Journalism

Journalists keep the public informed about current news and events. A journalist may work as a reporter for a local newspaper, or could be a nationally-recognized news anchor on a major network. They may serve as a magazine editor or work as a publicist for a celebrity. A sports-fanatic might end up as a sportswriter; someone concerned about world events may become a foreign correspondent. Someone interested in writing, editing or broadcast journalism may pursue a wide variety of careers in today's technologically-driven society.

Given the options of methods of covering and presenting the news in today's world, the range of job opportunities for someone interested in journalism is wide. It is not restricted to the field of writing. Journalists include news photographers who carry either a camera or a video camera, depending upon the job. With the moment-to-moment availability of the internet, blogging is another way for a journalist to present their view of the world. 24 hour news agencies provide television coverage round-the-clock, increasing the need for more journalists to be located in exotic locales. For anyone interested in travel and world culture, the options available for foreign-based journalists are especially appealing.

There are several ways to become a journalist. For some very talented writers, finding a local newspaper internship during summers in high school may provide an inroad to employment as a reporter without the need for further education. These types of opportunity are not the norm, however, and there are several options for obtaining additional education after high school for someone interested in journalism as a career choice.

Journalism Schools and Courses

Upon deciding to pursue a journalism degree, the candidate must consider what areas of news coverage or journalism in which he or she may be interested. Some schools may be better equipped to train someone interested in broadcast journalism. At such a school, journalism students typically run a campus television news station during their third or fourth year. Other schools may be better able to educate journalists interested in print media. Reading through course offerings for journalism majors at different schools may be of help in determining which schools may be the best option for someone pursuing a journalism degree.

Associate's Degree

One option is to obtain an associate's degree in journalism. This involves enrolling in a school which offers an associate's degree, which typically takes 2 years to complete. Some of the classes a student may be offered include:

- Methods and techniques for gathering news information, including conducting interviews, editing, presenting information

- Photo editing

- Advanced Photography

- Video Production

- Revolutions in Web or Graphic Design

- Public Relations and Writing

- Foreign Study in Journalism

- Environmental Reporting

- Marketing

- Principles of Creative Advertising

- Branding Yourself

Bachelor's Degree

For someone determined to obtain additional education in the field of journalism, pursuing a bachelor of art's degree in journalism and mass communication is another option. Attending one of the top journalism schools will involve meeting admission standards for incoming students, which will include having a high school diploma or equivalent. An incoming student will also be expected to meet the school requirements regarding GPA and standardized test scores on the SAT or ACT.

Completing a BA degree will take approximately 4 years for a full time student taking an average number of classes. Some of the classes a student may have the opportunity to take include:

- Survey of Journalism & Mass Communication

- News Reporting & Writing

- Ethics in Journalism

- Intermediate Composition

- Cyber-journalism

- Advanced Writing & Editing for the Media

- Global Journalism

- Journalism Law

- Advanced Editorial & Feature Writing

- Methods of Research & Analysis in Journalism

- Journalism & Politics

Master's Degree

Some of the best journalism schools offer the opportunity for journalists to pursue their master's degree. This is recommended for someone interested in working as a senior editor, advertising executive or marketing. This degree takes an additional 9 months to achieve, and indicates a dedication to obtaining additional education within a certain area of concentration. This continued study allows a journalism student to obtain specialized education in a particular subject matter, allowing them to situate news events into a larger context. A master's degree candidate may decide to specialize in the area of politics, for example, enabling them to be better prepared to discuss political events in the context of current events.

A master's candidate must take additional classes such as:

- Visual Journalism.

- Advanced Writing & Public Affairs Reporting.

- Media Law & Ethics

- Media Law & Freedom of Expression

- Professional Experience in Journalism.

- Classes associated with preparing a Master's thesis

Doctoral Program

In certain circumstances, a journalist may be drawn towards the idea of teaching journalist in a college or university, or conducting highly-specialized research in a particular area of journalism. In those instances, the journalist may decide to pursue their doctorate. This will take years to complete, depending upon the individual. Some of the coursework they may expect includes:

- Intro Research Methods

- Mass Communication Theory

- Advanced Social Science Research Methods

- Qualitative Methods

- Introductory Statistics

- Classes related to doctoral thesis preparation and presentation

The options for pursuing a challenging career in journalism is as varied as the job opportunities available for those intrigued by finding a way to present the news or their own world view. Pursuing a certificate or degree in journalism will enable the individual to obtain experience, writing skills and techniques that will enhance their marketability as a journalist.