Careers in media and creative professions are extremely competitive, with less direct pathways to jobs and advancement relative than in more traditional or technical professions. Many future media professionals train for careers without a clear understanding that personal attributes like adaptability, integrity, and curiosity are just as important as any practical or theoretical knowledge. In today’s flooded market of talented and intelligent job applicants, it is more important than ever that the aspiring media and communications professional master critical soft skills to succeed in building their career.

The 12 Attributes of Extraordinary Media Professionals shows young professionals that while personal attributes are essential to success, building these soft skills is a dynamic process that can be just as enjoyable as it is rewarding. This book fills a void in the personal and professional development of media professionals by presenting key attributes as a system of qualities that, when applied and considered together, add synergistic benefits for the individual’s career.

Roger Cooper combines examples of successful media professionals with activities to begin readers’ development of 12 attributes that will prove timeless and relevant regardless of an individual’s career stage or the inevitable changes in business practices and technology.