Want to write for Fashion Journal? Applications for our Fashion Writing Program are now open

A chance to be mentored by the best.

Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF) will be once again dazzling us all in March next year, and I, for one, cannot wait. You see, one of the best parts about working for Fashion Journal is getting to write about, as the name suggests, fashion, and the return of MFF means lots of snazzy events and breathtaking runways for our team to put pen to paper about.

If this sounds like something you would also enjoy, then may I suggest applying for MFF’s Fashion Writing Program? Supported by us, the program offers emerging talent the opportunity for real-world industry experience and the chance to be mentored by some truly incredible writers.

The program will see your writing published on FJ, and allow you to develop multi-faceted content angles when covering the diverse MFF program. If this sounds up your alley, we encourage emerging fashion writers to apply via submitting a short folio of their work, which will be assessed by a panel of industry professionals.

If you’re one of the three lucky selected finalists, you’ll enter the mentorship program, which is delivered in two phases. In phase one, you will receive a one-on-one mentorship throughout January and February 2021. This means weekly mentoring with a dedicated mentor who will give you feedback on your writing and help guide you when pitching ideas.

This will give you the opportunity to have your written work published across MFF’s social media and online channels leading up to and during the event. The three mentors are writer, editor and curator, Sabina McKenna, fashion journalist, opinions columnist and FJ’s senior industry columnist, Bianca O’Neill, and Damien Woolnough, the founding editor of Vogue.com.au, former fashion editor of The Australian and one of Australia’s leading fashion journalists.

This brings me to phase two: an internship right here at Fashion Journal. If you’re one of the three finalists, you will have the very fortunate experience of being mentored by my boss, and Fashion Journal‘s managing editor, Giulia Brugliera, over a period leading up to and following the festival. This mentorship includes concept pitch meetings, ongoing review and valuable feedback on your writing.

You will attend some absolutely fabulous MFF events in March 2021 as a writer for us, reporting on elements of the program as assigned, and generally living out your The Devil Wears Prada dreams (minus the bitchiness and a Miranda Priestley-like figure – I can assure you, we’re a lot nicer than that!). Your work will be published on FJ, too, of course.

Applications will be assessed on the quality and extent to which they meet the following selection criteria: 

• The applicant demonstrates a unique point of view and a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry
• The applicant has a strong and distinctive writing style that achieves a high standard of writing (which can be demonstrated in singular or a range of writing styles)
• The applicant demonstrates the potential to succeed in a professional fashion writing career
• The applicant resides in Australia

Still reading? Well then you should know that the deadline for submission is December 11 2020, so you’ll want to get to it quicksmart if you’d like to apply, as no applications will be considered past this date. All applications must be submitted via an online application form and must include a 200-400 word profile about yourself, and please include a reference to any fashion or writing-related tertiary courses you’ve undertaken or any writing you’ve already had published.

You will also need to include a digital folio of work, comprising of the following:

• A cover sheet explaining your personal approach to writing, the style/s or genre/s you prefer or specialise in, your personal connection to fashion as a theme for your writing, as well as your ambition or vision for your future in the writing profession
• A minimum of three and maximum of six samples of work (either published or unpublished)
• At least one sample of work should be a minimum of 500 words long

The MFF Fashion Writing Program and Fashion Journal‘s editorial internships are unpaid, with a core focus on the learning and development of young writers in compliance with Fair Work legislation. More information on our internships can be found on FJ Careers.

Head here to get applying, and good luck!

melbournefashionfestival.com.au