The most important thing students can do to prepare for career in magazine publishing, according to Professor Jay Rosen, director of the journalism program at New York University, is "read constantly -- read a lot of magazines, read the newspaper, keep up with hot selling books, learn about ideas and trends." Rosen says the second most important thing is to work on your college newspaper. He recommends starting early, "from your first week as a freshman. The goal should be to become an editor with your own section -- or even the editor-in-chief. There is no better experience."

In order to ensure that you secure a job upon graduation, and a successful career, you should also make connections, gather published clips and gain related professional experience. Described below, you'll find these and other key steps to a prosperous publishing career.

Gain experience

Explore internships, temporary and part-time opportunities, and summer jobs at local magazines and newspapers, no matter how small. Gaining experience at a local publication is the first step to building a resume. Although you might not be writing and assigning articles, just by being in a newsroom or magazine office will give you valuable experience. Contact employment agencies that offer access to temporary and part-time publishing jobs. Take anything they offer you -- from getting coffee to data input, from the editorial department to the sales unit. You'll make connections, learn about other openings and begin to build a reputation. Use your summers wisely. If you don't get an internship, look into local papers or magazines that need help on an administrative level -- and apply. Most important, take advantage of what your school offers. Get to work on your local school paper or literary magazine. These types of commitments are impressive to prospective employers.

^ Most major publishing companies and newspapers -- both big and small -- have extensive, well-organized and comprehensive internship programs for college-level students. (At the end of this article is a list of some of the largest organizations offering internships, along with their contact information.) Some local publications will offer high school students and anyone interested in the industry an opportunity to intern as well. Internships are generally unpaid and seasonal, with an established start and end date. Many programs, however, require that you receive college credit for work done, which limits the opportunities for high school students and, in some cases, college freshmen. Most internships are just a way for you to get in the door, meet editors and absorb as much as possible about the environment and process. For the most part, an internship is an introduction. However, some major international companies run highly competitive internship programs that allow you to perform the tasks of a junior editor -- proofreading, organizing manuscripts, and working in the production or art departments.

Eileen Cross, Director of Human Resources at Fairchild Publications, advises students to "seek out great internship programs, whether paid or unpaid that will offer rich work experience in a particular department for the length of the internship, versus a rotation program where you only get glimpses of what goes on and really don't get much of an opportunity to do real work." Cross warns students not to forget about trade publications: "College students get all caught up in the glitz of the fashion magazines. But they will probably get better experience on a trade."

Professor Rosen adds that most big cities in the U.S. have a city magazine such as DC's Washingtonian and NYC's New York, both of which he calls "ideal places to intern." And, according to Rosen, "almost as good are the free weekly newspapers that cover arts and entertainment as well as news, like the Chicago Reader, Boston Phoenix, LA Weekly, and Miami New Times.

No matter where you end up interning, expect to perform menial tasks such as faxing, filing, copying and administrative work. But don't think these are not valuable opportunities. The fastest way to get a full-time job in this industry is through the network of contacts you acquire on an internship. Editors are always in contact with each other and referring candidates for jobs and entry-level posts.

Chart your path

Find out whether you want a career as a writer or an editor, and which subjects you are interested in covering.

The biggest myth about writers, reporters and journalists is that they were somehow born with the ability to write. Many writers actually hate the task of writing itself. What really gets a writer going might be generating a story idea, performing research, or assembling information. The task of writing is never easy, and not liking it does not mean that you are not cut out for a job as a journalist.

Reporters and journalists generate story ideas and pitches, gather news and, of course, write articles. They also analyze news and provide fresh angles and innovative perspectives. As a fledgling journalist, the quickest way to garner a bad reputation with an editor is to hand in unprofessional, sloppy copy. The less work your editor has to do with grammar, spelling and style changes, the more successful you will be. That said, writers should never be too attached to every word in their stories, because articles will be altered and cut in the editing process. Learning to deal with these changes and quickly moving on to the next assignment is an essential part of being a successful journalist.

Editors generate story ideas, assign articles, and read manuscripts and pitches from freelance writers. Editors work with writers from the beginning of an article to its completion, correcting grammar and analyzing work for content quality and stylistic consistency. Although editors may specialize in a particular field of interest, a good editor is a good editor no matter what the subject. The skills and knowledge used in editing -- such as grammar, copy-editing, style and generating ideas for articles -- are applicable to almost any magazine. If you master these skills, you'll be able to move to almost any magazine, in any focus or specialization.

If you apply for a position as an editor, you'll most likely be asked to take a copy-editing, proofreading or word processing test, which will measure your grammar and attention to detail, as well as your knowledge of the publication's style. According to Cross at Fairchild, "We determine through the interview how results-oriented [candidates] are, and what 'success' means for them. The competencies for a consumer edit role versus a reporter on a trade publication like Women's Wear Daily or Supermarket News are so different. So we interview against those distinctive competencies. For example, if you want to be a reporter, you must have high level of curiosity, you must be competitive because you want to be the one to get the 'scoop,' you must be persistent, you must be able to translate what you learn into a great story, and you must be cynical -- [be able] to dig underneath and question what the press release is saying."

