Journalism Major - Unsafe?

Miakaa
Mon, 17 May 2010 01:17:56 +0000

Ehh… Honestly, unless you’re planning on doing advertising, PR or broadcast, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I’ve said this in many other threads, but I’m a recent J school grad and there’s absolutely nothing out there (job wise). If it’s something you’re extremely passionate about and pay doesn’t matter to you, then I say go for it. Otherwise, consider a double major or minor to fall back on.

Print journalism isn’t doing well at all. There are a few gems out there that are doing well, but even good reporters are having trouble finding work. Many people at my school moved to internet journalism (along with studying print journalism theory/technique).

As for internet journalism, anyone can start a blog or write for one now a days. If you’re REALLY good, you could probably get an internship at a newspaper and work their Web site. At my school, internet journalism only focused on graphic design/infographics and how to make a Web site. And honestly, anyone can find out how to make a site online (I knew how even before I took the classes).

It’s really up to you and how good your school is. My advice would be to take a lot of internships in the Summer or if they offer them for your local paper. Also work at your school paper (work your way up to Editor in Chief). Start out as a writer your 2nd semester freshman or sophomore year, then move up to Managing Editor and hopefully you can secure a spot as EIC your junior or senior year. The only people I know who’ve actually gotten jobs recently have been the EIC of my paper and they worked as an intern for the local papers too.

As far as advertising, it seems to be doing well. I briefly had a job in advertising when I graduated and I knew nothing about it! There are some really good advertising schools out there , if that’s what you’re thinking about.

Broadcast is touch and go. All the best Broadcast majors I know worked at the paper as writers and did internships every summer. If you’re good, you can probably find a job somewhere.

I don’t know anything about PR, but a good friend of mine majored in it. She made all A’s and did tons of internships. She couldn’t find a job for 6+ months. Eventually she found one in marketing.

Like I said, if you’re passionate about it, go for it. But the pay is MEH (even if you’re good and have a job) and it’s not worth it to me. I wish I had majored in something else. I worked at the paper for 2 years and was an editor the whole time, my experience and degree are pretty much worthless.

As a side note, I would HIGHLY recommend taking tech. and professional writing classes (maybe consider an English professional writing minor). Tech. writing (as well as medial, science, grant) experience is definitely to your advantage. If you can’t find a job as a reporter, you can always find one as a tech/medical/grant writer.