Focuses on how social media transforms journalism through at-the-moment reporting, rumor, and immediate reaction; also emphasizes studies in sociological behavior. Focuses on the historical, theoretical and practical application of a variety of media, including print, audio, visual, electronic, and more.
An introduction to reporting news through audio and visual media, as well as gathering and presenting news in the field. Focuses on analytical skills and techniques required to evaluate newsworthy events and report key information accurately. A rundown of the pertinent laws that affect journalists, including freedom of the press, government controls, source protections and legal obligations.
This class might focus on certain concentrations — feature writing or broadcasting, for instance — and prepare students to craft a well-written, informative or persuasive piece. The following are a few typical courses. These intensive seminars are tailored to specific concentrations and expose students to notable experts, readings and case studies on significant news events.
Instruction in advanced research techniques, maintaining objectivity, fact-gathering, and the journalistic method of testing assumptions.
Students study the nuances of reporting on a particular subject, how to use inoffensive language, fact-sharing and collaboration with other journalists, and dealing with sources who might be in precarious situations.
Graduate students are encouraged to take courses that can enhance their careers, including finance, business, entrepreneurship, management and the like. PhDs are ideal for journalism students who want to reach the highest echelons of the field. Doctoral graduates typically go into research or teaching, but they can also help active journalists gain significant expertise, advance their careers and enhance their resumes. The following courses are among those one might take in a journalism PhD program.
These courses focus on qualitative and quantitative research, and the impact of news media and journalism on the public at large. Helps students learn how to convey pertinent information about the field of journalism to postsecondary students. These courses are dedicated to various parts of student dissertations, including reading, research, writing and presentation.
Communications skills, both written and verbal, are a key component of a successful career in journalism. Journalists interview people on the phone, in person, and through email and other digital platforms.
They report back to editors, and ultimately have to tell a story to an audience, either in print, broadcast, or online. So the ability to express oneself clearly and logically, and to maintain strong interpersonal relationships is crucial. In addition, journalists must cultivate critical thinking and data analysis skills. Healthy skepticism and the ability to synthesize and sort through information quickly and with accuracy are important to the job. So, journalists have to be strong readers of texts and of people, and must be able to place information in a context that is easy for others to understand.
The tools of journalism vary from job to job, and story to story. Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking platforms are also becoming more central to the job of reporting, and journalists who are adept at working in the digital realm with websites, blogs, and audio and video streaming have a distinct competitive edge in the job market.
The research involved in reporting also has a strong digital technology component. Knowing how to use databases and spreadsheets, and a familiarity with advanced online search-engine capabilities are a big help in this area. And, an understanding of search engine optimization, or SEO coding is another distinct advantage in the field. Journalism is migrating to the web, and the hot jobs tend to be either in digital content or the integration of print and broadcast with digital content.
The chart below illustrates where journalists worked, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data:. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms have become an important part of the way media companies reach their audience. Social media marketing managers oversee the ways in which these digital platforms are utilized, monitor user feedback, and coordinate social media marketing campaigns.
There are campaign managers who manage political campaigns, and this is certainly falls within the realm of communications specializations. But, media companies, and other businesses, also employ campaign managers to guide and direct particular marketing projects.
This can involve working with a team of other marketing communications specialists, writing and producing content, editing existing content, and collecting data to assess the impact of a particular campaign strategy. Graduates with a bachelor's degree in journalism can find entry-level work as journalists and reporters. They can also pursue careers as correspondents who research and report the news through television, radio, podcasts, and newspapers. Graduates may also be able to pursue careers as editors who ensure final projects are grammatically and structurally sound.
Editors make decisions about publishing articles and stories and approve final story versions. Additionally, depending on their concentration, graduates may also find opportunities as technical writers, authors, public relations managers, and film and video editors. Journalism is the process of gathering and assessing information to create accurate and unbiased newsworthy stories. Journalism is characterized by strong writing and a passionate pursuit of the truth.
The cost of a bachelor's degree in journalism depends on school type, delivery method, and residency status. In general, in-state students in online programs at public universities pay the lowest tuition rates.
The skills students develop with a bachelor's degree in journalism can transfer to industries like marketing and communications. Jobs for journalists are declining. However, although journalists may not be in high demand, graduates can apply their journalism skills to other in-demand writing, editing, and communications jobs.
Most full-time students can complete a bachelor's degree in journalism in four years, with some programs offering accelerated tracks. Part-time students usually need longer to graduate. View the most relevant school for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to find your college home.
Should I Get a Bachelor's in Journalism? A master's degree or doctorate can open the door to tenured professor positions. It can also prepare journalists for leadership positions in their media companies.
The path to reaching your career goals begins with your first journalism job. Begin by finding a mentor in the field whom you admire. Ask about training opportunities, professional organizations, and local groups that can enhance your professional network. Keep examples of your work in a well-organized digital portfolio. You can design your website, demonstrating your technical design abilities, or use a ready-made platform. This space also offers a place to showcase awards and special projects.
Make time for continuing education. While you will inevitably have multiple deadlines to track and meet, prioritize learning new skills that you can use in your career. Journalism careers welcome professionals from other disciplines. Career changers can often bring their unique experience and perspective to a particular field of reporting, such as science or the environment. If you have a strong writing background, you will likely need little additional education to begin work.
Several schools offer college-level certificate programs in journalism. Certificate programs typically feature courses in journalism basics. These options teach individuals how to write like a journalist, including using the Associated Press Stylebook. These courses also cover essential topics in journalism law, such as libel and invasion of privacy.