It's important to note that it pays to learn every aspect of publishing from copy-editing to production, because, in this economy, the editor or journalist who can do three jobs at once is invaluable -- and will always be employed.

Get the right education

Where you go to college and what you major in can play a big part in how quickly you'll get a job later. In this competitive industry it helps to focus on acquiring the necessary skills, internships and contacts early, rather than after graduation. In college, most journalists majored in English or journalism, and minored in business, political science, law or whatever other subject they were interested in writing about. Specialists in business, technology, science, medicine, law, politics, and so on are highly regarded and valuable. Depending on your area of interest, it's possible that majoring in your desired specialization and getting a minor in journalism might also be appropriate. Most editors were English, communications or journalism majors who worked on school publications, literary magazines and college newspapers.

You might want to look for college programs that offer the opportunity to study abroad with internships. London is a great place for budding journalists and editors; some publications in the U.K. provide better opportunities and more responsibilities for young writers and editors than their U.S. counterparts. Below is a list of schools with excellent communications programs, internship opportunities and established alumni networks -- which can help you get a job after graduation. (Note that the obvious Ivy League institutions, which have well-known faculty and prestigious programs, have been left out in order to make room for other lesser-known programs across the country.)

American University (www.american.edu), Washington, DC. American's international studies and journalism program offers the opportunity to work in your chosen major through a co-op program. American has an extensive government internship program and wide range of study abroad opportunities. And it's a great place to make job contacts.

Boston University (www.bu.edu), Boston, MA. With a prime location in Boston, a major student populated city, BU offers something for every major. The School of Communication has a great reputation and houses the nation's only Center for the Study of Political Disinformation. BU also has a study abroad and internship abroad program in major cities around the world.

Brown University (www.brown.edu), Providence, RI. This Ivy League school, unlike the other Ivies, doesn't emphasize grades or pre-professionalism, and offers students a great deal of freedom in choosing their own curriculum. Brown has excellent English and writing departments and features 20 study abroad programs.

University of Missouri-Columbia (www.missouri.edu), Columbia, MO. Mizzou, as the school is known, provides an intensive training ground for young writers at the brand new Center for the Literary Arts. The school also provides publishing experience through The Missourian, the university's local daily paper edited by journalism school faculty.

~ Northwestern University (www.nwu.edu), Evanston, IL. Some say this school is the Midwest's answer to the Ivies. The Medill School of Journalism offers excellent opportunities to make contacts in the industry through its internship programs. You'll be given access to well known television stations, newspapers and magazines across the country.

University of Southern California (www.usc.edu), Los Angeles, CA. USC is a great place to make connections in the entertainment and communications industry. The school's alumni are very loyal, and hire recent graduates. USC also houses a high-tech state-of-the-art cinema and television complex.

Syracuse University, (www.syracuse.edu), Syracuse, NY. In the midst of a multi-million dollar campus upgrade, Syracuse's Newhouse School of Public Communications is well known for turning out celebrity journalists. Journalism is a serious endeavor here, with cutting-edge computerized lab facilities for reporting and digital editing.

New York University, (www.nyu.edu), New York, NY. For every program offered, the school has an excellent reputation, and NYU's faculty and location in New York offer plenty of opportunities for networking. Explains Rosen (NYU's journalism program director), "We offer dozens of magazine internships; in fact, we have more magazines wanting interns than we have interns available. But that's because we're located in the publishing capital of the world." NYU also has a major network of campuses abroad.

Get published

Research local and national magazines that you would like to write for, and come up with 10 ideas for articles that you would like to see in future issues. Keeping in mind the target publication's style and reader, draft a letter of inquiry to each magazine's editor asking what he or she thinks of your ideas. Most likely, you will not receive a feature assignment as a result, but you might be asked to contribute smaller news pieces. Online publications are a great place to start. Generally, they are more open to new writers than print publications.

Create a network

Informational interviews and brief meetings with editors at magazines or newspapers can help you find out more about the industry, the interview process, and the responsibilities associated with various positions. A great way to market yourself is to post your work online. Create an online portfolio, even if it means using school assignments or just writing about things that interest you. Create your own site detailing your background, resume and clips, so employers can check you out. The Internet is a powerful marketing tool, so it pays to be aware of the technology. Many sites will host your page, and some will even provide you with a formatted style so you don't have to worry about layout.

