Performance Studies
Psychology
Sociology

Most bike magazine writers are journalists first and foremost.
Try asking if there is any work experience at your local newspaper. Contacts and experience are everything in journalism.
You won't get a job as a producer (do you know what this term means?) or editor of video with a bike magazine as those departments don't exist. You're unlikely to get any work generally without starting off as something more basic, i.e. grip, unless you produce your own indie film and it becomes a sensation.

Bike magazines are a specialisation. You have to get general experience before specialising, generally speaking.

HTH

PS. If you want to work in media, establish a portfolio!! I cannot stress this enough. It is your most important asset.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[Itchy]

Keep on dreaming,

sorry to be such a downer but you could always try be an artist of some kind,

me thinks a way in would be to do a kickstart , ie amass an enourmous number of bikes so a bike journo interviews you , or do something outrageous so you get press coverage , keep on at it,

then sort of ask around for articles related to your insanity keith has played on his Bandit and 20+ bikes for ages , this = foot in door.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Simple]

[pwntifex]

[Visitor Q]

[Simple]

Plenty of people are on my course having not done biology since GCSE.. and it's tedious, it means the first year for me is redoing my chemistry and biology a levels *yawns* .... with a tiny bit of new stuff thrown in to try and keep those who only just missed on the points for veterinary entertained...

I suspect there will be a HUGE drop out rate from 1st>2nd year for my uni...

If you're wonbdering why I'm still onm course.. well I've spoken to people who've done it and they agree the first year is a waste of your time as it's like a foundation year but isnt called it.. next year is alot better..
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Insta - FemFeral

[Annabella]

Simple, I think most first years are similar especially for medicine and anatomy.

Even for Music where a high level of practical and theory were necessary for entry, we still fannied about for a year learning basic analysis techniques - it was dull, but 'aiming' for 40% kept us going.
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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[Raffles_Gentleman Thug]

It's not easy to get a job with any specialist magazine and motorcycling magazines are one of the most cut-throat.

If you're serious about a job with one, the first thing is to get writing. Do a feature a week. Research, write and re-write. Sent it off to people who you think might be interested. Write incredible, interesting letters to the magazine, try to catch someone's eye.

Before you embark on a career in writing make sure you can write. This may sound terribly patronizing and obvious, but the number of submissions magazine receive that are practically illiterate is staggering. If you can't spell journalist then the chances are you won't get to be one.

Learn the difference between writing a lot and writing well.

Build up an encyclopedic knowledge of motorcycling: if you don't know when Honda dropped the capital 'B' from Fireblade, and why, someone who does will shine over you.

Contact editors, writers and anyone else who inspires you. Ask for the chance to be involved in features. If they like you then the next time they need talking heads for a feature then you've got a good chance, and a foot in the door.

Don't be disappointed if you don't get a response, or if you don't like the one you get. Keep trying. For years if necessary. Get other writing experience; ask local papers if you can supply stories, get yourself published and build up a portfolio.

Magazines do like to have people with extra skills in web and multimedia editing but they all rank well below the one skill in the name: a writer has to be able to write.

Build up your skill and see where it takes you.

Good luck.

[pwntifex]

You just bumped a three month old thread.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? D:
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[Shay HTFC]

I thought it was still quite useful. Its not THAT big a deal is it?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Welcome back Khal, and happy birthday.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[mrchips]

You'll never get a start if you're looking soley "to work in a bike magazine". You'd be better starting with a local paper and working your way up over many years to maybe TV Quik and possibly even motorcycle magazines. Not really a job you could just walk into with no experiance.
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[T.C]

If you develop expertise in specific areas, get yourself known within the industry, quite often the magazines will come looking for you.

I had no interest in writing for a magazine although I was/am frequently interviewed until I got approached and asked if I would like to contribute as a writer.

I tried it, found that I enjoyed it, and then started getting paid to write, then started getting bikes and kit to assess, and now it is part of my life.

I get to go to launches, overseas travel all paid for by A N Other, free bikes, free kit,, couldn't be better and being part time, I still get to do my regular job

I was even able to have the luxury of turning down an invitation from a National daily recently to write for them

At the moment the magazine is preparing for its relaunch, so busy preparing articles ansd features, but the bottom line is if you have credibility within the field you wish to write, they will come to you rather than you having to go to them.

Unless you are salaried and work soley for the publisher, you won't make a lot of money unless you freelance to multiple titles.

Current rate is about £100 per page in an A4 size magazine which is betwwen 700 and 900 words depending on photographs, graphics and the like.
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