I hire journalists and a journalism degree is not necessary. If your kid is interested in business journalism, they could major in business or economics. If they are interested in international relations or conflict reporting, they can major in international relations or political science. Then they work on the school paper or magazine. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Business or accounting double major with English

+1
The answer is always accounting.

I wouldn't do accounting these days, either. Not without a double-major in data science.

The entire field and the way accountants work is completely transforming due to data, technology and AI.

Anonymous wrote:Business or accounting double major with English

+1
The answer is always accounting.

Business or accounting double major with English

Im one of the journalists who wouldnt not recommend majoring in journalism if you want to actually be a journalist. Use college to learn something tangible and then learn the trade of journalism through internships or working at college journalism outlets.

Everyone I know who majored in journalism now works in PR.

Anonymous wrote:Ditto to the above poster. I am a journalist and among the colleagues (with decades of success and experience in the field), those whose majors I know studied anthropology, history, Spanish, classics, and English.

This PP here. I also have two college student kids of my own and would not encourage either of them to pursue a journalism career, at least not without substantial interest in experience in something else more marketable, like data science, business, graphics, or even political science. Unfortunately, it is a grim market.

Ditto to the above poster. I am a journalist and among the colleagues (with decades of success and experience in the field), those whose majors I know studied anthropology, history, Spanish, classics, and English.

+1 for considering a subject of interest that they'd like to report on. Could be political science if that's what they're into, or business, economics, public health, regional studies, and/or a language that would be useful.

Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Anonymous wrote:Btw. Journalism isn’t a profession. It’s a trade. You don’t need a degree in it, just training.

Better to major in subject matter and become an expert so you have something to write about.

— Journalist for 25 years.

Yes, this. Of the most successful journalists I know (award winning reporters working at Nytimes, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Time magazine), NONE of them have a journalism degree. They all worked for their University newspapers and majored in History, English, Poli Sci and Philosophy, respectively.

Anonymous wrote:Something in data science intersecting with AI.

That's a good idea because the ability to analyze data and write/communicate would be a plus. Or maybe something related to graphics/visual arts or even computer science for digital media. Could be anything really--a foreign language if they want to focus on a geographic region...or econ if they want to do business related media.

Btw. Journalism isn’t a profession. It’s a trade. You don’t need a degree in it, just training.

Better to major in subject matter and become an expert so you have something to write about.

— Journalist for 25 years.

I have spent 20 years working in communications, have a journalism degree. I regret not studying business and knowing more about the whole business world. A professional communicator who knows what EBIDTA means (for instance) will be more valuable than one who does not.

Something in data science intersecting with AI.

My kid wants to major in Journalism (I know, I know). They are interested in minoring in Political Science for now. Do you have any other suggestions for a minor? They are not “STEMy”. My kid is very outgoing, and interested in Broadcasting. They are already accepted into a university with a great Journalism program. What other paths do you recommend?