Reading task 8
Reading task: multiple matching 8
For questions 1-19, answer by choosing from the list of editors (A-D). Some of the choices may be required more than once.
A - Jayne West
B - Celia Howard
C - Karen Goss
D - Gillian Rolland
Of which editor is the following true?
1. She mentions the fact that writers need discipline to work to time constraints.
2. She did not believe she would reach the level of editor.
3. Her current position at work is a temporary one.
4. She prefers to hire people who have experience of working for other magazines.
5. She rejects a certain stereotype about women's magazines.
6. She compares a serious side of journalism to a more enjoyable one.
7. She is exceptionally positive about the editorial position she now holds.
8. She likes her work now as much as she did at the beginning of her career.
9. She is not impressed by inexperienced people who are overconfident.
10. She had no definite ambition when she began her career.
11. She was discouraged from attempting a career in journalism.
12. She appreciates people who have put considerable effort into becoming a journalist.
13. She managed to become a writer by initially working in a different role.
14. She advises new writers to work on establishing a reputation.
15. She believes that only certain people are suitable for one area of journalism.
16. She states that only new writers with exceptional talent are likely to get work.
17. Her skills as a writer were acquired through experience rather than study.
18. She says her first experience of journalism was not in the field she intended to stay in.
19. She believes that self-confidence is an important quality.
1. She mentions the fact that writers need discipline to work to time constraints.
2. She did not believe she would reach the level of editor.
3. Her current position at work is a temporary one.
4. She prefers to hire people who have experience of working for other magazines.
5. She rejects a certain stereotype about women's magazines.
6. She compares a serious side of journalism to a more enjoyable one.
7. She is exceptionally positive about the editorial position she now holds.
8. She likes her work now as much as she did at the beginning of her career.
9. She is not impressed by inexperienced people who are overconfident.
10. She had no definite ambition when she began her career.
11. She was discouraged from attempting a career in journalism.
12. She appreciates people who have put considerable effort into becoming a journalist.
13. She managed to become a writer by initially working in a different role.
14. She advises new writers to work on establishing a reputation.
15. She believes that only certain people are suitable for one area of journalism.
16. She states that only new writers with exceptional talent are likely to get work.
17. Her skills as a writer were acquired through experience rather than study.
18. She says her first experience of journalism was not in the field she intended to stay in.
19. She believes that self-confidence is an important quality.
The Dream Career?
Many people dream of a career in journalism, but what's it really like? Four editors who have made it to the top tell us how they got there.
A Jayne West
When she decided that magazines would be the career for her, Jayne West applied to do a journalism course in London. She was told at the interview by both the lecturers present that she didn't have what it takes. That was the late eighties. But as current editor of Venus magazine, she is living proof that persistence, and a willingness to 'get in by the back door if necessary' can payoff. 'Only in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up as an editor,' she says. 'I just hoped I'd be a features writer. My first aim after my degree was to get a foothold. I learned to type - no one should underestimate the importance of this skill - and that enabled me to get work temping.' After landing a job as a PA in the editor's office at City magazine, Jayne, 35, took on other roles including feature writing. 'I had such brilliant training,' she says, 'but most of it was on the job. It absolutely pays to get as much experience as possible. If someone is starting out, work experience is the best way to get a foot in the door. I can always tell who will do well. It's the young woman or man willing to do anything - not those who think they should be writing a feature on the first day.'
B Celia Howard
Celia Howard, 35, has been editor of monthly magazine, Mode, for two years. Her career in women's magazines spans seven years but before this she worked on a variety of small trade publications across a range of editorial roles. Her enthusiasm for her current job and the team of people working with her is overwhelming. 'People must have a real passion for the job and for the magazine they are working on,' she says. 'They don't always realise what hard work it's going to be.' She started her career at 'ground level,' she says, but had no idea of what her ultimate aim was. 'I just knew I wanted to work in publishing. In my experience, so long as someone believes in themselves and is tenacious enough, they can go for whatever they want. It depends on the magazine and type of work someone wants to do,' she adds. 'With fashion, for example, you can't teach someone about it. I think people are probably born with it. But lots of people aspire to be feature writers or interviewers. Celebrity interviewing is a very popular choice.' She says the perception of women's magazines being competitive environments is unfounded. 'In my experience they are a very open place to work. People come in from all sorts of backgrounds, and I have always worked with great teams of talented people.'
C Karen Goss
After 20 years in the women's magazine business in various editorial roles, Karen Goss, 46, says her love for the job has not diminished. 'It is a supportive and caring environment, but it is also intensely professional.' Junior positions are few and far between among her 36 staff, she says, but if someone stands out, as one applicant did recently, they can get in. 'While a postgraduate qualification is important, there's also the fact that people move around a lot in this industry and I am more likely to look for people who have done this. At the lower end it is not very well paid but at the top level, salaries can be extremely good.' This, she emphasises, is limited to a handful of people. The people she admires are those who take risks later in life and have re-trained in an attempt to enter the industry. 'The sheer hard work it takes to re-train is a serious undertaking,' she says. 'But people with a specialist knowledge have a better chance than someone wanting to be a general journalist. Some people might come into magazines thinking they will be able to have flexible working hours further down the line. But to have any chance of this, they need to remember that it takes time to make a name for yourself.'
