Forum - View topicBecoming an anime journalist.
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Vetes
Posts: 3 |
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I started writing on anime a while back and was wondering how hard it would be to become an anime journalist, working for a site like ANN or one of the few mags left. I'd love to go to conventions to cover news and write reports. Anyone have any suggestions?
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rinmackie
 Posts: 1040 Location: in a van! down by the river! |
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Well, you could simply ask or sometimes a site will advertise for positions. Actually, I think there's a site for jobs in anime; I don't know the address but I'm sure you can google it.
Actually, you might try looking outside anime sites/mags and offer to write reviews for a more mainstream site like Aol's TV Squad. The reason I mention this (and forgive for I'm about to go on a mini-rant) is because I just came from their site where they had a picture of some new dvd/ blue ray releases, one of which was Claymore. In the blurb underneath, the other two shows were mentioned but there was NO MENTION OF CLAYMORE! (End mini-rant.) So yeah, anime is woefully unrepresented in the mainstream media. Of course, your request may fall on deaf ears but it's worth a try. Edit: Actuallly, it was SciFi Squad and the did mention it in the same paragraph as Halo Legends. But they didn't go into any detail so in essence my argument still stands. |
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abunai
Old Regular
 Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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I hear this a lot from young people: "I want to be a journalist", "I want to be a writer", and similar stuff. Admirable goals, I'm sure, but the admiration fades a bit when the question "Why?" is asked. People, you see, aren't always entirely clear about their motivations.
You say you want to be an "anime journalist", because you want to go to conventions to cover news and write reports. Presumably, what you mean is that you want to be paid to do this, and maybe get in free and stuff like that. That motivation has nothing to do with journalism -- it's the fan in you talking. You just want to get paid to be a fan. Unfortunately, there are no job offers for Professional Fan. Hey, sure, we'd all like to get paid to go to conventions and schmooze with anime VIPs. However, that isn't what journalists are for. It's what they do, yes, but it isn't the motivation -- it's just icing on the cake. Journalists, and writers, exist to write. Simple but true. If that isn't your motivation, you might as well change your objectives to something more achievable. Astronaut, say. They say the view from the new section of the ISS is great. If you really want to be an anime journalist, you have to start by being a journalist. And if you want to be a journalist, you have to start by writing. Find a clear, clean voice of your own, and put it down on paper (or in a blog, if you must). Write legibly and understandably. Make sense, whatever you write. Then go on from there. You might find that, as you go along, the writing becomes the most important part of it. The sheer pleasure of saying what you want to say, just the way you want to say it. If that becomes your motivation, you will probably find that being an anime journalist is only part of what you really want to be. Look at any of the pros working here at ANN, and I'm pretty sure you won't find a single one of them that only thinks of himself (or herself) as an "anime journalist". Think big. On the other hand, if all you really want to do is go to anime conventions and write about it.... shell out the bucks for tickets and blog about it. It's a free world. - abunai |
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anijunk
Posts: 55 |
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The same route as any journalist would go.
Search for a group of magazines/publisher. Send proposals for writing a (weekly/monthly) column on anime. Send some clips of previous published articles on the subject with your proposal. I would aim at the movie mags or a newspaper. Then watch your mailbox and watch the letters coming in. Do not think posting here is a guaranty for success. Good luck. Why not try to publish on this site,if they allow and want new articles/reviews. |
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John Casey
 Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
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Do you have a college degree? More specifically, one that centers in creative writing or journalism? If so, then you can bank your own column on The Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/
Basically, if you want that sort of job, you need a degree, and a presentable resume. And a good way to start pimping your resume is by starting a column on the Examiner. Most importantly though, if you focus on one thing solely, you won't get anywhere. You wanna be an "anime journalist" (I'm guessing you wanna do reviews and editorials related to anime?), you need to expand your horizon. Work on anime on the Examiner, while simultaneously trying to bank a job as maybe a DVD critic at a local small time newspaper or magazine. If you're still in college however, try to do something along these lines for your local campus paper. Also, internships are of utmost importance; internships work wonders later on. Now, if you're still in high school....then get educated first! |
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Vetes
Posts: 3 |
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I have 2 bachelor's. One in World History with a focus on Asian History and one in English. I have over 50 articles written across the web, some on anime already.
