If you’re asking yourself, “What can I do with a journalism degree?”, look no further than our great journalism career guide. In the last decade, journalism has undergone huge changes with the rise of digital media. Digital journalism roles have slowly replaced newspaper and TV jobs because people prefer online news sources. Today, the press looks much different, offering many new and exciting jobs. Below are just a few things you can do with a journalism major.
Multimedia Journalist
While the way we consume media evolves, it's important to hire journalists who can use publishing software, shoot videos, record interviews, Tweet, write, and take pictures to keep up with the constantly changing way we interact with the news. Though multimedia journalists work hard and have their fingers in many aspects of contemporary journalism, they are key to keeping journalism engaging and firmly in the 21st century.
Public Relations Specialist
If you’re interested in influencing public opinion through the media, working in public relations is right for you. Many public relations professionals study journalism or communications. Understanding how the media works to benefit your client is key to being a successful public relations specialist. If you want to give PR a go, then taking on an internship in PR and marketing is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door early after graduating.
Marketing
Similarly, marketing uses skills taught in journalism to make money for your clients. Marketers know how to tell compelling stories about services and products to make people want to spend money. Within marketing, there are many careers to branch into, like brand management, advertising, and market research. It's something a little different if you're wondering "What jobs can I do with a journalism degree?" and don't want to pursue the expected routes.
Social Media/Community Engagement Manager
If you have a keen interest in social media, stop asking yourself, “What can I do with a degree in journalism?” All different kinds of media outlets and businesses, as well as non-profits and more, are looking for people who can use social media and engage with online communities and target audiences. A social media manager needs to have all the communication skills of a journalist to interact with people. A good social media manager knows how to start a healthy discussion and truly engage people with their organization through Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Snapchat, and Instagram.
Radio Producer
Though radio is long past its golden age, it remains a favorite way for commuters to get their news. Beyond that, podcasting is a huge business, and audio geeks love it. Plus, public radio has the benefit of being community-supported. Even though broadcast journalism has seen many cuts because of new media, support for public radio has remained steady, so radio could be the ideal way to utilize your journalism degree.
Professional Blogger
Blogging can be so much more than a pastime – it can also be a career. There are thousands of blogging jobs, covering a wide range of subject areas. If you love writing about celebrities, cars, being a vegan mom, or literally anything else you're passionate about, there’s a job out there for you. One of the perks of blogging is that you can usually do it from anywhere in the world, with the added benefit of no commuting. You'll also get to pick and choose what you want to blog about to keep yourself engaged and to help you solidify your personal brand.
TV Reporter
Broadcast journalists have the burden and gift of telling the news while also looking great. If you like visual storytelling, theater, and news, television is a great place to bring real-life drama and fact-checking to wider audiences. It's also a great career to go into if you're a whizz at public speaking!
Magazine Editor
Many writers work their way up to being editors. It is a prized position, knowing that you get to make the final decision on what readers will see. If you’re a careful, die-hard storyteller and an expert at grammar, a job as an editor might be the right fit for you and can help you show off the journalistic skills you learned while studying.
Other journalism jobs to consider:
- Technical writer
- Business reporter
- Novelist/creative writer
- Podcast producer
- Photojournalist
- Videographer
Internships for success in journalism careers
If you know you're after jobs in journalism but aren't sure what's right for you, or you want to increase your skills before heading into a full-time career, an internship will be a fantastic option! Interning in journalism, publishing, & media will allow you to get hands-on work experience in your career field while giving you industry-specific knowledge that can help you stand out as an applicant when applying for a job. Most of the journalism careers listed above will benefit from an internship in journalism. However, you could also choose to go into marketing, television, or even politics. Doing an internship in one of these fields will enable you to get transferable skills, plus, doing your internship internationally will broaden your skillset to a global market - an important ability to have hand-in-hand with your journalism degree to reach wider audiences.
