The Advantages To Earning A Journalism Degree
A journalism degree offers students with an interest in writing and communications the ability to increase their knowledge and strengthen skills necessary to advance to a number of career options based in broadcasting, new media, reporting, and other fields of mass communication. Journalism degree programs offer students an expanded understanding of English, writing, editing, ethics, and reporting as well as a well rounded liberal arts degree based in business, law, or social, computer, and natural sciences. Students who complete journalism degree gain the skills and acquire the ability to advance to a number of positions as qualified professionals within a dynamic industry.
Many colleges and universities have extended education beyond campus grounds within innovative online programs to reach students managing work and family obligations. Online programs provide students with virtually the same educational experiences as their on campus equivalents. Online courses also offer added benefits, like increased flexibility in course scheduling and a more personalized degree. Online classes generally feature groups of 25 students who have 24 hour access to course materials and instruction. Online programs also provide students with increased interactions with instructors and classmates through one on one Internet chats. Online programs are often the most convenient, efficient, and affordable means of expanding education necessary for personal and career success.
What Students Learn Within A Journalism Degree Program
Journalism degree programs offer student with an interest in the field the opportunity to expand knowledge related to the field while improving skills necessary for success. Journalism professionals are generally required to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to qualify for employment. Many students begin their studies within 2 year associate’s degree programs to gain a basic understanding of the field. Associate level courses include: language and composition, modern journalism, news editing, news writing and reporting, production lab, literature and composition, advanced news writing, principles of photography, specialized writing, college Algebra, introduction to biology, introduction to psychology, photojournalism, feature writing, desktop publishing, public relations, publicity management, an internship, and broadcast management, news, and promotion. Graduates from associate’s degree programs may advance to entry level employment or continue studies within higher degree programs.
A bachelor degree in journalism allows students to expand knowledge and specialize training necessary for increasing skills and advancing personal goals. Bachelor level courses include: foundations of journalism and mass communication; research techniques for journalists; reporting, writing, and editing; visual communications; communications law; the media as social institutions; online journalism; feature writing; newspaper reporting; magazine reporting; broadcast news; public relations writing; news analysis and opinion writing; reporting, writing, and editing; online journalism; feature writing; newspaper reporting; broadcast news; photojournalism reporting; public relations writing; newspaper editing; magazine editing; advanced broadcast news; photojournalism editing; journalism multimedia storytelling; television news; depth reporting and editing; magazine article writing; advertising as communication; public relations campaigns; advanced photojournalism; television news; depth reporting and editing; magazine article writing; advertising as communication; news analysis and opinion writing; graphic design; infographics; news gathering and the law; media management; public opinion; public relations management; problems in advertising; history of journalism; history of 20th century photography; broadcast media analysis; college Algebra; statistics; trigonometry; introduction to biology; introduction to philosophy; introduction to psychology; organizational behavior; and an agency practicum. Graduates who complete bachelor degree programs may advance to employment or continue studies within a master’s degree program.
A master’s degree in journalism offers students the ability to gain advanced knowledge of the field and the means of specializing skills necessary for employment as leaders in the industry. Master’s level courses include: ethics in journalism, introduction to video journalism; digital essentials for journalists; fundamentals of reporting and news writing; digital essentials for journalists; advanced video journalism; business reporting; computer assisted reporting; international reporting; crafting narrative non fiction; covering conflict; covering Capitol Hill; documentary storytelling; entrepreneurial journalism in the digital age; environmental reporting; feature writing; investigative reporting; journalism of conscience; journalism of culture and identity; media law for journalists; journalism internship; multimedia storytelling; political reporting: road to the White House; radio reporting; reinventing journalism; reporting on national security; social and media reporting; storytelling 2.1; and the reported opinion piece. Graduates with master’s degrees may advance to employment or continue studies within doctoral degree programs.
