What Can You Do with a Journalism Degree?

Journalism has changed significantly in the 21st century. What was once only restricted to traditional media like newspapers and television, the internet has opened up journalism to pretty much anyone with a camera or flair for writing.

So what’s the point in earning a journalism degree? Well, first of all, the degree teaches you the skills required to produce compelling content, the type that can see you become a recognized figure within your chosen field. A degree is also a sign to employers that you have the pedigree to complete a wide range of roles within the sector.

Should I bother becoming a journalism major?

If you want to earn a degree in journalism, you must have a passion for telling stories that are built from the truth and diligent research. It is also important you are under no illusions about the current state of journalism. As social media, technology, and the internet continue to evolve, they are leaving behind physical publications that are becoming increasingly obsolete. Due to this, a journalist could feel their career is an unstable one.

Yet a journalism degree provides you with a range of skills that are applicable across an assortment of different industries. The writing and editing abilities you gain can be applied in pretty much any job role. Plus if you decide to take a journalism concentration in television, radio, or multimedia, you can also develop production skills like shooting footage and editing video/audio.

What can I do with a journalism degree?

When armed with a journalism degree, it seems obvious what career options are available. However, there are journalism careers that may not be as apparent at first. For instance, you could work in public relations or as a political risk analyst. The following list shows possible jobs with a journalism degree:

Reporter

A reporter can be found covering virtually all industries, whether it is sport, politics, business, or celebrity gossip. Reporters are tasked with covering news stories, crafting professionally produced content to represent the news, and often supporting this with interviews and supporting statements.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics spotlights that ‘reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts’ earn a median annual wage of $46,270. Sadly, the industry is expected to decline by 11% in terms of job opportunities between 2019 and 2029.

Copywriter

A copywriter can be responsible for many different tasks that involve producing written content. These tasks can include producing blog posts, how-to guides, and promotional emails. These professionals need to write in a straightforward, clear manner.

As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ‘writers and authors’ earned an average annual salary of $63,200 in 2019. The job outlook is expected to decrease marginally by 2% between 2019 and 2029.

Technical writer

A technical writer is a subset of the aforementioned copywriter. While their tasks are essentially the same, a technical writer will typically handle much more complex and challenging topics.

For this added challenge, a technical writer’s wage improves significantly over a copywriter. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes these professionals earn $72,850 yearly on average. Additionally, the job outlook for 2019-2029 is anticipated to grow by 7%.

Public relations specialist

Public relations specialists are tasked with representing organizations and individuals. Their job is to build and maintain a positive reputation between their client and the public, and this is done by completing responsibilities like answering press questions and distributing press releases.

In 2019, a public relations specialist earned a median annual wage of $61,150. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also anticipates job opportunities for this role to grow by 7% within the next decade.

Taking the next step

It’s true: the journalism salary and career prospects are not as fruitful as other professions. Despite this, your heart is set on majoring in the subject. This means you will have to find a suitable college that:

• Offers a respected journalism program
• Is in the right location
• Is within your budget
• Provides a high-quality campus

The latter point is a particularly important one. You want a campus that supplies not only a wealth of societies and sports to join but also one that is beneficial to your studying efforts. Plus nobody wants to stay in a substandard dorm room that’s cold and uncomfortable!

There’s just one issue: how do you research what a campus is truly like? Well, the best tool you can have is CampusReel. This platform includes over 15,000 videos, covering colleges all across the country. Best of all, these videos are produced for students by students. This means you receive all those juicy details and tips about your campus of choice, from advice on laundry to the best societies to join.

To start watching these videos, you can sign up for a CampusReel account free of charge.