IMC 2018: Sessions

The scholars coming to the International Medieval Congress know that it is challenging to find career opportunities once they have finished a PhD. There is much competition for work at universities, and not all graduates will be able to find work as an academic. But there are other options.

This three-hour seminar will take a look at how a medievalist can earn money, and perhaps find a career, using their knowledge of the Middle Ages. Specifically, we take a look at the following possible paths:

1) Books - writing for publishers and self-publishing
2) Magazines - writing for history and non-history magazines
3) The Internet - creating your own website or digital content
4) YouTube and Podcasts - finding ways to create your own media brand
5) Publishing - working in publishing or creating your own business
6) Travel and Tourism - using your knowledge of local history
7) Public History - working for museums, historical sites, fairs, and festivals

Leading the discussion is Peter Konieczny, the founder of Medievalists.net, the largest website devoted to the Middle Ages. He is also the editor of Medieval Warfare magazine. Joining him will be Danièle Cybulskie, author of The Five-Minute Medievalist.

Peter Konieczny was a librarian at the University of Toronto before becoming part-owner of Medievalists.net. He has been developing websites for 15 years and is based in Toronto. Peter has extensive experience in web design, blogging, social media, and the use of digital media to support the dissemination of scholarship to wide-ranging audiences.

Danièle Cybulskie studied Cultural Studies and English Literature at Trent University, earning her MA in English Literature at the University of Toronto. A featured writer at Medievalists.net, she has been published in three international magazines, and her book, The Five-Minute Medievalist, debuted at No.1 on Amazon's Canadian charts. She also worked as the subject matter expert for OntarioLearn's 'The Middle Ages and the Modern World: Facts and Fiction', currently offered at nine colleges. Having left college teaching behind, she now divides her time between giving workshops, writing articles, and working on her second book.

Since 2008, Medievalists.net has billed itself as the media site for the Middle Ages, offering news, articles, and videos about medieval studies. It is one of the largest online resources about the Middle Ages, and has amassed over 35 million page views.