ED2010.com: the Best Magazine Writing Website You Don't Know About

I discovered this ED2010, affectionately known to regular visitors as "Ed," while at the College Media Convention in New York City last March.

I was an older college student (28), so I was a little out of place with all the youngsters-but the information I gathered at CMA was not geared toward college kids-but just anyone looking to become a media professional. I learned a lot! But the treasure that my newspaper buddies and I found most valuable was a magazine website geared toward job seekers and freelance writers looking for article assignments, or freelancers (like me) wishing to become staff writers.

On the last day of the convention, we attended a panel discussion where five journalism alums from John Hopkins University, who are now at NYC magazines, spoke. One girl mentioned ED2010.com as one of her most valuable resources when she was looking to land a job. It seemed that everyone in the entire convention looked around as if wondering, "What is ED2010?"

I'll answer that. ED2010, er, Ed, is a comprehensive job/internship/resource/advice site ran by young editors and editorial assistants who are not only looking to climb the masthead ladder themselves, but also to help others who were just like them a few years back. That said, this site give the REAL story on the magazine industry. Nothing is sugarcoated. I'll get to more details below.

For my Wilkes University classmates and I, Ed became our new obsession-my buddy Myles and I checked it several times per day and would email each other what we found. Turned out I was staying local- older and tied down. So, while I still was addicted to the site hoping I'd find a freelance opp, I mostly forwarded jobs to my younger classmates.

Here is what Ed offers:

WHISPER JOBS

Ed provides that they call "Whisper Jobs" which are postings written from anonymous tips-- who got fired, who go hired, who got promoted, who is starting a new magazine, etc-to show what opportunities are available. Plus, there are magazines that do post official job listings, too. The posting will say if it is a real posting, or if applicants should not mention ED.

Everyday, there are several new postings with lots of detailed info, some more detailed than others. Most postings are written in a hip and conversational style, not like a boring classified ad.

The postings are listed almost like a blog in entries by date. If the position was filled or was found to be false information, they strike over the text, not remove it.

Sources in the industry claim this to be an extremely reliable resource from those looking to break into the media. Featured jobs are not just in NYC either- they are from all over the country, as well as for online media where people could work from their home office.

ED ON CAMPUS

There is a separate section for college students, which offers internship listings, message boards, advice and even chances to start an ED chapter at a college, or attend an ED networking event.

SALARY REPORT

Who is making what? Real magazine industries anonymously post their position, their geographic location and salary to give an idea for what REAL people are making as they begin their careers. A great resource for people who want an accurate idea of what they will be making. And, this could also serve as a back-down-to-earth realization for people who think they are going to strike gold as an editorial assistant.

GLOSSARY

As with any given profession, in magazine's there is jargon. And frankly, people use it. If you are at a networking event and don't know what "an F.O.B piece" is, you may be out of luck. Check out their glossary to learn about common abbreviations and once you know the lingo, you could maybe land something in the B.O.B, a job as an EA or an assignment in a SIP.

RESOURCES

The site also contains a totally comprehensive list-arguably the best and biggest out there-- of job boards, freelancing sites, magazine sites, newspaper sites, and other writing, media and professional resources.

ED2010.com is hands-down the best kept secret in the magazine industry. But, it's real, it's reliable and is done for and by professionals. So many freelancing sites seem to be carbon copies of other sites, but this site is unique and it has had great results for many young magazine writers, assistant editors and editorial assistants who, as their motto goes, will make it to being an editor by the year 2010.