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What to look for when choosing a journalism program |
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In days past, there was always room for talented amateurs to get into the journalism business.
There used to be a backdoor way into journalism. Entry level job at a local paper. Follow a journalist around for a few months, make the coffee, run around a lot, make more coffee. Then you got to write up the weddings, obits and children’s art shows. Then, if you were good enough and learned enough, you’d get a beat and could put together a portfolio to show you learned the tricks of the trade at pubs and clubs and small town city halls. Editors at big city newspapers would often take a chance on a writer who displayed talent, style and a knack for finding stories and you could make the move from small town to big city. There are still cases where this happens. But today, even small town media houses are looking for a degree or a diploma and a portfolio.
Previously, a rookie journalist needed to be able to string a few sentences together and, more importantly, had to have a nose for news and an ability to turn sources into information. That is still the case, but with so many ways to tell stories, so many media, so many styles of story telling and a 24/7 news cycle editors don’t have the luxury or time to nurture a new talent and explain the ins and outs of ethics and style rules.
There is also the drive to “professionalize” trades -- and journalism is no different. In order to run with other professions it is now important to have those professional letters after your name.
While some older journalists will argue that the old way of hard knocks and learning the trade by doing it is still best, most are resigned to the idea that any aspiring journalist must go to journalism school.
So what to look for when considering journalism programs? In the US, one of the important factors is accreditation. The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC) is responsible for accrediting journalism programs in American colleges and universities. The organization ensures journalism programs meet an established list of standards. Almost every state has at least one accredited schools.
Editors still look for a broad liberal education. Most major media will test potential journalists with tests that will test knowledge of politics, world affairs and history.
Accredited journalism programs require at least 90 credit hours of classes take place outside of the core journalism course load. Students should also consider pursuing a minor in business, arts, science, or political science.
The most important aspect of any programs is the balance of craft and theory. Any decent curriculum needs to give the student a broad education in the business and ethical aspects of journalism but should also provide a significant amount of writing, editing, photography, and business.
Of course it is important to check into a school’s reputation. Each year there are a number of publications that examine a number of criteria and come up with a list of the best schools. Past alumni and current faculty should also be taken into account. A further consideration is the potential for moving forward to take a Masters degree.
Another key thing to examine when selecting a school is the reputation of the campus newspaper. Some student journals are well-known and respected in the journalism world and it might be worth looking into the schools that have the best opportunity to work on a prestigious campus publication. This will give any students an opportunity to pad their portfolio prior to graduation.
For more information on journalism courses and journalism programs visit http://www.journalismprograms.org |
