Media & Creative Industries

Finding a place in the creative industries                  

With an interest in both communications and entertainment, I was fortunate to have spend the internships during my bachelor’s in communication positions at both a creative agency (ARA) and the Luxor Theater in Rotterdam. I learned first-hand about the importance of adequate (market) research. Based on that insight, I decided that I wanted to become more proficient in doing in-depth research to make informed decisions within advertising and creative industries. The master programme Media & Creative Industries allows me to combine my professional and personal interests.

In addition, I truly value the international nature of the master programme Media & Creative Industries at Erasmus University, which is both represented in the diversity of students and in the lectures, many of which showcase business strategies that have an effect on a global scale. And to emphasize the importance of theory being connected to practice, guest speakers are invited with captivating stories that reveal how business results are achieved through the integration of theoretical knowledge and real-life creativity. 

A future in the creative industries                               

In an industry with creativity at its centre, I look forward to adding my own creativity to the mix!

Studying Media & Creative Industries at Erasmus University Rotterdam has been an enriching experience. I switched academic fields from a business degree to a media degree, and I was not exactly sure what to expect. The degree Media & Creative Industries is set up pretty broadly; however, with a focus on the film and TV industry – which suits my interest. I have chosen this programme because I wanted to direct my future profession toward something more creative – and this degree supports that. 

What to expect 

This is an academic and theoretically-based master’s degree, and the courses are not about how to generate content, but about what later happens with the content – from the management to the audience to a more societal-based angle. This gave me many interesting insights into fields and perspectives I have not yet thought about and added to a greater understanding of the industry. This experience is further sustained by the different backgrounds that come together in this master’s as well as by the great collaboration in the many group projects we had (some of them with a practical element). There are extracurricular possibilities to engage in more practical/applied challenges, and, also, since I was surrounded by people who enjoy being creative, one can always come up with other projects to work on. 

What’s next 

I definitely feel that this programme gave me a better understanding of the media and creative industries. And, as broad as it sounds, and as broad as it is – as broad are the opportunities with it!

While loving my bachelor of Tourism, there was something missing, the creative part. This part is perfectly presented in the master specialisation Media & Creative Industries. In this specialisation, many subjects that I am interested in are connected, and my creative and critical thinking is constantly triggered. The specialisation touches upon a large variety of aspects of the media and creative industries, each using a very different approach, which makes it very interesting to engage with all the different content.

International and engaging

To me, Media & Creative Industries at Erasmus University Rotterdam really stood out. The student population is highly international, coming from all over the world, which is very nice and gives the master an extra layer, and different points of view on all learning material. The discussions in the seminars are very engaging, so you can constantly learn from each other’s ideas and help and encourage each other in this learning process.

Different electives

Another positive for me, is that you can alter the specialisation to your liking with the different electives. These courses are very interesting and super relevant to practice. The combination of theory and practice is something that is reflected in many courses, the learned theory will be applied to real life assignments immediately. Super interesting!

The range of courses, tools and skills brings a lot of opportunities to build a future career suitable to my interests. I am very much looking forward to what future as a Media & Creative Industries professional will bring for me.

I chose this master specialisation because I’ve always been interested in how to be creative in media industries, as well as how creativity can be harnessed and produced. Being part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam allows me to be surrounded by international friends, which allows me to connect with different cultures and mindsets.

From passionate lecturers to amazing classmates

Media & Creative Industries offers a lot of opportunities for me to be creative, do what I like, and to help me invest in my future career as a design and/or marketing professional. What I find most interesting about Media & Creative Industries is how knowledgeable and open-minded everyone is. From passionate lecturers to amazing classmates. So far, I’ve never felt bored in any of my classes. For instance, one of my lecturers could have hours-long discussion about Netflix whilst another lecturer gets excited when he is talks about games. Having such lecturers in a programme not only helps me to learn, but also to pinpoint my own academical interest.

Struggles along the way

However, following a master is never easy. I still encounter struggles from time to time. University-related struggles are normally solvable, but when combining with everything else in life, such as the work, fitness, and social aspects, I often run into time management issues. Solving this matter is easier said than done and I’ve learned this the hard way – different tasks need different priorities and for me, school will always come first.

After finishing my bachelor’s in international Relations and European Studies and taking some time off to travel, volunteer and work, I realized that I wanted to pursue my Master in a slightly different field. Although I loved what I studied before, I wanted something that would finally allow me to be more creative and connected to the subjects I was interested in. I wanted to pursue a career that was not going to be monotonous and predictable; I wanted something that would challenge me, allow me to be innovative, flexible and in a field that calls for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

Tailored to your liking

Erasmus University was a clear choice to me, but the master specialisation Media and Creative Industries exceeded my expectations. Not only do our professors happen to be brilliant and knowledgeable individuals but also the content of the programme can be tailored to your liking. The teaching model asks for us students to be active and assertive, contributing with ideas and discussions. The classroom is as international as you can imagine, and therefore our classes are always intriguing, reflecting the diverse points of view.

