Job opportunities and career options available to journalism grads (besides the obvious)
83Median Salary by Job - Degree: Journalism (United States)
As many professionals in the industry will say, competition is fierce for journalism jobs. Many won't make the cut no matter how talented they are. Even great newspapers like the San Jose Mercury News have resorted to telemarketing and setting up booths outside of grocery stores to sell their product... and as a journalism grad, I still passed them up as I left Safeway. Even the Peace Corps doesn't really want journalism grads.
But don't be too sad; you may not get that dream reporting job for the moment, but there are a wealth of other great jobs you can go for and likely acquire after graduation!
- Editing: This is great if you've had experience editing for a school newspaper. You can start by editing for a low price, then build up your resume. You can edit books, web pages, or anything else. That's something I'm currently doing right now.
- Public relations: Chances are that in college, you've had at least an assignment or two that required you to write a press release. PR isn't much of a far cry from regular journalism, and it can be much more interesting and rewarding than you think. There are a lot of opportunities in this field, and you may end up working for a very notable company that would make a nice spot on your resume.
- Technical writing: You can do a little extra work for a technical writing license and work for tech-y companies... although if you have a real love for literature and creative writing, this may not be the road for you. You translate what engineers and other such professionals write and edit it to make it sound like, well, English.
- Sales and marketing: When I put myself on various job-finding websites, the responses were basically all marketing-related. I had worked in a marketing department in college, and my three years there made me a wanted lady at entry-level.
- Business: There are way too many financial reporter jobs around. Businesses and companies always need someone to research, investigate, interview, and write reports for employees or the public. It doesn't sound fun to me, but someone's gotta do it.
- Web work: You have probably taken at least a class or two related to multimedia in journalism. Maybe you've worked on the school website or any other company. A lot of journalism schools know that the web is a vast and rapidly growing arena of opportunity, to you may want to take a few extra classes in Dreamweaver and other web development and/or design programs. Be as fluent in computer programming languages as possible.
- Government and non-profit: Jobs creating brochures, newsletters, and other forms of communication are often available. As a journalism grad, you should be good at taking information and communicating it to the public in a straightforward and efficient manner.
No matter where you think you'll end up after graduating with a journalism degree, stay determined, even if it means taking on another internship or freelancing. Take opportunities as they come if it interests you. Who says your job has to be related to your major? Don't get stuck doing something because it's all that's available. Follow your heart. Who knows? That dream job might come around again... after layoffs.
Additional resources
- JournalismJobs.com -- The Job Board for Media Professionals
- PayScale - Salary Survey, Salaries, Wages, Compensation Information and Analysis
Excellent analysis comparing your job profile to the salary and compensation packages of people whose skills and experiences match yours. - PayScale - Journalism Salary Search
Excellent analysis comparing your job profile to the salary and compensation packages of people whose skills and experiences match yours.
Journalism jobs RSS (Journalism.co.uk)
- Staff Writer - Global Investor/ISF - Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc. - England
Global Investor/ISF is looking for a talented staff writer to boost its coverage of asset management, asset servicing and securities finance. The role involves writing both news and feature articles. The title produces print, web and event products, all of which are being expanded. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to get involved in three areas and can expect rapid career development as soon as their competency allows. The role involves covering multiple countries, with a particular focus on the Americas. The position is based in London but requires frequent travel. Required: An absolute minimum of one year of relevant experience An understanding of financial markets The proven ability to write high quality news and/or feature articles Highly desirable: The ability to break off-diary stories Knowledge about asset management, asset servicing or securities finance Experience of using social media NCTJ qualification or equivalentGlobal Investor/ISF is a Euromoney Institutional Investor publication. How to apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to Alastair O'Dell, mentioning that you found this job on Journalism.co.uk: aodell@euromoneyplc.com Date posted: 18/05/12 15:47 Closing date: 15/06/12 Salary: DoE Location: London, England Categories: features | news | specialist writers | Click here to view contact details or apply online (you will need to register/login as a jobseeker first to make online applications) Subscribe to our daily (Mon-Fri) email or Twitter job alerts to get more jobs like this. - 3 hours ago
- Duty editor - London & Partners - England
