At CelebMix, we’re passionate about music, celebrity culture, and theatre.
In fact, we’re not just passionate about it – we live and breathe it.
Whenever a new show is announced or a star drops their new single, you can bet your bottom dollar that we’re amongst the first to join the queue for tickets or spend our coins on iTunes.
And it’s little wonder why: celebrities are pretty darn amazing.
So much so, we’ve committed our careers to entertainment journalism.
If you want to report on the latest celebrity goings-on and major pop music releases for the rest of your life, you’re going to need 100s of hours of practice, and the tools and resources to get going.
Below, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to give you a helping hand…
Social media
Okay, so the chances are that you already spend an unhealthy amount of time on social media every day, but if you want to work in the world of celebrity news, you’ll need to know how to use it properly.
We recommend creating a separate Twitter account so you can follow your favourite celebrities and news sources like Press Association so you’re always in the know.
And to take it a step further, start tweeting along, commentating on your favourite TV shows and albums, to build up an audience and establish yourself as a reliable source.
A comfortable desk
Though you’re going to be spending a lot of time hunched over your smartphone so you’re up to date on the latest news, you should also have a comfortable desk and chair set-up so you can write news articles and opinion pieces.
At CelebMix, we understand the importance of maintaining a good posture and looking after your body, so as well as suggesting regular walks and breaks from the desk, having a stand-up desk is a great way to reduce back pain and keep you on your feet.
And rather than spending thousands of pounds on an expensive desk, the VariDesk® Pro Plus helps you to convert any standard desk into a stand-up model.
An eye for the detail
A celebrity tweets announcing their delaying their album or posts a breakup story on Instagram. As an entertainment journalist, you’re going to need a keen eye for detail; why are they delaying their album, what caused their breakup?
Though we don’t agree with pure speculation – you should always report on the facts – being able to tease out the real story from a press release is the key to writing great content and standing out from the crowd.
Confidence
If you want to make it in this game, you’re going to need confidence.
Being able to call press offices and publicists on the phone to ask for free tickets or albums to review, attending major events without getting yourself into a panic, and getting face-to-face with some of the biggest celebrities in the world without breaking a sweat certainly isn’t easy, but you’ll get there with some practice.
Start off small, interviewing local bands and musicians, and then set challenges. Put yourself in front of a camera and pretend to be a TV presenter; record a podcast; write a 5,000-word essay on a TV series or genre.
Test the waters and decide what you’re good at and what you enjoy, and then focus on that until you’re an unbeatable force.
Luck
Finally, it’s time to be realistic. We all want to walk the red carpet and hang out with Harry Styles in a cocktail bar, but that’s unlikely to happen.
Set yourself a goal – whether that’s to intern at a local magazine or write for CelebMix – and once you’ve achieved it, take it up a gear.
The more experience you have, the luckier you’ll be, but you should also remember that there are only so many jobs in the industry, and with established magazines and titles closing regularly or shifting to new online models, the industry is more cut-throat than ever.
If you don’t think you’re going to end up working for a leading magazine, TV show or website, why not go at it on your own with a blog, YouTube channel or magazine? We believe in you.
There are so many reasons why you might want to enter the world of entertainment journalism, and the tips we’ve offered above only scratch the surface. The ultimate key is to work hard and practice every day – the more you write, report, and present, the better you’ll be, and the more likely employers are to take you seriously when they’re next hiring.