Practice makes perfect

There is a lot of writing included, which might seem overwhelming at first, but the reason is clear: practice makes perfect. I can feel that this master specialisation is helping me to improve my skills, whether it is clear and concise writing, critical thinking, mastering the research methods and analysis, or public speaking and teamwork.

Theoretical framework and practical application

Although every course brought me some valuable knowledge, courses like Audience Engagement or Innovation in the Creative Industries present a great combination of a theoretical framework and practical application. We are very free in choosing our topics of interest while working on a research paper or any other project, but we always have rubrics to follow and further guidance from our professors. This programme is already teaching me more than I expected, and I am curious about what is in store for the next months to come.

Solid knowledge base for the future

The ultimate goal after the master specialisation is to have my own online business within the creative field. However, I would love to acquire more practical knowledge in companies dealing with creative processes, design, social matters or the combination of…well, everything. It feels that our options are going to be broad, which fits with a personality like mine that does not want to settle for one path only. I think that Media & Creative Industries is laying down a solid knowledge base for my future work, so I am very much looking forward to seeing what the Netherlands (or the world) has to offer afterwards!

Why did you choose the Master programme Media & Creatieve Industries? Was it a conscious choice for a specific career path? What other factors contributed to your decision?

Coming from a very practice-oriented bachelor programme in Journalism, I was looking for a theoretical deep dive to complement my skills and experience. I completed my study at the age of 21 and knew I wasn’t ready to start working yet. Also, I had no clear idea yet of what kind of career I wanted to pursue. All I knew was that I was interested in many things, and that being a journalist all my life would not satisfy me. In my search on ‘what to do next’, I stumbled upon the Media & Creative Industries pre-master program. It was perfect for me, to both gain more theoretical knowledge as well as to find out what other job opportunities in the media sector would suit me.

Has the Media & Creative Industries programme lived up to your expectations?

It surely did. What I liked most, is that even though it was of course a master program and therefore had a strong theoretical component, the courses were also linked to the daily practice of media professionals. It taught me how to use theory to solve real problems. It was a lot of hard work, but I felt that the programme was the right choice for me.

How long did it take you to find a job after graduation?

Not long at all. I already found a job while I was still completing my master programme.

For which organisation or company do you currently work, and what is your position?

For 1,5 years now I have been working at Bijl PR as a consultant. Bijl PR is a public relations agency, based in the heart of Rotterdam. We build, guard and strengthen reputations for brands, companies and organisations. From corporates to non-profits, and everything in between. We help our clients to tell their story, reach the right audiences and really make an impact with their communications.

How did you find your first job?

By simply applying to an open vacancy I found online. I extended my master programme with an exchange semester at a university in Italy (which I’d totally recommend, by the way). From there, I started my job hunt. Successfully. I found a job in online communications at the University of Utrecht. However, a few months in an opportunity at Bijl PR came by that I could not ignore. For this position, I actually did not have enough experience. I decided to just try and send the director of the agency a message on LinkedIn. He was charmed by this and invited me for a job interview. The rest is history.

What are your most prominent tasks?

My tasks are best summarized as advising our clients on everything related to public relations and communications. I do both strategic and executive work. From creating PR plans and strategies to drafting up press releases, coordinating influencer campaigns, being a spokesperson for media questions and supporting clients with crisis communications. My work is very diverse, and so is the range of clients I work for. This makes it dynamic. My days never look the same. But the diversity and complexity makes it challenging from time to time as well. Luckily, I have a great team and boss, supporting and guiding me when necessary. And having been in this job for some time now, I have learned that those challenges are necessary in order to grow.

Which components of your Master programme are useful in your current position or career trajectory?

My master program helped me in developing a critical attitude, which you definitely need to have when working as a consultant. It is my job to stay calm, analyze the situation thoroughly and guide my clients into the direction that helps them to reach their goals best. On a more practical level, the program has taught me a lot about how media work, how audiences might perceive certain messages and what role digitalization plays in all this. Working in public relations and trying to reach certain audiences via both online and offline media, this knowledge comes in very useful.

Any advice for new graduates?

Do not put too much pressure on yourself to find your dream job right away. Sometimes, a not so great match can be just what you need to push you into the right direction and learn a thing or two about yourself. Most importantly: do never let your fear guide you. And consider starting off at an agency like I did. For me, working at an agency is the perfect stepping stone to gain a lot of valuable experience in the field and learn about my own strengths and interests at the same time.