Market reporter (journalist) — Anya Fielding

Anya gained a classics degree from the University of Oxford and a Masters at St Andrews University. Here she shares her experience of working in both publishing and journalism

How did you get into journalism?

I originally applied for entry-level jobs in publishing and became an editorial assistant for an educational publisher. It was a competitive process and there were many rejections before I found a job. Careers advisers at my university suggested I volunteer and start demonstrating my interest in publishing early in my undergraduate degree.

I volunteered at literary festivals and libraries to prove my enthusiasm for publishing, which led to editorial internships and other publishing work experience. I relied on my careers service for guidance on applications and navigating my early career.

After a year in the publishing industry, I realised that the sector was not the right fit for me. I looked into journalism and started applying for entry-level journalist jobs. I emphasised my transferable skills and hard work in the interviews and applications in order to switch industries successfully.

What's a typical working day as a journalist?

I start at around 10.30am, when I reach out to my contacts and talk to them about developments in my area, which is shipping. I research online, looking for announcements and press releases my audience might find interesting and keep up to date with the latest conversations people are having. I write analyses and news stories about anything I find.

By 3pm, I start compiling what I've learned into my daily summary and work on visualising the data with charts and graphics. I send my work to my editors and record all my notes and conversations for compliance purposes. By 7pm, my report is published and my day ends.

What do you enjoy most about working as a journalist?

I enjoy researching and writing the most. I also enjoy live reporting from industry events, it gives me a rush.

What are the challenges in your shipping journalist role?

Covering the same market daily, means that often the information and layout is monotonous.

Deadlines are tight, and I can't set any tasks aside for the next day as everything has to be ready for the evening publication.

How relevant is your classics degree?

After graduating with a degree in classics from the University of Oxford, I decided to do a Masters in classics at St Andrews University. Both my degrees are invaluable to me on a personal level, and are how I learned to write, research and analyse - communication skills that I use every day at work.

What are your career ambitions?

Ideally, I would become a journalist researcher, helping flesh out entertainment and educational content for larger newsrooms or broadcasting stations.

What advice can you give to others?

• Give yourself time. Your dream job is unlikely to be your first job and it takes time to get to the places you would like to be.
• Follow all your interests. Trying different career paths will let you know the type of work and environments you thrive in and will build your skills faster.
• Tailor your CV and cover letter to the job specification. Companies often use automated software to sort through applications, which discards applications that are missing keywords.

Find out more

• Discover what you could do with a classics degree.
• Read all about being a magazine journalist.