PRO Opportunity: Writing for the Web

Michelle Callaghan
Writing for the Web

This research project investigates writing content for the internet. The project presents the history of content writing jobs and the relevancy of the MA in English for said jobs. It also outlines distinctions between the numerous job titles that encompass similar marketable skills in the content world. Content writing, copywriting, content editing, copyediting, proofreading, and social media management are just a few of many titles used in the industry, and in order to navigate job postings and interviews, knowing the differences between these job titles is an easy way to get a head start on the job search. The presented research also provides a foundation for the content writing candidate to present his or herself as capable of the entire spectrum of skills sought by companies and agencies.

This project also offers alternatives to the corporate advertising world for graduate students seeking employment as content writers who may be wary of corporate culture. These alternatives include academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, small and local businesses, entertainment outlets, and entertainment brands.

Included in the appendix of this project are three interviews with professional writers who all work with internet content in some capacity, all of whom hold one of the several titles explored in the body of the project. Also included are a sample cover letter for a web writing job, a sample resume, and actual job postings from the fall of 2015.

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