The LMC (London Media Centre)will be a working facility for media during the London 2012 Games. The centre will be located in the heart of London at One Great George Street, just a short distance from the Houses of Parliament and Horse Guards Parade. This fabulous venue at will provide a rich mix of heritage and the latest technology to deliver a host of services to registered media.Media registered to the LMC will be able to access assets via the LMC website from May onwards. London & Partners are providing the content programme, media management and editorial and publishing services for the LMC and we are looking for a confident, experienced editor to work with on the LMC website. The LMC website will be the content portal for registered non accredited media and it will be essential that the site is kept up-to-date with inspiring content, tailored for media audiencesand is 100% accurate. Purpose To produce and curate content for the LMC websiteCheck, edit and upload contentPitch ideas at the daily editorial meetingsWrite stories agreed at editorial meetingsManage and brief freelance journalists and photographerEnsure content is fit for purpose and delivered on scheduleReport to the editor-in-chief and content director and ensure all content is approvedEscalate issues as necessaryPerson Spec Extensive editorial experience, preferably onlineLifestyle, travel or business journalism background preferredAbility to write high-quality, inspirational and accurate copy for media audiencesNews background an advantageConfident and organised person used to working to tight deadlines and under pressureExperience using a CMS and sourcing and managing image assetsAvailability for irregular hours during GamestimeHighly developed interpersonal and team working skillsPlease note that this is not a sports journalism/editor role.Good sense of humour How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter to HR@londonandpartners.com, mentioning that you found this job on Journalism.co.uk. Registered jobseekers can apply via the 'Apply Online' button below. Date posted: 17/05/12 16:40 Closing date: 31/05/12 Salary: Competitive Location: London, England Categories: editors and management | section editors | Click here to view contact details or apply online (you will need to register/login as a jobseeker first to make online applications) Subscribe to our daily (Mon-Fri) email or Twitter job alerts to get more jobs like this. - 26 hours ago
- Duty Editor - London & Partners - All
The London Media Centre The LMC will be a working facility for media during the London 2012 Games. The centre will be located in the heart of London at One Great George Street, just a short distance from the Houses of Parliament and Horse Guards Parade. This fabulous venue at will provide a rich mix of heritage and the latest technology to deliver a host of services to registered media.Media registered to the LMC will be able to access assets via the LMC website from May onwards. London & Partners are providing the content programme, media management and editorial and publishing services for the LMC and we are looking for a confident, experienced editor to work with on the LMC website. The LMC website will be the content portal for registered non accredited media and it will be essential that the site is kept up-to-date with inspiring content, tailored for media audiencesand is 100% accurate. Purpose To produce and curate content for the LMC websiteCheck, edit and upload contentPitch ideas at the daily editorial meetingsWrite stories agreed at editorial meetingsManage and brief freelance journalists and photographerEnsure content is fit for purpose and delivered on scheduleReport to the editor-in-chief and content director and ensure all content is approvedEscalate issues as necessaryPerson Spec Extensive editorial experience, preferably onlineLifestyle, travel or business journalism background preferredAbility to write high-quality, inspirational and accurate copy for media audiencesNews background an advantageConfident and organised person used to working to tight deadlines and under pressureExperience using a CMS and sourcing and managing image assetsAvailability for irregular hours during GamestimeHighly developed interpersonal and team working skillsPlease note that this is not a sports journalism/editor role.Good sense of humour How to apply Please send your CV and cover letter to HR@londonandpartners.com please mention that you found this job through Journalism.co.uk Registered jobseekers can apply via the 'Apply Online' button below. Date posted: 17/05/12 16:40 Closing date: 31/05/12 Salary: Competitive Location: London, All Categories: editors and management | section editors | Click here to view contact details or apply online (you will need to register/login as a jobseeker first to make online applications) Subscribe to our daily (Mon-Fri) email or Twitter job alerts to get more jobs like this. - 26 hours ago
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Well, in looking for business journalism jobs, a lot of listings don't say anthing about a business degree, only knowledge probably sufficient enough to show in a job interview :)
Sounds good. Guess my associate wouldn't hurt them. Thanks :-)
great article
Some sound advice! Cheers.
Whitney05 Level 2 Commenter 3 years ago
I like the research, investigate, and report writing for the business section. Well, not so much under business, but generally speaking. In this area, do you think that a business degree would help out getting a job in the area?