Make it real, and get employed.

Photo Credit: Cristiana Ferrauti

What really makes the difference in the media world is the skill to realize things.

In Dylan Jones’ opinion, Editor of the UK version of GQ Magazine, everyone can have an idea.

The marking ability is consists of making those ideas happen.

Life Still in Them Magazines was the title of the Harrow Conversation which took place on the 27^th of November, at the University of Westminster.

Mr Jones – the guest – spoke about the enduring existence of a monthly issue, what makes it appear in the top ten, and the necessary qualities to work in this field.

Skills and abilities in Journalism

“I always try – he said - to be inquisitive in my job. If you are not inquisitive, you are died”.

To dig into the stories is a fundamental practice for a journalist.

Research is a key element for any media worker.

For this reason, in order to receive a traineeship or to attempt to be employed in GQ – one of the most sold men’s magazine in UK - it is extremely important to get involved.

Knowledge of the firm, appearance, and creativity are also important. But at the top of all these would be the confidence by which the person sells himself.

Coming back to the previous matter, a head full of plans and ideas is a starting point, but decisive would be to show how to fulfil all of them.

Enthusiasm is the key

Dylan Jones’ background do not show any sign of a Journalism course or trainee in the newsroom.

GQ December 2014
Photo Credit: GQ

Chelsea School of Art and, later, Saint Martin's School of Art welcomed him as part of his education.

He studied Graphic design, film, and photography.

“I am the luckiest person in the world” about his progresses towards his current job.

Since he was young, he worked hard, employed in many and various kind of places.

However, in 1983, he was employed in the independent magazine i-D, and a year later, he became Editor of the same issue.

He has been the head of the British GQ magazine for fifteen years ago.

Not a dead sector

High quality could be considered the only diktat for the national editors as well as for any contributors.

Nearly at the end of the meeting, Mr Jones cited the example of his children. Especially the young audience gathers information and news almost from everywhere.

The era of the digitalization has brought politicians, CEO, and businessman in general to share their thoughts directly via the web.

Journalism seems deceased.

Nevertheless, this excess of social media does not mean necessarily the disappearance of the whole group of media people.

More than in the past, the audience needs filters for all this amount if information.

“Daily Newspaper is died”, or, better, it is dead in the format we all know. The greatest challenge for everyone working in this field is the online version.

Still the monthly and weekly publications may resist the transformation and survive in their paper form.

“The trick of anything –he said - is to produce something that people expect but that also surprising at the same time”.

Photo Credit: Cristiana Ferrauti

The content of GQ varies, but, explaining the process of producing an issue, half of the magazine is already filled before the editor starts thinking about how to fil it.

There are columns and topics that are fixed and that even the actuality imposed to be treated for that month.

They mainly add taste and accuracy.

“There are people who say that this industry is over”, Dylan Jones said at the end. “All about truth. However [...] the traditional route towards journalism has changed, but there is still enormous opportunities”, as he refers mainly to the high demand of content and mediation to the audience in all the industries.