Do you have a kid interested in journalism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a guy who is a correspondent for the NYTimes he supplements his income quite well writing non-fiction, journalistic style books.

Either of those gigs is fantastic. Good for him, and I mean that sincerely. But he's a unicorn, frankly, and his example isn't one that the OP's kid necessarily can apply to his or her own choices in the increasingly fragmented, nontraditional paths currently open to younger journalists. I hate to have to say that but it's reality.
--One of the former journalists from posts above

He is 30

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a guy who is a correspondent for the NYTimes he supplements his income quite well writing non-fiction, journalistic style books.

Only someone with no direct experience working in journalism of any kind would chime in with this story

What an odd thing to say. My sister is also a news editor and I am a published author and arts reviewer (tho not a journalist per se)

[Anonymous]

The skills learned in a journalism major translate well to more stable careers like content marketing.

[Anonymous]

You don't need to have studied journalism to be a great journalist. You can study Economics or History or Literature and become a great writer who also writes articles for your college paper(s).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just heard Ray Suarez interviewed on WAMU, and his story would make me nervous about entering the field at this point. He was SO well regarded and experienced, yet has had trouble finding a full time job. Of course he had ageism working against him also, but still...

I have not heard this podcast, but suspect it will go over his story similarly:

https://economichardship.org/2021/10/a-veteran-journalist-finds-himself-the-center-of-the-story/

Journalism is always dying, and can also be a gateway to making a fortune.

The journalism majors who are in trouble are 50something people who are used to doing things a certain way, not enthusiastic 21-year-olds who are open to anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need to have studied journalism to be a great journalist. You can study Economics or History or Literature and become a great writer who also writes articles for your college paper(s).

Really: You need to have a bachelor's degree in something like history, economics or sociology, and you also need to have some solid journalism classes, whether you get them at the bachelor's degree level, from a master's degree program, or at a night school.

Bright people can read the AP Stylebook themselves, but the only way to find out how copy editors actually apply the style rules and other unspoken rules is to take an academic class taught by an experienced copy editor.

In theory, copy editors could teach those rules to working reporters, but the editors don't have much time for teaching. New reporters need to come in already knowing what can be taught in a class.

[Anonymous]

It’s important to remember that journalism is not a profession. It’s a trade. Which is why I agree they should major in something else and get involved with the school paper/radio station or whatever. It helps as a journalist to have something to write about. Worth taking journalism 101 to learn the basic tenets and maybe any technical classes on, say, digital tools. But the rest remains an on-the-job experience model.

[Anonymous]

Yea, the journalism industry is in terrible shape.

The only person I know who is a successful journalist (actually works for a major newspaper as a reporter) wasn't even a journalism major - she was a poli sci major, went to peace corps, started writing blogs about peace corps, became an assistant to a major editor (side note: she is also beautiful and very poised, perfect for an assistant role), then became a newspaper reporter.

This is NOT a situation where you go to school, come out, and get a full time job reporting. Just make sure your child is really really realistic about that.

Plus, a lot of people you see who are "making a living" as freelance journalists probably have family money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea, the journalism industry is in terrible shape.

The only person I know who is a successful journalist (actually works for a major newspaper as a reporter) wasn't even a journalism major - she was a poli sci major, went to peace corps, started writing blogs about peace corps, became an assistant to a major editor (side note: she is also beautiful and very poised, perfect for an assistant role), then became a newspaper reporter.

This is NOT a situation where you go to school, come out, and get a full time job reporting. Just make sure your child is really really realistic about that.

Plus, a lot of people you see who are "making a living" as freelance journalists probably have family money.

Do you understand that saying being beautiful is a qualification for being the perfect assistant is very sexist and actually illegal, if said in the workplace?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a professional for hire that could help someone (a young person) applying to govt jobs? Or other than govt. Young person is a journalist-type, needs some guidance.

np here

[Anonymous]

Major in Faking News? I don't think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s important to remember that journalism is not a profession. It’s a trade. Which is why I agree they should major in something else and get involved with the school paper/radio station or whatever. It helps as a journalist to have something to write about. Worth taking journalism 101 to learn the basic tenets and maybe any technical classes on, say, digital tools. But the rest remains an on-the-job experience model.

+1000

The smartest journalists I knew were the econ majors
The weakest journalists I knew were the comms majors

- Former newspaper person who saw it all

[Anonymous]

I have a degree in journalism but do not work in the field. Lots of great advice on this page, but I'll add this: don't confuse "journalism" and "communications" degrees. I've hired several people with communications degrees and their writing is atrocious and usually they lack critical thinking skills. They haven't picked up an AP Style Book. They don't know what a dateline is. They end sentences in prepositions. I have had much better experience hiring poli sci, history, and English majors. I rarely come across people with journalism degrees. I'm not sure why that is -- I work for a public affairs & communications shop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s important to remember that journalism is not a profession. It’s a trade. Which is why I agree they should major in something else and get involved with the school paper/radio station or whatever. It helps as a journalist to have something to write about. Worth taking journalism 101 to learn the basic tenets and maybe any technical classes on, say, digital tools. But the rest remains an on-the-job experience model.

+1000

The smartest journalists I knew were the econ majors
The weakest journalists I knew were the comms majors

- Former newspaper person who saw it all

This. I was told by my first journalism professor, "You can already write. Study what you want to write about." So I switched.

That said, spouse and I are both still lucky to be employed in the industry, but are steering our kids far, far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Major in Faking News? I don't think so.

Now, now. The media universe is more diverse than Fox News, OANN and the Daily Caller.