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JOURNALISM

 

Resources for Careers in Journalism

Journalism careers may include print, broadcast, and online mediums and include such subdivisions as reporting, announcing, photojournalism, public relations, and advertising.

While those without a four-year degree may be able to find employment with small-market, local media, people who want career flexibility and mobility should complete a four-year degree in journalism or a related field. It is certainly fine to begin with a two-year degree and then transfer to a four-year institution. Some four-year colleges and universities call their program “journalism”; others call theirs “mass communications” or “communications.” Areas such as advertising may be included in the journalism program or may be taught through the business program of the college.

In addition to the more obvious jobs connected with journalism, there is, of course, a need for publications management or business management and accounting people to run and oversee the business side of the operations, as well as a need for graphic artists, various types of technicians, and computer specialists.

An excellent source for career information in any field is the Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ ) provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. The following are some sections of the handbook of particular significance to those interested in a journalism career:

  • Announcers

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos087.htm

  • Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm
 

  • News analysts, reporters, and correspondents

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos088.htm

  • Photographers

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm

  • Public relations specialists

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm

  • Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos091.htm

  • Writers and editors

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos089.htm

The Poynter Institute (http://www.poynter.org ) also maintains an excellent site with extensive links to foundations and professional organizations and provides information valuable to would-be journalists.

Anyone interested in a newspaper career in Georgia should be familiar with the Georgia Press Association’s web site (http://www.gapress.org ), which includes professional and employment information.

In addition to completing appropriate education, it is very important for the future journalist to build practical experience by working with campus media, taking a paid or unpaid internship in the professional media, or working part-time at a media outlet.

For more information on the journalism program at Georgia Highlands College, please contact Dr. K. Kemper, journalism adviser (kkemper@mail.highlands.edu ). To apply for a position on the Georgia Highlands College student newspaper, go to http://www.highlands.edu/sixmilepost and click on “application”; newspaper  staff members must be enrolled in Georgia Highlands College.