Future Career Paths for a Media Production Student

Best career a media production student can hope for is a Starbucks barrista!

There are simply too many of them and they're not specialised enough to enter any actual field 🙄

If you wish to work in games, take a games dev course.

If you wish to work in films... don't, because Hollywood has crashed and burned in 2023 and there are no jobs. Nobody is commissioning anything. Sorry.

Advertising is an absolute hell of an industry to work at (speaking from experience). Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Proceed with caution.

Journalism is even more dead than films and TV. Pretty much all articles are written by ChatGPT these days to varying degrees.

Corporate communications and education are also shrinking industries as more stuff gets outsourced and student numbers are dropping.

That only leaves live events. Go study live events, folks. Or better yet - plumbing, carpentry and electric sockets.

University education is dead, go into trades.

Future Career Paths for a Media Production Student
It’s often said that Media Production students have a unique advantage when it comes to career flexibility. Unlike some more traditional degrees with one clear career path, Media Production opens up a world of possibilities. You’re not just preparing for one job—you’re building a versatile skillset that can translate into a wide variety of roles across different industries. So, if you’re a Media Production student or thinking of pursuing this field, you might be wondering what your options look like after graduation. I’d also recommend coming to an open day and chatting to other students and staff about your career options. Let’s break it down!
1. Film & Television Production
This is the most obvious path, and for good reason. A degree in Media Production equips you with the skills needed to work in various roles within film and television, from behind the scenes to in front of the camera. Whether you're interested in directing, producing, editing, or even sound design, the possibilities are endless in this sector. Directing: As a director, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a production, from shaping the story to managing the cast and crew. This typically requires a lot of hands-on experience in the industry, but it’s one of the most sought-after positions. Producing: Producers handle the logistics of making films and TV shows, from securing funding to managing budgets and timelines. Strong organizational and leadership skills are key in this role. Cinematography: Cinematographers are responsible for the look of a production. You’ll work closely with the director to capture the visuals and establish the visual language of the project. Editing: Whether it’s film editing, video editing, or post-production, editors play a critical role in piecing together the final product. If you enjoy storytelling through cutting and arranging visuals, this could be the path for you.
2. Digital Content Creation
With the rise of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and streaming platforms like Netflix, digital content creation has exploded. Media Production graduates are perfectly positioned to work in this space, whether as independent creators or as part of larger media organizations. YouTube and Social Media: Many Media Production grads start their own YouTube channels or become social media influencers. With the right skills in editing, branding, and marketing, you can build a career producing content for a wide audience. Podcasting: Audio production skills are just as important as video skills, and the podcasting industry is booming. If you’re into storytelling or interviews, podcasting can be an exciting career option. Streaming: Many students have turned to live streaming on platforms like Twitch, combining media skills with interactive content and audience engagement.
3. Advertising & Marketing
If you have an eye for branding, advertising, and creative campaigns, your Media Production degree can easily transfer to the marketing and advertising industry. Media production is an integral part of advertising campaigns, and companies are always looking for creative minds to produce ads, commercials, and online content. Creative Director: In advertising, creative directors oversee the concept and design of marketing campaigns, ensuring that the visuals, messaging, and overall feel align with the brand’s vision. Content Strategist/Producer: Content is king in marketing. If you’re great at creating engaging media, you could end up producing content for brands across various platforms—websites, social media, video, or print. Branding: A degree in media production gives you the ability to shape and tell a brand’s story in a way that resonates with audiences. This could be in advertising agencies or even in-house for a large company.
4. Journalism & Media Writing
Media Production students often have a natural knack for storytelling, which makes journalism a great fit. From writing articles to producing video news segments, this path allows you to use your media skills to inform and engage an audience. Broadcast Journalism: Whether it's working on a television news station or an online platform, media production grads can be found creating compelling, well-edited news packages, documentaries, or reports. Content Writing & Editing: Media production often involves writing scripts, blog posts, or even copy for advertisements. Strong writing skills are essential, and many Media Production students transition to writing-focused roles in both digital and traditional media.
5. Corporate Media & Communications
Another growing area for media grads is within corporations or non-profit organizations. Companies often need in-house media teams to create internal and external content that promotes their brand, events, or products. This could involve creating training videos, promotional content, or digital marketing campaigns. Corporate Video Production: Many businesses need internal training videos, presentations, or promotional materials. If you're skilled with a camera and editing software, you could be part of a corporate team that handles all visual content. Public Relations and Corporate Communications: If you're passionate about building relationships with the media and the public, a role in PR could be a great fit. You might create press releases, media kits, or work on social media campaigns.
6. Event Production & Live Events
Whether it's organizing large concerts, conferences, or festivals, the live event sector has many opportunities for Media Production students. You’ll be using your technical and creative skills to ensure that every event runs smoothly and looks fantastic on stage or on screen. Event Coordinator: If you have a knack for organization, you could be planning everything from the timeline of events to the setup and execution of live media content. This could involve everything from tech setup to live broadcasting. Live Sound and Lighting: Whether you're working on a concert or corporate event, live sound and lighting technicians are always in demand to make sure the show goes off without a hitch.
7. Video Game Production
With the growing demand for video games and interactive media, the gaming industry is a natural fit for many Media Production grads. Whether it’s designing the visuals for a game, working on sound design, or even creating trailers, there’s a lot of potential in this field. Game Design and Development: While some roles in game development require specialized programming skills, many positions, such as sound design, animation, and cinematics, are a great fit for Media Production grads. Game Marketing & Video Production: If you're interested in the business side of gaming, creating promotional videos, trailers, and gameplay streams are all ways to combine your media production skills with the gaming industry.
8. Education & Teaching
If you’ve developed a passion for the craft of media production and enjoy helping others learn, teaching could be a great career option. From teaching at high schools to running workshops or even working at a university, educators are in demand. Secondary School Teacher: With a qualification in Media Production, you could teach media studies or media production at the secondary school level. University Lecturer or Tutor: If you have the necessary qualifications, such as a Master's or PhD, you could continue your studies and pursue a career as a university lecturer in media production or related fields.
The Versatility of a Media Production Degree
The best thing about a Media Production degree is how versatile it is. You’re not limited to just one industry or one type of job. Media skills are in demand across so many sectors, from entertainment to business, education to advertising. And the best part? You’ll find that many of the soft skills you develop throughout your degree—like creativity, attention to detail, time management, and problem-solving—are highly transferable across any job or industry. Here are some more details about employability and placements at BCU. So, whether you see yourself making the next blockbuster film, editing podcasts, or working in a corporate media team, a Media Production degree gives you the tools to carve out your own path.
Best,
Maya Davis
BCU Rep

