by Vijay GarG
Fashion journalists are responsible for preparing editorials for fashion magazines, books, television, websites, blogs, and lifestyle sections of newspapers. Most fashion journalists end up working for the external media departments of design firms.
A fashion Journalist is a professional who constitutes a wide range of activities like writing and editing stories and articles, styling photo shoots, researching the current and future trends of fashion, along with public relations, interviewing, and designing. Fashion journalists review and report on emerging fashion trends as well.
The fashion journalist profession is a wide term that is generally used in direct relation to the fashion media. As the name suggests, this is a concept that includes everything related to the publicity of the fashion industry. The primary aim is to inform the common public about the trends in the fashion scene.
Fashion journalists are responsible for preparing editorials for fashion magazines, books, television, websites, blogs, and lifestyle sections of newspapers. Most fashion journalists end up working for the external media departments of design firms. However, some opt to become freelance writers.
A fashion journalist spends a lot of time researching and conducting interviews and it is essential that he or she has good contacts with people in the fashion industry, including photographers, designers, and public relations specialists.
Any graduate with a sense and knowledge of fashion and writing can become a fashion journalist. The professional should be imaginative, inventive, and organised, and should possess excellent abilities to look beyond their personal experiences and understand fashion in a wider and diverse context.
Fashion journalists need to acquire knowledge about the techniques of news gathering and reporting with an emphasis on expressing ideas and impressions. They need to have some decent English skills, the ability to string an interesting sentence together, and the ability to spot a trend. They should possess good excellent written and oral communication skills and a people-oriented disposition.
Studying Fashion journalism
There are a number of institutions where fashion journalism is being taught regularly.
International Institute of Fashion Technology – IIFT, New Delhi
Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore
Asian College of Journalism, Chennai
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi
One has to follow a series of steps to become a fashion journalist
Step 1
The first step in becoming a fashion journalist is to understand how the fashion industry works as much as possible. And then you should go through magazines and newspapers and do a bit of general research on the web regarding related topics.
Step 2
After passing the twelfth class, you need to have knowledge of fashion and writing. You can go for a graduation course and become a fashion journalist. And acquiring training in fashion merchandising or fashion design will be an added advantage for becoming a fashion journalist. Any course related to fashion journalism can be pursued to learn the basics and tactics of the fashion world.
Bachelor’s Degree Courses:
B Des (Fashion Communication)
BA (Hons.) (Fashion Media Communication)
The minimum qualification to become eligible for these courses is a 10+2.
Step 3
Candidates willing to have deep aspects of fashion journalism can go for further Master’s Degrees in a concerned subject like a Master’s in Fashion Communication. It also enhances their career prospects. Many institutes offer degrees in these subjects at both graduation and master’s level. Candidates must have graduated in fashion journalism and its related subjects to pursue a Master’s.
A fashion journalist’s job is to write about anything related to brands and styles, and fashion trends, and review and cover events with the right terminology, trends, fabrics, and styles. Several career pathways are available in this field, depending upon the strengths and interests of individuals and the publications which hire fashion journalists. They can seek employment in fashion critique and commentary programmes on television and the Internet. They can also try their hand at reviewing and reporting about the latest fashion on the ramp and red carpet.
Fashion journalists, initially, can expect a salary package of around Rs 2,00,000 or above per annum. As for gaining experience, their remuneration is likely to increase, depending upon the quality of work, rewarding in the form of handsome perks and incentives. Opting to work as a freelancer according to one’s pace and convenience is another great alternative.
(Vijay Garg, MSc, BEd has been a Punjab Education Service (PES) officer who retired as a Principal. He has authored a number of textbooks. He lives in Malout Punjab.)
