Professional Writing

Professional Writing graduates find a variety of employment options: they can be self-employed, selling writing to others for publication, or they may work for a company, government agency or individual, or on a "for hire" basis. Professional writers may also work as publications specialists, assuming responsibility for various publications of a company or organization; as editors, reading and recomending manuscripts for a publishing house; or as columnists, writing critiques, reviews, and columns. Professional Writing prepares students for careers as freelance authors of books and magazine articles, plays, screenplays, and stories, both fiction and non-fiction.

Career Opportunities
Reporter Feature Writer Print Editor Editorial Writer Newscaster Editor (film, video tape, audio) Assignment Editor Continuity Writer Greeting Card Writer Proofreader Electronic Publication Specialist Photographer Sales Representative	Writer/Author Promotion/Advertising Publicity Production Advertising Sales Circulation Art and Design Marketing/Promotion News Graphics and Photography Public Relations Reporter Video Programmer

Related Skills

• Create powerful images with sight, sound, motion & words
• Ability to write clearly
• Write press releases, scripts, or other promotional materials
• Effective speaking
• Present specific viewpoints
• Influential / persuasion skills
• Synthesizing information
• Interpretation skills
• Create entertaining and persuasive messages
• Reporting and editing skills
• Demonstrate creativity and artistic expression
• Define hypotheses
• Evaluate ideas
• Gather information and data
• Compare and contrast evidence
• Evaluate information and sources
• Critical thinking skills
• Planning and managing skills
• Work with deadlines
• Work independently
• Attention to details
• Work in teams/small groups

Hiring Institutions
Large circulation newspapers Local newspapers Wire services Trade newspapers Online publishers Colleges and Schools Community Organizations Government Agencies Sales	Foreign Service Market Research Firms Public Relations Agencies Media Labor Unions Educational Journals Corporate Publications Federal Communications Commission

Personal Attributes

• Creativity
• Desire for recognition and to influence others
• Independence
• Intellectual growth
• Poise and composure under close public scrutiny and criticism
• Appreciation for clear and stimulation communication
• Pleasant and friendly attitude
• Self-confidence
• Tactfulness
• Versatility
• Integrity
• Imagination
  

Career Paths of Recent Graduates

Related Websites

Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Magazine Publishers of America
American Society of Journalists and Authors