Some fairly terrible advice here - as always to anyone (particularly young people) that may be reading this, your results may vary, your experiences may be very different, and if you ever read a seemingly very one-sided take on the internet, take it with a grain of salt as an outlier and not necessarily reflective of the experience you may have.
"Take a games dev course" boils my blood, lol. As if it's that easy. The industry has been on a downwards trajectory since 2022 and people with years of experience are having trouble getting hired. And I _still_ think it's worthwhile to do, and a worthy pursuit, and worth trying to achieve. Course, a lot of people won't succeed (as will a lot of media graduates) but I don't think that means it's not worth trying, or it's not worth going to university. Where would we be if we all gave up because our Plan A didn't work out?
When the unemployment rate is so high, and getting a degree improves your employability, and the Graduates Outcome Survey sites that most graduates find their work to be meaningful, even if it doesn't use the skills they learned in their degree - I think there a lot of good reasons to study what you want to study anyway, even if you don't succeed in your original plan, or "make it" how you had imagined.
And yes, absolutely, act with caution. Have a backup plan. In an ideal world I'd love everyone who goes to university to know that their degree doesn't guarantee them success, that they may fail, that they should plan accordingly in case they do. Realistically of course, universities are businesses, and they don't want to remind their students that thing might not work out. I think everyone could do with being more realistic about what universities will provide to them, the level of indepedent drive they will need, and the non-taught skills that are essential to doing well in their relevent industries. I guess in a way that's part of the gap I try and fill. I honestly believe that is the best thing I can do as an individual to try and set more people up to succeed.

My advice to take a game development course may "boil your blood" but it comes from personal experience.

I spent 10 years in film and TV industry and I can tell you - IT IS DEAD. Dead as a dodo. 80% of the people I worked with no longer work in the industry because there are no jobs.

Here are hard facts: when I started my career as an edit assistant working for the likes of BBC my rate was TWICE the minimum wage. That's the starting salary. Those with a few years of experience were earning a great deal more. Today, in 2025, a starting salary for an edit assistant is 10% above minimum wage. And you're told you're "lucky" for even having a job. That meagre salary won't go very far because 90% of all jobs are based in London. And London rents are brutal.

Going into this industry at the time when it is rapidly shrinking is akin to a suicide. Stop feeding perspective students impossible dreams and encouraging them to go into industries with collapsing wages.

The games industry is in a considerably better state than film, but it will also give you a better technological background. Some of the best paid jobs in film, TV, media and entertainment are NOT creative - they're engineering jobs.

If you want to eat and pay the bills - learn about networking, storage management, etc. Hardware jobs pay better than software jobs.

Do NOT listen to these rubbish university recruiters - they're trying to sell you a pup.