Doctoral degree programs offer students the ability to become experts in the field of journalism. Courses within doctoral degree programs include: mass media; intellectual property; strategic communication planning; media ethics; communication research methods; literary journalism; telecommunication policy; press and the Constitution; qualitative research methods; quantitative research methods; advertising and public relations; international mass communication; communication and investigation; organizational theory; experiential learning; academic evaluation; fundament of knowledge; fundamental principles: philsophy of education; doctoral proposal; research project of journalism; and a doctoral dissertation. Graduates who complete doctoral studies generally advance to employment as lead writers, instructors, or researchers within media, education, or other organizations.
Prospective Jobs For Graduates With Journalism Degrees
Graduates with journalism degrees gain the skills to work as professionals within dynamic industries based upon public relations, communications, broadcasting, and other related fields. Employment for graduates with journalism degrees is dependent upon education level, related work experiences, area/s of specialty, and reputation. Most graduates advance to employment for public, private, or non profit organizations as professionals in newspaper, radio, new media or television businesses. Many graduates also gain employment within related fields, like advertising or public relations, due to the decline in the demand for print newspapers. Graduates who complete associate’s degree programs generally gain employment as assistant journalists, copywriters, publicists, assistant correspondents, or writers within a number of media and communications organizations.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree may work as writers, public relations specialists, or editors within media, advertising, writing, photography, editing or journalism fields. Graduates who complete master’s degree programs may advance to employment as public information officers, technical writers, digital journalists, lead writers, lead editors, or managers within newspaper, magazine, or online publications. Many may advance to positions as correspondents for cable companies or network affiliates. Some may advance to employment as educators within high schools and vocational schools.
Salary Range For Journalism Degree Graduates
Journalism degrees offer students the ability to establish careers with varied earnings based upon factors like education level, experience, and organization of employment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports earnings for reporters, journalists, and correspondents range from $25,760 to $77,480 annually. Graduates with associate’s degrees who work as copywriters generally earn $ to $ annually. Graduates who work as salaried writers and authors for advertising, public relations, and newspaper, book, or directory publishers upon completing their bachelor degree generally have salaries ranging from $38,150 to $75,060 annually. Master’s degree graduates who work as broadcast news analysts earn $32,000 to $88,630 annually. Graduates who complete studies within doctoral degree programs and advance to employment as instructors within vocational schools, colleges, or universities generally earn fro $41,600 to $83,960 annually. Many journalists also work as freelance editors and freelance authors on an individual project, article, book, or television and movie script basis. Freelancers have earnings which vary per project and often must supplement their income by working for multiple organizations and publishers.
Career Outlook And Advancement Opportunities For Journalism Degree Graduates
Graduates with journalism degrees are qualified to work within a number of public, private, and non profit organizations based upon educational, geographic, and factors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that employment for most journalism and correspondent positions will decline by 7% through 2018 in comparison to other occupations. Factors like advancing technology, radio and television industry consolidations, increased competition from digital media outlets, and corporate downsizing will adversely affect the number of employment options for graduates with journalism degrees seeking jobs in print, television, and radio industries. Despite the decline of certain forms of media, job growth for graduates who with technical, computer science, marketing, sales, and advertising specialties is expected to increase as the industry shifts to new media outlets.
Competition for jobs is expected to rise, particularly for graduates within urban areas seeking employment within national newspapers, broadcast networks and stations, and larger publications. Graduates will find increased employability upon establishing their reputation, completing formal education programs, specializing training in scientific or technical fields, and displaying talent in work experiences. Job prospects for journalism graduates will be best within small broadcast stations, small publishers, and online newspaper or magazine providers. Additionally, as more experienced journalists retire or leave the field to pursue other occupations, some job opportunities will develop.
Most graduates who complete studies in associate or bachelor degree programs begin employment within entry level jobs performing research, fact checking articles, copy editing drafts, or reading submissions and advance to increasingly complex projects or assignments. Many advance to positions with more prestige upon displaying competence by meeting deadlines and establishing talent or reputation with previous work. Graduates with advanced degrees at a master’s or doctoral level often begin employment within managerial or lead editing or journalist positions and advance to positions within larger publications or greater prestige. Some may leave the field to work as instructors within vocational schools, colleges, or universities upon continuing education and gaining required licensing. Many graduates upon gaining relevant work experience, adequate funding, and formal training may begin their own businesses as freelancers.