Know and use available resources

Know the industry, know the players, start a library, and read, read, read. A must-have resource is the annually updated Writer's Market, published by Writer's Digest books. Writer's Market contains names of magazines, their contact information, what their editors look for from freelance writers, ideas for articles, and how best to approach them for information. You should also check out various professional organizations, which offer networking opportunities and insight into the industry. Many also offer internships and job listings. Two well-known organizations are the American Society of Newspaper Editors (www.asne.org) and American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME; www.asme.magazine.org). ASME offers a comprehensive internship program for students at major publishing companies and glossy magazines in New York. ASME is very popular with editors because of the organization's annual magazine awards. (You'll find additional resources listed below.)

~ Land a full-time position

Most available entry-level positions in the industry can be found on company websites and online job boards, or by contacting employment agencies in major cities. You can also contact a publication's human resources department or managing editor to ask them what jobs are available, or to ask them to keep your resume on file. It's best to keep following-up every month because when one editor leaves a publication, others often follow, creating job openings.

Editorial Assistant: This is an entry-level requirement for most first-time employees in the industry. Some editorial assistants will work solely on administrative tasks, while others will gradually be allowed to get involved in the editing and writing. It's often up to editorial assistants to prove themselves -- and their interest -- in order to gain more responsibility. Some assistants remain in this position for five years, while others are promoted after only one year.

Copy Aide: This is usually a part-time position at a newspaper where, aside from administrative tasks, you?ll get the chance to proofread and possibly copy-edit short articles. A job as an aide is a great way to garner reporting and editing skills. Inquire at your local and major newspapers' human resources or copy editing departments about these opportunities.

Regardless of whether you are a freshman in high school, or a freshman in college, following all the advice above will place you a few steps ahead of other college graduates when you're trying to land that all-important first job, and while you progress on your way to a successful publishing career.

Below you'll find a select list of companies that offer internships and full-time positions, as well as further resources to help you stay one step ahead of the competition. ~ Companies for internship and entry-level opportunities:

The New York Times (www.nytimes.jobplanet.com). Offers a great internship program, which is highly selective and competitive but prestigious and a big plus on your resume.

Dow Jones & Co. (www.dowjones.com). Owners of The Wall Street Journal. A great business news organization for reporters, and a good internship program.

The Conde Nast Publications (www.condenast.com). Publishers of prestigious magazines such as Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Vogue, and Conde Nast Traveler, among others. They have great internship programs and a "rover" program, which allows you to work in various magazines and departments within the company on an as-needed basis. You must apply through the human resources department for all positions in any magazine.

Fairchild Publications (www.fairchildpub.com). Offers year-round internships for credit. Owned by Conde Nast. Publishes fashion magazines, books and the fashion industry's only daily newspaper, along with other publications such as Jane, Details and W magazines. Great breeding ground for serious fashion journalists, fast paced and a newsroom environment with an innovative and dynamic young staff at all levels.

Hearst Corporation (www.hearstpub.com). Provides a year-long comprehensive internship program, details of which are provided on their website. Owners of various fashion and consumer publications, including Marie Claire, O (Oprah magazine), Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Harper's Bazaar.

Hachette Filipacchi Magazines (www.hfmnewsstand.com). Publishers of Elle, Elle Decor, and Woman's Day.

Primedia (www.primedia.com). Publishers of New York, Seventeen and many others, including several trade publications.

Time Inc. (www.timewarner.com). Publishers of In Style, Entertainment Weekly, Time, People and other internationally recognized magazines. Apply for internships through human resources. Check their website for employment listings, which are updated regularly.

CNN (www.cnn.com). With bureaus all over the world, this is a very popular but competitive internship stop for many television and print journalists and editors. Great name to have on your resume. Internships provide hands-on exposure, unlike many other opportunities.

~ Major news organizations with bureaus around the world:

Associated Press (www.ap.org/ap/jobs). One of the largest news organizations in the world. The AP has branches in cities across the United States and offers a great internship program.

United Press International (www.upi.com/careers). Another equally noteworthy news organization.

Books to read for the job search:

Job Surfing: Media & Entertainment and Job Surfing: Freelancing. Both book series from Princeton Review provide great insight into the industry, Internet links to important sites, and information on career options and associations.

Books to read for writing and editing information:

The Internet Handbook for Writers, Researchers, Journalists, Mary McGuire; On Writing Well, William Zinsser; The Young Writer's Guide to Getting Published, Kathy Henderson; The Art and Craft of Feature Writing, William E. Blundell; Follow the Story: How to Write Successful Nonfiction, James B. Stewart.

News on the industry:

Folio Magazine (www.foliomag.com). Filled with great news on editorial staffing, new magazines, career advice and magazine ratings.

Editor & Publisher (www.editorandpublisher.com). Information on the book publishing and magazine industry.

The Columbia Journalism Review (www.cjr.org). Published by Columbia University, the bimonthly CJR is a "watchdog for the press." Its online site is an extensive source for journalists, filled with information on job openings, new technology and useful links.