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Zalis116
Moderator
 Posts: 6902 Location: Kazune City |
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This very recent article is also relevant:
animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2010-02-12 |
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Mushi-Man
 Posts: 1537 Location: KCMO |
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My is to use social networking. Let's look at Otaku USA for example. If you look at the staff listings you can basically play 7 degrees from Patrick Macias with it every time. Having friends in "high places" (if you will) can give you a hands up on the competition. Knowing someone who's already in the industry can at least get your foot in the door and give the the opening you need. But it's worth noting that, like the article Zalis116 posted, anime journalist isn't really a big paying job. I can't think of a single anime journalist who makes their whole living off of that alone. If you want to write about anime I would keep in mind that it's not as much of a career as it is a side job that you mainly do out of the passion of the hobby.
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Vetes
Posts: 3 |
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Thanks for the link Zalis116. I am more or less doing it for love, but if I could make a little money doing it, I could devote more time to it.
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arachneia
 Posts: 415 Location: On the wings of Bob Lennon |
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I don't want to be a bitch, but wouldn't someone with an English degree know that plural nouns don't contain apostrophes? |
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abunai
Old Regular
Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Actually.... you're wrong, too. In fact, you're more wrong than he is. He obviously meant to say "I have two bachelor's degrees", but the latter word was left out -- possibly because it is common, in spoken language, to do so. You, however, obviously think that the proper phrase would be "I have two bachelors". That is only true if you are referring to unmarried men. If you are referring to degrees, as in the previous paragraph, then this is, in fact, a possessive case, and therefore uses an apostrophe to indicate such. The plural-noun S is found at the end of "degrees". So there. - abunai Caesar non supra grammaticos. |
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ikillchicken
 Posts: 7272 Location: Vancouver |
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Wait though. That would be true if it were always called a Bachelor's Degree but it's not. If you're talking about a specific area it would be called a Bachelor of something. So either could be a valid common speech shortening. Although if anything, common sense would probably indicate we should just always shorten it to Bachelor(s).
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abunai
Old Regular
Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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No. The person is "bachelor of X", the degree is either a "baccalaureate" (if you're in a Latin mood) or a "bachelor's degree". Such a degree confers upon its holder the title of "bachelor of X". True, people (and universities) generally conflate the term for the degree with the term for the holder of the degree, in spoken language -- I notice that the Wikipedia entry on this subject is similarly vague on the precise usage -- but that isn't strictly correct. It's just a popular abuse of the terminology (the "popular abuse" bit is why you should never trust Wikipedia, btw). At any rate, if you are going to be a stickler for grammar, the way arachneia attempted to be, you'd better have your own ducks in a row. - abunai |
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ikillchicken
Posts: 7272 Location: Vancouver |
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Ah, okay. I see what you're saying. Personally, I would still be inclined to consider 'bachelors' equally valid (or equally invalid if you prefer) as we're already dealing with spoken language by shortening it in the first place and so it would seem acceptable to also go by the more common language usage of 'bachelor of something' referring to the degree. I suppose that is just a matter of opinion though.
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John Casey
Posts: 1853 Location: In My Angry Center |
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Well, I'm working on a doctorate in clinical psychology. Everyone, start caring! So yeah, I don't really see what the big hoop-hole is all about. If you have two degrees, and quite the resume, then it shouldn't be a hassle for you to find yourself a job in the field. Like the dude above me said, networking is a pretty good way to develop connections. I mean, if you want a job in the field, then you've got to get yourself together, and start singling out publications. You can't just post up a header or something, and expect them to come to you. |
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