What it’s about:

Beginning with a board introduction to the liberal arts and sciences, journalism majors learn how to find information and how to communicate their findings through writing, speech, and other forms of expression, including multimedia tools such as digital video. You also practice the skills you’ll need for working with a newspaper, radio and TV station, advertising or public relations agency, and Web media.

What the study of this major is like:

Students who plan to enroll in a journalism program often say they have so many interests they can’t decide on a major-they want to major in everything. As a journalism major, in fact, you’ll have the chance to explore many subjects. You may even be able to make a difference in people’s lives-for example, by reporting about someone unfairly convicted of a crime, or by developing a promotional campaign for a non-profit agency.

Major typically take many courses in the liberal arts and sciences, to gain a broad understanding of history, geography, political science, economics, literature, and the natural sciences. This comprehensive background will help you understand the context of the information you will, as a journalist, gather and report.

In the past 10 years there has been a shift from the traditional form of print journalism (newspapers, books) to more online media. In order to deal with this change in dynamic, schools are seeking to better blend the fundamental courses in journalism (emphasizing the Associated press Stylebooks) with classes in new media and the business of journalism.

Overall, your course work emphasizes writing, reporting, and technology skills, as well as professional practices and values. Assignments develop your ability to express yourself using language, computers, software and recording equipment. You also take courses in media law and ethics. Most journalism programs arrange for you to intern with a professional media organization.

Typically, about 60 Percent of your courses will cover skills and 40 Percent will be “topical” courses, devoted to a particular subject. Skill coursework is heavily hands-on, with a great deal of personal instruction. The main challenges you are likely to face are heavy writing assignments and the emphasis on meeting deadlines. Journalism course work is very much project-based-you will probably have assignments in most of your courses, every semester. Frequently, course projects involve helping local community groups to develop ad campaigns or publications. You are also encouraged to participate in one more of the college media outlets: you might report of a student newspaper, magazine, or radio station.

Electives you can choose might include sports journalism; government and the media; electronic publishing; Web design; computer-assisted reporting; television documentary studies; gender and the media; television and society; visual literacy; business reporting; and the presidency and the press.

At some colleges, you can’t become a journalism major until you have completed a certain number of credits, and you can’t join a student media organization until a specified point in your academic progress. Other schools admit you as a major in your first year and encourage you to join student media organizations from day one. Generally, the policy depends on the size of the school; larger schools tend to be more restrictive.

And in some journalism programs, you will be trained to work in the most important types of media-print, broadcast, and the Internet-rather than specialize in one of these areas. This curriculum follows what is called the “convergence” approach. Other programs have specialty division, but you can also choose to develop skills in a second area of journalism. For example, a still photojournalist may also learn video shooting and editing.

Career options and trends:

Print or online news reporter, editor, or photographer*; broadcast reporter, producer, or anchor*; advertising copywriter*; public relations manager*; magazine or Web editor; freelance writer (magazine, Web, newsletter): photojournalist; news outlet manager; Web designer.

There is stiff competition for reporting jobs at large newspapers, broadcast stations, and national magazines, so most entry-level positions are in small-town or suburban media. Large newspapers and broad-casters require 3 to 5 years of postgraduate experience and usually prefer job applicants who have a degree and/or experience in a specific subject area, such as economics, business, science, or politics.

While job prospects for newspaper journalists is in decline, some growth is projected in broadcast journalism, and strong growth is predicted for employment in online media. Recent surveys of journalism graduates indicate that the best-paid entry-level jobs are with Internet organizations.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors