<p>OK, I'm a three time entrepreneur (all Software and IT technology). Never hit a home run, but three triples aint bad.</p>
<p>Daughter is charismatic, emotional EQ off the charts, can work a room like you wont believe (at 17) and is a gifted story teller and writer.. bottom line the girl can sell. She's convinced she'll make millions starting her own publishing empire... first of all, I've discouraged her from this for all the obivous reasons, not the least of which is that my own technology industry has destroyed the traditional magazine publishing model. BTW, she hates the academic side of school (get's in the way of her socializing) but still manages a 3.97 GPA.</p>
<p>OK, so two questions.. Is Journalism a reasonable place to steer her for a college major or would she be better off in a strong business / marketing program?</p>
<p>Second, if magazine publishing aint such a bad place to be, what would the "perfect" career path look like? IE: what major, and then what early jobs (Advertising Sales, Copy Writer, Journalist) would best position her to learn the business well enough to recognize how best to launch her own company in the future.</p>
<p>Why don't you let her choose if she is passionate about journalism? Traditional media won't be disappearing for a good while. People aren't going to give up magazines and live behind the box called a computer anytime soon.</p>
<p>Besides, if she truly is a genius management material, no need to bother.</p>
<p>Don't have a clue if she's got any management genious (isn't that an oxymoron?), I just know that she can sell, is charismatic and passionate about magazine publishing.</p>
<p>She excels in English / Latin and loves writing.. not novels, just interesting stories. Honestly, if I had to best describe who she most reminds me of it would be a cross between Tina Fey any Amy Phoeler from SNL... So, she's not classic journalism material and she hates the drama nerds, so I'm scratching my head trying to steer her in a direction that makes sense for her career ambitions.</p>
<p>Why not suggest applying for internships in journalism? Where else to get a taste of the different stylistic works of different forms of publishing? I'm an English major, and I intend probably to go into publishing after university - so I'm applying to a range of publishers for work experience, so I can 'try out' the career. I mean, is it really such a bad idea if she doesn't know what she wants to be? I certainly don't - and I'm in a country where not knowing what you want to be by age sixteen has you sitting in 'counselling classes' where they try and tell you what career you're suited to. No joke.</p>
<p>If she's interested in journalism or media she should definitely check out NYU
Columbia, Syracuse and Quinnipiac. Actually Syracuse and Qunnipiac have excellent media study centers. NYU is grand, but too many students in courses
and can be competitive in an ugly way. Columbia is well...Columbia.</p>
<p>Well if she's interested in publishing, has she worked on the school newspaper or yearbook? Has she checked out interning for the local weekly town bulletin, either during school or during the summer?
Those can be good exp. to see what it really means to put together a group product on deadline. She'll learn some technical skills for editing, graphics, probably and see if she likes the mechanics of publishing.</p>
<p>I'd send her to a nice Ivy where she'd major in English. She could make the connections she needs and forge the reputation she needs to thrive in New York City, where she will undoubtedly be. I'd suggest she look into good, solid academic programs and steer away from "career-majors" like journalism. </p>
<p>She might want to become an intern or assistant at a New York magazine or television show she enjoys. She can climb the ladders from there; really, use her social charm and wit. Or even step into the publishing career right away at one of the better houses. If she does follow that route, I suggest she try her best to latch onto an imprint at one of the houses, so that she will work with high-profile, and usually high-profit, accounts.</p>
<p>To make it in publishing and entertainment is a matter of technical knowledge and personable grace.</p>