What Type Of Person Thrives In The Media Industry, According To A Media Analyst At Variety Intelligence Platform
To thrive in the media industry, tenacity and perseverance are crucial, as the job requires "going after people" for information and navigating potential layoffs; passion for the subject matter is also key, as genuine engagement shines through in the work and helps maintain enthusiasm despite repetitive tasks.
Tenacious, Perseverant, Personable, Passionate, Resilient
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Tyler Aquilina
Media Analyst
Variety Intelligence Platform
Loyola Marymount University
None
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Data and Analytics
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Tenacity and perseverance are crucial for success in the media industry, which can be challenging and involve job insecurity.
2. Building strong relationships and being personable are vital for journalists to establish sources and expertise.
3. A genuine passion for the subject matter is essential, as it enhances the writing and resonates with readers.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
Well, you certainly have to be tenacious. It's an industry with a lot of challenges, and it's kind of been shrinking for quite a while. In my first full-time job, the company I worked for went through two or three rounds of layoffs within a couple of years.
I was lucky not to be among those laid off. I personally have not experienced that yet, but any journalist who's been in this business for any length of time will tell you it's only a matter of time before you might go through something like that. Being able to pick yourself back up and get back to work is really important.
That tenacity also extends to the job in general. You have to be willing to go after people, in the sense that you're trying to get them to talk about something they might not want to. You have to be perseverant with reaching out to people.
It also takes a certain amount of being personable. You have to be someone people can open up to and will want to talk to and work with. That's how you establish a strong expertise and a strong base of sources in your field.
That's not something I have as much experience with, because I've moved away from source-based interviews and that kind of thing. But that's a really important skill for any journalist.
Finally, you need to have a lot of passion for what you are writing about and covering. If you don't, that will often come through in your writing and your work. When you're engaged and passionate, the reader can tell. Dealing with the same subject day after day really helps to have a passion for it and an enthusiasm for it.
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