Journalism Degree - waste of time ??? Urgent, please help !!!

OP

I'm planning to work in the US later on :biggrin:

Just to answer that question :wink:

So in general, never mind my personal preferences, which would be better respected and which uni is a nicer pace ? - Journalism and Socio at Uni of Gloucestershire or Cultural Studies and Media Communication at Bath Spa?

Reply 21

I'd imagine those two courses are much of a muchness to employers.

Reply 22

OP

But is Bath Spa better?

Reply 23

I believe so.

Reply 24

Cessie

2

Work experience is probs more important for Journalism.

Doing Postgrad Journalism is still a respectable way to go into the profession, after doing an undergraduate degree in something else.

Reply 25

ThePenguinMafia

1

Hah, one of my friends decided to study natural science in Durham in his quest to become a journalist. I guess the type of journalism may change it a bit; ie. he wanted to do scientific journalism. Beyond that I'd think English was probably the best, but then I'm hardly informed on the subject.

Reply 26

In America I believe aspiring journalists major in journalism. Therefore, if she wants to work in America I don't think her degree course will stop her as much as it might here.

Reply 27

fonzievision

14

susiemakemeblue

In America I believe aspiring journalists major in journalism. Therefore, if she wants to work in America I don't think her degree course will stop her as much as it might here.

That's not really true. Most BEST universities do not even offer Journalism degrees... It's all about the liberal arts.. no vocational stuff.

Reply 28

theaman

1

It IS actually a useful degree to do but you don't have to have a journalism degree to get into the field of journalism.

And that info is coming from various journalists that I have heard talking about getting into the industry.

Reply 29

If you are not going to be interested in a jouralism then why do you want to be a journalist? :confused:

Reply 30

nikk

If you are not going to be interested in a jouralism then why do you want to be a journalist? :confused:

If you study medicine you learn a lot of boring biochemistry stuff (according to my flatmates), but you still need the knowledge to become a doctor.

Reply 31

susiemakemeblue

If you study medicine you learn a lot of boring biochemistry stuff (according to my flatmates), but you still need the knowledge to become a doctor.

I'm don't mean to sound rude, but what is your point? :smile:

I mean, yes the journalism course is likely to include modules that are not as interesting as others, but as you say, surely you need to know the boring bits as well?

I just find it strange. It would be like me saying I want to be a psychologist but don't want to study psychology because i'm not that interested in it!

Reply 32

OP

nikk

If you are not going to be interested in a jouralism then why do you want to be a journalist? :confused:

The journalism degrees just cover boring theoretical stuff. Being a journalist isn't about that. It's about writing about something you care about/are interested in.

Reply 33

OP

nikk

I'm don't mean to sound rude, but what is your point? :smile:

I mean, yes the journalism course is likely to include modules that are not as interesting as others, but as you say, surely you need to know the boring bits as well?

I just find it strange. It would be like me saying I want to be a psychologist but don't want to study psychology because i'm not that interested in it!

Nope, that doesn't even compare. EVERY psychologist has to study psychology. there's no need to study journalism to be a journalist.

Reply 34

Anne*UK*06

Nope, that doesn't even compare. EVERY psychologist has to study psychology. there's no need to study journalism to be a journalist.

Yeah but you must admit that it is strange for someone who wants to be a journalist isn't interested in studying journalism! Or maybe it is just me??

If those boring bits in journalism were entirely irrelevant and not needed in journalism then surely they wouldn't be included in a journalism course?

Reply 35

Another point:

My friend is doing a journalism course and she is getting lots of work experience opportunities and contacts that she wouldn't have otherwise had if she choose to study a non-journalistic course. From what I hear, getting into the industry is much much easier if you know the right people.

I'm not trying to be nasty - just trying explain my confusion at your post. I wish you luck with whatever you choose, but I would suggest you think about what it is you really want to do. :smile:

Reply 36

Shake 'n Bake

14

You may be wasting your time asking us, the only way to know for sure is to get out there and ask your careers advisor or look on the internet for what a career in journalism requires. They're the experts and should know more than us :wink:

try Prospects

Also try and consider what type of journalist you want to be, what area you would want to specialise in, e.g specialising in current affairs or political debates, would probably require a degree in something political.

Reply 37

wiggles

2

I was considering doing Journalism at uni a while ago, but my friend (who's parents are both journalists, and never did a degree in it) said it wouldn't help me towards being a journalist at all, and that people who did do it don't end up becoming journalists. I wasn't really considering it that seriously though, so it didn't take much to put me off it, but I guess he knows what he's talking about.

Reply 38

Acaila

17

Anne - Two words: calm down
You seem to be panicking far too much about university! It'll sort itself out in time and worrying about it in a million new threads isn't going to help.

On topic, I have been told by journalists that you're better off getting a degree in say politics than journalism if you want to do political journalism etc. I don't know what kind of journalism you want to do though. Though apparently that is different in America someone has said.

Reply 39

OP