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Education / Media / Communication / Information Journalism
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Journalism
According to the former editor of the Washington Post, Phil Graham, journalism is "a first rough draft of history". Journalists are often the first to put important happenings into writing, but often under the pressure of short deadlines. Today journalism stretches far beyond news papers, and most universities offer courses teaching the discipline. It used to be a profession taught on the job, but to an ever growing extent, employment today requires preparation in the form of formal education. » Read more about Journalism
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More about JournalismJournalists of today face a very different work environment than they did even twenty years ago. It is no longer merely the writing for a news paper, which makes you a journalist. Today, journalism encompasses a wide variety of jobs, from broadcasting to web publishing. With the increased number of media where news is now published, especially in reference to the web, the pressure on journalists to be first with a story is ever growing. It is definitely a work field where you have to be prepared to work off hours, under pressure and be quick and accurate in your choice of words.
Careers in JournalismJournalistic careers look very different now, than they did with the start of the first journalism course in 1860. More recent technological developments such as television and the World Wide Web have broadened the spectrum which journalism includes. Today a career in the field can be held in broadcasting, newspapers or writing for magazines. However, the area growing most quickly today is the web, where news can be published within minutes of occurrences taking place.
Journalism used to be a profession with mainly on the job training. Today, this is different. Although such direct entry still exists at some news papers, most careers in journalism have a common requirement, which is a formal post secondary education of some sort. Even with such an education, competition on the job market is tough. One growing area however, is that of web publishing where many journalists are finding employment. This development means that many courses now, include some sort of web education in order to prepare for this alternative.
Although the field has changed and is changing, some things will always stay the same. A journalist, no matter where he is being published or broadcasted still has to be able to deliver under pressure. Stress is the name of the game, and in order to survive in a tough environment, you will need to be tough enough to match. A genuine interest in what is happening around you, and a quick and accurate grasp of the language of your choice, is naturally a requirement.
Studying JournalismThe value of a journalistic education is a highly debated issue. What many active in the field are skeptical toward, is the value of a theoretical approach to teaching such a practical and hands on profession. Others on the other hand value the transferrable analytical skills and critical awareness developed during university studies, rather than the skills specific to the field.
Most universities today offer courses in journalism, and many even have a dedicated school. What is taught and how it is taught however, is very different. Many schools, both universities and otherwise, offer vocational journalism courses. These are somewhat more common in the UK, where this form of journalistic education is the fastest growing. Here teachers are to a greater degree chosen based on their experience in the profession, rather than on their academic qualifications and their research potential. This is a weakness, some say, of the American approach to journalistic education.
As those active in the field are themselves very unsure of what is required, or best, it is hard to make any recommendation. What can be said is that most courses, both undergraduate and post graduate commonly include some part of a practical internship element. Different schools have a different focus, such as broadcasting, or web or news paper, and others choose to give a more general approach, including a little bit of everything. What courses you choose, will naturally also focus your education on toward the career path you are most drawn to.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism
http://www.intstudy.com/articles/isgap4a09.htm
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