D Gillian Rolland
While the editor of International is on maternity leave, Gillian Rolland, 35, the deputy editor, has stepped into her shoes and has taken on what she calls a 'caretaking role.' 'I trained as a newspaper journalist but always aspired to work on a glossy magazine. I started out at Charm magazine but also did a spell in newspapers before moving into glossies. They are different from newspapers - and a big difference is the number of women. It is true that there are a few perks to the job - free stuff we get given us. The features team will have to go out to parties and have fun as part of their job, but likewise they can end up at fundraisers for charities we are working with. On a magazine as big as International you quite simply have to work very hard. Deadlines are not as fast paced as newspapers of course, but to stay at our standard we have to work for it. It's often heads down and getting on with it.' Gillian says the 30-strong editorial team is made up of 'all sorts' of people. 'They are all talented,' she says. 'The work is full time and full on. Writers' positions are very sought after. The last time we advertised, over 500 people responded.'
Many people dream of a career in journalism, but what's it really like? Four editors who have made it to the top tell us how they got there.
A Jayne West
When she decided that magazines would be the career for her, Jayne West applied to do a journalism course in London. She was told at the interview by both the lecturers present that she didn't have what it takes. That was the late eighties. But as current editor of Venus magazine, she is living proof that persistence, and a willingness to 'get in by the back door if necessary' can payoff. 'Only in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up as an editor,' she says. 'I just hoped I'd be a features writer. My first aim after my degree was to get a foothold. I learned to type - no one should underestimate the importance of this skill - and that enabled me to get work temping.' After landing a job as a PA in the editor's office at City magazine, Jayne, 35, took on other roles including feature writing. 'I had such brilliant training,' she says, 'but most of it was on the job. It absolutely pays to get as much experience as possible. If someone is starting out, work experience is the best way to get a foot in the door. I can always tell who will do well. It's the young woman or man willing to do anything - not those who think they should be writing a feature on the first day.'
B Celia Howard
Celia Howard, 35, has been editor of monthly magazine, Mode, for two years. Her career in women's magazines spans seven years but before this she worked on a variety of small trade publications across a range of editorial roles. Her enthusiasm for her current job and the team of people working with her is overwhelming. 'People must have a real passion for the job and for the magazine they are working on,' she says. 'They don't always realise what hard work it's going to be.' She started her career at 'ground level,' she says, but had no idea of what her ultimate aim was. 'I just knew I wanted to work in publishing. In my experience, so long as someone believes in themselves and is tenacious enough, they can go for whatever they want. It depends on the magazine and type of work someone wants to do,' she adds. 'With fashion, for example, you can't teach someone about it. I think people are probably born with it. But lots of people aspire to be feature writers or interviewers. Celebrity interviewing is a very popular choice.' She says the perception of women's magazines being competitive environments is unfounded. 'In my experience they are a very open place to work. People come in from all sorts of backgrounds, and I have always worked with great teams of talented people.'
C Karen Goss
After 20 years in the women's magazine business in various editorial roles, Karen Goss, 46, says her love for the job has not diminished. 'It is a supportive and caring environment, but it is also intensely professional.' Junior positions are few and far between among her 36 staff, she says, but if someone stands out, as one applicant did recently, they can get in. 'While a postgraduate qualification is important, there's also the fact that people move around a lot in this industry and I am more likely to look for people who have done this. At the lower end it is not very well paid but at the top level, salaries can be extremely good.' This, she emphasises, is limited to a handful of people. The people she admires are those who take risks later in life and have re-trained in an attempt to enter the industry. 'The sheer hard work it takes to re-train is a serious undertaking,' she says. 'But people with a specialist knowledge have a better chance than someone wanting to be a general journalist. Some people might come into magazines thinking they will be able to have flexible working hours further down the line. But to have any chance of this, they need to remember that it takes time to make a name for yourself.'
D Gillian Rolland
While the editor of International is on maternity leave, Gillian Rolland, 35, the deputy editor, has stepped into her shoes and has taken on what she calls a 'caretaking role.' 'I trained as a newspaper journalist but always aspired to work on a glossy magazine. I started out at Charm magazine but also did a spell in newspapers before moving into glossies. They are different from newspapers - and a big difference is the number of women. It is true that there are a few perks to the job - free stuff we get given us. The features team will have to go out to parties and have fun as part of their job, but likewise they can end up at fundraisers for charities we are working with. On a magazine as big as International you quite simply have to work very hard. Deadlines are not as fast paced as newspapers of course, but to stay at our standard we have to work for it. It's often heads down and getting on with it.' Gillian says the 30-strong editorial team is made up of 'all sorts' of people. 'They are all talented,' she says. 'The work is full time and full on. Writers' positions are very sought after. The last time we advertised, over 500 people responded.'