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6 Career Choices for People with a Journalism Degree

A journalism degree is a versatile degree that can open many different professional doors.

By Bryan SmithPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
Photo By Freepik on Freepik

Introduction

If you've graduated from journalism school with a degree in that field, congratulations! You've worked hard to earn it. However, if you are looking for a job, there is a good chance that you'll find the job market pretty rough out there. In order to help ease your transition into real-world employment (and beyond), we've put together this list of possible options for those who went through J-school and now need something else.

If you don't see the category that fits your interests listed here, don't fret. There are lots of options for you. The list is simply a starting point. Think about what talents or skills you have at your disposal and how you could turn those things into a career.

For example, if you are good at writing but not interested in reporting, why not consider becoming a copywriter? Or, if editing is more your style, perhaps you should consider becoming an editor.

So, let's dive right in.

Broadcast Journalism

Broadcast journalism is a career that requires a degree in journalism. You will likely spend a lot of time in front of a camera and behind a microphone. You may also have to write news stories for your station, website, or newspaper. Broadcast journalism jobs are available at local TV and radio stations as well as with national news organizations like CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC. You can also find broadcast journalism jobs in public relations and marketing firms. In these jobs, you'll be writing news releases and other materials that are used to promote a company or product. According to ZipRecruiter the average annual salary for a broadcast journalist in the United States as of November 23, 2022, is $48,573.

Online Journalism

Online journalism is a growing field. Online journalism can be done from anywhere and is very flexible. You can get into online journalism through different media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, websites, and even blogs. Online journalists usually have more independence than traditional journalists because they work alone or in small teams rather than in large newsrooms with many people reporting to a single editor. This means that online journalists have more freedom to tell their own stories, which often results in a more personal and intimate approach to writing. The ability to write clearly and concisely is important for all journalists because it allows them to get their message across quickly. Good writing skills are also essential for online journalism because readers expect clear, concise articles from online sources. According to Ziprecruiter the average annual salary for an online journalist in the United States as of Nov. 23, 2022, is $53,137.

Book Publishing

If you have a knack for writing and enjoy working in teams, book publishing may be the career path for you. Like journalism, this industry is based on accuracy and authenticity, and it’s also an editor’s dream job because of its variety.

What does a book publisher do? Book publishers work with authors to get their work published by helping them find an agent, editing their manuscripts, and negotiating contracts with the publisher. They help oversee all aspects of publishing, from pitching ideas to marketing and publicity campaigns to sales. They also work closely with other departments, including the art department and editorial team, to ensure that their books are of the highest quality. The book publishing industry has changed over the years, and today many publishers are working on e-books as well as physical copies of books.

Magazines

Magazines are a great place to start. A magazine is a publication that focuses on a specific topic and contains articles that appeal to its target audience. There are magazines about anything: sports, fashion, food and drink, games, travel—you name it!

If you want to write for magazines as your career choice after graduation, think about what kinds of topics interest you and make sure they're things your chosen audience would be interested in too. You may also want to consider specializing in something specific, such as sports writing or fashion journalism; this way, there will be less competition out there for jobs because fewer people have those skill sets than someone with general knowledge about everything under the sun. The possibilities are endless when it comes down to choosing what type of magazine content could be written by someone who holds one degree from journalism school versus another, which means there's no excuse for not being able to find something fun enough for yourself.

Newspapers

Newspapers are an excellent place to start your career in journalism. You can write stories, interview people, edit articles, and work on the design of the paper, which is a great place to learn about the different aspects of journalism. If you want to start off with newspapers, it's best to work for your local paper or even one of the large metropolitan dailies, which can be found in almost every major city. If you're interested in writing for a newspaper, try to get yourself on the staff of a small paper or even an online website that covers local news stories. This will teach you how newspapers work and give you some experience before moving on to larger publications.

Government and Politics

Having a journalism degree is a great way to get into government and politics. There are many jobs in this field, from writing for a magazine or newspaper to working as a speechwriter for politicians. If you're interested in this type of journalism, consider getting some experience in politics by volunteering for a campaign. You can also work on writing and reporting stories that affect the government, such as covering local elections or writing about the latest political scandal that's been in the news. If you're interested in writing about politics, consider reading some books on the subject and keeping up with current events. For example, if you want to write about local politics, learn what's happening in your city or state government by reading a copy of the local newspaper or watching television news shows that cover politics.

Takeaway

In the end, the possibilities of a career with a journalism degree are endless. As a journalism student, you're probably used to being told what's possible for you. But now that graduation is near and your future employment options are in front of you for the first time, it may be time to start considering how high above the clouds we can go. There are so many different careers available to those with a journalism degree. They span all industries and sectors—no matter what path you choose, there will be challenges ahead (and failures along the way). You'll learn things about yourself that perhaps even your parents couldn't have guessed! The possibilities are endless, but they require creativity, determination, and passion from everyone involved in order for any venture like this one to not only survive but thrive over time as well.

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About the Creator

Bryan Smith

Bryan Smith is a content writer who helps companies tell their unique stories. An experienced writer who delivers content that solves problems for audiences.

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