How Do I Become a Press Assistant?

A person interested in working in the exciting world of media can become a press assistant to begin his or her career. Press assistants work in marketing, advertising, and the entertainment industry to help with a variety of press-related tasks. This includes doing research on current issues in the press, writing fact sheets and press releases, and keeping records of people in the press to send information to. If this sounds like a good fit for you, become a press assistant through a combination of education, networking, and experience in the field.

It is necessary to have at least a four-year bachelor's degree to become a press assistant in most organizations. Common degrees that can lead to being hired include communications, journalism, and marketing. During a program of study, you will learn communication skills, professional writing, and how to deal with the press, in addition to basic liberal arts. Individuals who hold a higher degree, such as a master's, in any of these fields have an edge when getting hired over other potential applicants, but it is not necessary to be successful in finding a job.

Experience is extremely helpful when looking for a job as a press assistant, and can be obtained through internships and volunteer work. Political campaigns often accept volunteers to help with a wide variety of duties, so consider volunteering and asking to be part of the team that deals with press. Internships can be found during college at a variety of organizations, so try to locate one in the media department of a company to gain further experience to become a press assistant. Doing volunteer and internship work can help you to network and meet people who can help you find an actual job, or at least provide recommendations when you are applying for jobs.

There is a lot of clerical work that goes into this position, so you need to be hyper-organized to become a press assistant. In order to send information to the best press outlets, you must compile lists of the right people and keep it up-to-date on a regular basis. There is a lot of writing that goes into the job, such as press releases and biographies, so you need to have impeccable writing skills. Good interpersonal skills are needed to speak with reporters and to deal with your supervisors, so it is important to have excellent communication both in person, on the telephone, and through email.