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How Stephanie Gordon Found Her Perfect Career Fit After MMJC
Stephanie's hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Stephanie Gordon encourages journalism students to consider industry-specific publications.
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A treasure hunt, following one clue to the next—that’s what it sounds like when Stephanie Gordon talks about her career trajectory.
After high school, Stephanie moved to London to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT) in the Faculty of Information & Media Studies (FIMS) at Western University. While completing her degree, she discovered how much she likes the London community. Stephanie decided her next step after graduation would be Western’s Master of Media in Journalism and Communication (MMJC) program.
During her time at Western, Stephanie’s writing and reporting was led by an interest in food. Over time, she found herself starting to write more about cuisine, food security and sustainability and eventually to the source—farms.
After graduating from MMJC, Stephanie began working as an associate editor for an industry magazine on field crops. Nearly two years later, she became editor of another industry magazine, Fruit and Vegetable. It may sound strange for a Toronto native, but she has a passion for agriculture. To Stephanie, Fruit and Vegetable felt like a perfect fit.
Fun Fact
One of the "coolest" places Stephanie has been to is Brandon, Manitoba. When she travelled there for a potato conference, it was -39C.
“Sometimes [farmers] will see something on the farm and they’ll be like, ‘Oh. This is just a normal, everyday thing.’ But I’ll see it and I’ll be like, ‘This is extraordinary!’”
Stephanie has been surprised to learn in the agricultural industry print is alive and popular. This is partly because the internet in many rural communities is not dependable. At the same time, podcasts and radio are huge; farmers are listening to audio stories while driving their tractors.
“I think it’s important when you look at the media landscape to not only look at it through your own subjective lens,” Stephanie says. “Once you start getting into niche industries and niche audiences, you start to realize that consumption habits vary greatly.”
Stephanie’s job as editor includes podcasting, working with freelancers, updating the website, posting to social media and attending industry events. She gives credit to Western’s master's-level communication and journalism program for giving her the tools to manage all aspects of her multifaceted job.
For Stephanie, the community in London, at Western and in the classroom, “really gives you a diversified skill set—you feel confident in your ability to be set free into the world.”
Stephanie let her interests guide her and ended up on a path she might never have been aware of. “It’s really important,” she says, “to know what your strengths are, what your interests are and focus on that. And, try not to let the noise distract you.”.
The MMJC program has allowed many students to launch successful careers in journalism, communications, marketing and other media-focused industries. If you’re interested in starting your media career, apply to Western’s MMJC program to Start Your Story!
Profiles in the Start Your Story blog are written by students in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program, who are enrolled in MMJC 9604 - Professional Writing.