Certificate programs may offer credit toward a bachelor's or master's degree if you choose to pursue one later. Check specific programs for details.
While you may think journalists only work in publishing or information industries, their skills are in high demand in other fields. Read on to learn about industries that offer careers for graduates with a journalism degree. Journalists in these media write for local, state, and national publications about general news topics.
Professionals in this industry turn news into radio segments, newscasts, and other types of digital media that can be streamed and aired. This industry includes specialized news areas such as health and wellness, environmental sustainability, food, and international topics. Journalism majors working in this industry promote events and shows through a comprehensive marketing strategy. Graduates who want to educate the next generation of journalists typically work as professors in higher education settings.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many journalism careers are concentrated in New York and California, both of which are hubs for broadcast news organizations and emerging media companies.
As the nation's capital, the city serves as a hub of government agencies and legislative offices. Few journalists work in Delaware, Hawaii, and Vermont. Journalists earn the lowest salaries in Wyoming, Iowa, and Montana. Kealia Reynolds earned a BA in media and journalism with a specialization in strategic communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Since graduating, she's worked for House Method , a home and garden media site.
In her role, she focuses on writing for a variety of beats, managing relationships with brands and publishers, and pushing the site forward in the digital space. I chose to study journalism because I wanted to make a difference by telling stories and helping others get the information they need. I believe the news is so incredibly important — not only in the U. I've loved writing and reading ever since I was little, so this has been a passion of mine for some time.
Most days, you can find me skimming through news article after news article on my phone, catching up with a daily newsletter, or reading long-form lifestyle pieces. One of the greatest things about working in journalism is that I'm constantly learning something new every single day. In my role at House Method, I've written on a variety of topics, including real estate , home improvement, and wellness, some of which I never had experience with before.
When I don't know much about a certain topic, I love getting to research and learn more about the subject before delivering a comprehensive piece.
The more I research and write about certain topics, the more of an expert I feel myself becoming in that field. In addition to writing, journalism usually consists of outreach, whether this be to sources or other outlets to run your story, research, and management. It also requires a lot more creativity than just interviewing someone or doing research and writing on a subject. How are you going to craft a story so it's organized and appealing to readers?
What information are you going to include to really make sure the angle you're trying to hit is noticed? Even pieces that don't require an interview can be important to somebody.
Think about SEO writing, for example: What information should be included in a piece to make it exciting and informative, yet relevant to people searching for a certain query on Google? Though I don't really have this problem at my job, I would say one of the most difficult parts about working in journalism is that it's quite hard to be an activist unless the company you work for allows you to express such opinions.
One of the biggest traits of being a journalist is being unbiased in your writing and reporting, so unless you've been instructed otherwise, it can be hard to not let your personal beliefs or opinions show in your writing, reporting, social media use, etc.
Another difficult part about journalism is that it's a very fast-paced, constantly changing field, which can be exciting to some but overwhelming to others. Some journalists — particularly those who work for a big news agency — can have days where they work all day long just to get a piece out on time.
If you're on the fence about pursuing journalism, look into different tracks within the field. I studied strategic communications, which was basically a mixture of advertising, public relations, and writing, because I wasn't sure if I really wanted to pursue writing full time. It wasn't until right before graduation when I realized I wanted to write and work in digital marketing.
Additionally, talk to your professors and advisors — most are working, or have worked, in the journalism field at one point in their lives. They likely have valuable insight and advice to give. Being a journalist can be hard, especially in today's society where some people have developed a mistrust of journalists and news across the board.
However, the work you do matters, whether people care or not, and I would encourage you to remind yourself of that every day — from now until graduation and beyond. Journalism can oftentimes be an underpaid, nonglorious field, but I think the best journalists are the ones who don't care about how much money they make or how hard the work they do is.
The best journalists love the art of storytelling and helping people understand and see the world in a different light, and I think that's something that's truly special. Journalists can access a wealth of resources.
Professional organizations, for instance, support journalism through legislative advocacy, legal expertise, and professional development. These organizations also coordinate annual press contests that recognize excellence in journalism each year. Journalists can also access open courseware and publications. Enrollees also do research work, ultimately preparing and presenting a dissertation. A doctoral degree in journalism can last as few as three years, although some students take four years or more.
Graduates with doctorates in journalism can pursue careers as journalism professors, multimedia company executives, and entrepreneurs. Accreditation attests to a school's academic quality and rigor, adherence to the accrediting body's standards and policies, and overall educational climate.
Colleges and universities in the United States typically hold regional or national accreditation, with the regional form carrying more merit for liberal arts degrees. Students should always ensure the accreditation status of any prospective school, as it can affect transfer opportunities and financial aid options. Individual programs and departments may also receive accreditation from agencies tasked with overseeing degrees in specific disciplines.
The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications accredits journalism and mass communication programs. A journalism degree prepares students for careers across media platforms. Learners can pursue roles as reporters, fact-checkers, and content creators. Journalism specializations include:. Careers for journalism majors are not limited to one field.
A degree in journalism can also lead to positions in publishing, education, business, and research. Salaries for individuals with journalism degrees vary by level of education, experience, and industry. Journalism is a competitive field. With a degree in journalism, students can earn positions in media, business, education, and other economic sectors. During a journalism internship, individuals learn the practical, everyday aspects of a career in media.
They assist reporters, broadcasters, and other media professionals, developing their own interview, writing, and communication skills along the way.
Melissa Sartore holds a Ph. A medievalist by training, she has published on outlawry in medieval England with additional publications on outlaws in popular culture and across geographic and historical boundaries.
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