Want to make a difference in the world, or at least your community? Want to be paid for your writing and journalistic skills? Want to learn how to write compelling news stories, successful feature articles, or captivating columns? You can do all that and much more with a degree in journalism. Read on for more information about this career choice.
Journalism degrees are an excellent foundation for careers in public relations, marketing, and advertising. Most jobs in these fields require a journalism degree.
Careers with a degree in journalism
Journalism is a highly sought after degree for many reasons. It teaches much more than writing, and in a way that prepares you for future jobs. The skills you will learn as an entry-level reporter could make the difference between consistently getting published in industry publications, or not.
Most popular journalism jobs include.
The media industry is changing. News sources like television, radio and print are having to reevaluate their business models in order to compete with the explosion of digital natives such as Twitter and Facebook. But media companies aren’t the only ones affected by the digital age – individuals looking for information and media to consume are also exploring new ways in which to do so.
Here is an expert opinion, shared by James Mann, economics and business reporter for the Los Angeles Times:
This is where journalism majors really shine. There are numerous majors to choose from, including international studies (covering all sorts of topics in world politics, economics and international relations), public relations and communications, law, and social work to name a few. You can do anything with a journalism degree because it’s a liberal arts major with many different specializations. Journalism is a great option for students who want plenty of job opportunities after graduation.
The field of journalism continues to thrive in an age of information overload. If you study journalism, in the right program at the right university, your diplomas and your future job opportunities should be wide open to you, whatever career path you wish to pursue.
Research the newspaper’s website, blogs and social networks to see if you can contribute articles on a freelance basis. If your work is well received, you may have an opportunity to write for them full-time. Newspapers are no longer the primary medium for news dissemination, but they can still be a great place to get your writing published. And if you’re a budding journalist looking to work with a group of talented writers, a small-town newspaper could offer you just what you’re looking for.
Jobs in journalism are a little different than jobs found in other fields. For instance, the rate of pay may be lower than a job in the private sector. But some journalists and online writers find they can make up the difference with freelance gigs and side jobs to help bring in additional income.
If you have your heart set on making a living writing for a living, you may want to consider freelance writing.
The American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) reported, “The number of editorial jobs decreased by 24.6% between 2003 and 2012. In 2003, there were 164,882 editors working in the United States. By 2012, the number had dropped to 122,116.” Some of these jobs were lost due to newspapers shutting down while others were replaced with online editing positions. As technology continues to advance, the demand for online editors will continue to increase.
