Although attending journalism school is the most direct — and traditional — path to becoming a fashion journalist, the fashion media marketplace has evolved in recent years to the point where almost anyone with a keen eye for fashion trends and a firm grasp on the written word can break into the field. The majority of the job necessitates passion, knowledge, and perseverance. Formal journalism training is rarely as important as knowledge of the fashion industry’s nuances and key players for job success.
Fashion journalism covers a wide range of topics. The obvious examples are newspaper fashion columns and sections, but books about fashion, the work of fashion photographers, fashion broadcasting, and news coverage of fashion events also qualify. Fashion blogs and news-oriented websites fall into this category as well. Much of what it takes to become a fashion journalist is figuring out what kind of journalist you want to be in the first place.
The majority of newscasters, broadcast anchors, and newspaper columnists have backgrounds in traditional journalism. The style and fashion sections of well-known news organizations are frequently sought-after positions. Journalists who hold them have typically worked their way up the corporate ladder. In order to work as a fashion journalist in these fields, you must be willing to take on work that is not immediately appealing to you. The goal is to establish yourself as a top journalist so that when fashion positions open up at your company, you’ll be one of the first people to be considered.
However, these types of jobs no longer make up the majority of fashion journalism jobs. The majority of today’s fashion journalists work on a per-piece or freelance basis. When commissioned or assigned by a publication, they write articles, take photos, or conduct research. Getting this type of job necessitates a completely different approach.
The majority of freelance journalists are self-taught, meaning they have no formal journalism education. They’ve made it because of what they know rather than where they work. You’ll need to study to become a fashion journalist like this. Learn everything you can about the fashion industry, design firms, and the underlying economic and business forces.
You must also demonstrate your expertise and authority. Many fashion journalists begin their careers by writing fashion industry blogs or contributing to fashion-related websites on a regular basis. This will provide you with a broad understanding of the fashion industry and enable you to begin closely following the trends and issues that interest you.
Writing a blog or sponsoring a website is unlikely to make you a lot of money, at least not right away. However, if you can build a readership and establish credibility, the rewards may begin to flow. Fashion magazines and trade publications frequently approach well-known fashion bloggers for freelance work, and blogs can also serve as an easily accessible portfolio of work that you can show to potential employers.
The most important requirement for anyone aspiring to be a fashion journalist is a thorough understanding of the industry. The fashion world’s contours are more complex than they appear at first glance. While much of the work appears to be glamor and style on the surface, it is really a tangled web of designers, economic drivers, and the impact of fashion on society. A reporter who can decipher the industry’s underpinnings and isn’t afraid to market his or her skills aggressively is usually in high demand.