Journalism is the occupation or professional practice of gathering, processing, and presenting news. It is often associated with journalism schools where students study to become journalists. But what jobs can you get with a journalism major? There’s no one right answer.
When you major in journalism, your career options are as wide-ranging as the news itself.
Journalism majors can work in any number of fields, including print and online journalism (in newspapers, magazines, and online), broadcast journalism (television, radio), public relations, marketing, advertising and social media.
But there’s more to it than that. Journalism majors are also excellent candidates for jobs in corporate communications—producing press releases and other materials that explain a company’s products or services to the public. And some journalism majors go on to become lawyers who specialize in libel law or other areas where a keen knowledge of media ethics is essential to their practice.
The bottom line is this: If you’re fascinated by the world around you and want to learn how to communicate effectively with others about what they need to know—and do so with a sense of integrity—then journalism may just be the right major for you!
What jobs can you get if you major in journalism
Introduction
Journalism is a great major for students interested in writing, research, and investigative work. But it’s not all about becoming the next Bob Woodward or Erin Brockovich. A journalism degree can advance your career in many different ways, both in and out of the newsroom. Whether you’re interested in working for a local newspaper or starting your own business as a freelance writer, this article will give you an overview of several career paths you can take with a journalism degree.
If you love to write and enjoy researching topics that interest you or your audience, journalism is an excellent major to consider pursuing. You’ll use the writing skills you learn as part of this major throughout your entire career—no matter what profession you decide to pursue after graduation.
A journalism degree can be used in many careers outside the newsroom, too. Here are just some of the common jobs that people who majored in journalism get:
Reporter: This position involves conducting research about current events and interviewing people for news stories. A reporter also edits their own stories before they go to print, runs errands for their editor when needed, and sometimes takes photographs that will accompany their articles. Reporters don’t just work at newspapers anymore; they also cover other types of media outlets like magazines or online publications (like this one!).
Editor : An editor is responsible for overseeing all content published by their company or organization (news sites are no exception). They look over every piece written by reporters before it goes into production and may have final say on which stories get printed based on quality control standards set forth by higher-ups within an organization’s hierarchy system; however editors play more than just an administrative role–they are often expected to write copy themselves if need be because they understand how language works best when used properly (e-mailing coworkers instead is another option). Editors must also make sure everything published
Reporter
If you have a passion for writing and reporting, then a reporter job might be just the one for you. Reporters are in charge of collecting information from various sources to create news stories that tell people what’s happening in their community. These reporters can work for newspapers or other publications, television stations, radio stations or online sites.
A reporter needs to be able to write well and quickly because they often need to produce stories on tight deadlines; they also need to be good at interviewing people and researching topics so that they can provide accurate information in their articles/stories/reports.
Editor
Editors are in charge of all the content that gets published. They are responsible for the quality of this publication and must make sure that everything being released is high quality. Editors keep track of all the content that has been published, making sure it is accurate and up to date. Editors work with writers to help them produce their best work by editing drafts and suggesting edits, cuts or changes to improve writing style and substance. Editors also have to manage writers’ deadlines so they can get their stories done on time.
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists are responsible for promoting a company and its products. While they may do this in different ways, their job is to make sure that the public has positive opinions of the business they represent.
They need excellent writing skills, as well as experience in marketing, advertising and communications. They also need to be able to work effectively with others on a team, which means good social skills are necessary.
A typical day for a public relations specialist might involve writing press releases or promotional copy (called “boilerplate”) that’s used to advertise their employer’s products or services. This type of content must be both interesting and informative so it will get people’s attention when they see it online or in print media outlets like magazines or newspapers
Technical Writer
If you’re thinking about majoring in journalism, but aren’t sure if you want to work as a reporter or editor, consider becoming a technical writer instead.
Technical writing is a job that requires a lot of writing—usually manuals, help systems and other documents that explain how to use products or software. Technical writers must have a good understanding of their subject matter so they can write clearly and thoroughly for their audience.
If you have an interest in computers or other technology-based fields, this may not be the best choice for you since the majority of technical writers work with technology companies or manufacturers.
Communications Director
Communications director is a job that requires a lot of people skills. What you need to be able to do is communicate with all kinds of people, whether they’re in your office or outside of it. Part of this job involves writing and speaking well, so that you can make sure your messages are clear and easy to understand by everyone who receives them. You also need to be able to work with the media—after all, communication goes both ways!
Creative Director
The creative director is responsible for the overall look and feel of a publication. They work with the publication’s art and design teams to develop the look and feel of the publication, including typography, colors, images, illustrations, logos and other graphic elements. They also work with the editorial team to ensure that all content (news stories and features) are consistent with its overall look and feel.
Digital Strategist
A digital strategist is someone who works with brands, advertising agencies, and other businesses to help them create content and execute digital strategies. Digital strategists often work with social media managers to develop campaigns, using both paid and organic strategies. A digital strategist job description typically includes maintaining the company’s website or blog, managing its social media presence as well as that of its clients (such as Facebook pages or Twitter accounts), helping with content creation like blogs and ebooks, creating promotional videos, updating the company’s email marketing database with subscribers’ information and targeting specific audiences through email campaigns.
In order to become a digital strategist you need strong analytical skills because you’ll be analyzing data from various sources (such as Google Analytics) in order to determine what type of content will get shared most on social networks like Facebook or Twitter so that your clients can use these platforms effectively for marketing purposes. In addition to this skill set it’s important that you’re also able to communicate effectively whether verbally or in writing so that customers understand how their brand can benefit from working with your company/agency partner(s).
Advertising Sales Agent
An advertising sales agent is responsible for selling advertising space to clients, as well as negotiating rates and contracts. The position requires a background in journalism, as it’s necessary to be familiar with the different types of media that are available. The job outlook is favorable due to growth in internet usage and mobile devices, which has expanded the number of potential advertisers.
Pros: Close contact with customers; high degree of responsibility; flexible schedule (hours); opportunity for advancement; good pay; interesting work environment; can work from home if desired Cons: Very competitive field
Requirements: Bachelors Degree in Journalism or related field, sales skills
There are many great careers you can get with a Journalism degree, and you’ll use your writing skills in all of them. You can find more info on our page dedicated to Journalism jobs.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped inform you about some of the career options for journalism majors. If you want to pursue any of these careers, it’s important that you be able to write well and clearly communicate your ideas. Fortunately, studying journalism gives you all the skills you’ll need to succeed!
