Journalism

[xgloryxfadesx27]

So I attended a College Fair in Boston earlier today, and it really got me thinking about what I want to go to college for and where I want to go. I've been thinking about Journalism, and English altogether. I'd like to stay in New England, so I guess this question only applies to those who are here..

Is anyone currently majoring in Journalism, and what school are you attending?

I guess I just want to know if its a worthwhile major.

[ClapClapSnap]

a friend of mine is...she goes to Salem State College

she's double majoring English/Journalism as far as i know and she absolutely loves it

[selftitled85]

So I attended a College Fair in Boston earlier today, and it really got me thinking about what I want to go to college for and where I want to go. I've been thinking about Journalism, and English altogether. I'd like to stay in New England, so I guess this question only applies to those who are here..

Is anyone currently majoring in Journalism, and what school are you attending?

I guess I just want to know if its a worthwhile major.


honestly...the best bet would be to go to school somewhere with a prominent newspaper like "the new york times" or "the washington post" so you can try to intern there at some point.

[YearsGoneBy]

im going to northeastern university next year and majoring in journalism. i want to intern with the boston globe once i get there

[xgloryxfadesx27]

a friend of mine is...she goes to Salem State College

she's double majoring English/Journalism as far as i know and she absolutely loves it

Yeah, thats what I was thinking of.

[xgloryxfadesx27]

honestly...the best bet would be to go to school somewhere with a prominent newspaper like "the new york times" or "the washington post" so you can try to intern there at some point.

I hadn't thought of that, but thats a great idea.

[Alan Rupp]

honestly...the best bet would be to go to school somewhere with a prominent newspaper like "the new york times" or "the washington post" so you can try to intern there at some point.
This is not a terrible idea, but it's a bit farfetched. My gf is a journalism major and it's a bitch trying to get an internship, especially if you have no experience in the business. They don't just hire freshman who are eager about the news. Your best bet, internship-wise, would be to work at your school paper and from there try to get an internship (most likely volunteer) at a local, small paper. Then, once you've got a lot to put on your resume and a ridiculously high GPA along with a dash of zeal, you'll have a decent shot to get an internship at a major newspaper. Remember, every journalism student wants those internships, so it's stiff competition. But to support that idea, living in that city may be a plus if they don't have to pay for your housing or give you a living stipend.

If you're thinking about journalism, make sure you know the downfalls. Late nights at the paper (very late nights), serious stress trying to get things done on deadline (sometimes only an hour or less to write a story, including travel time).

You also have to be seriously interested in it. You have to live and breathe the newspaper. It takes an unbelievable amount of dedication.

But also, there are other kinds of journalism, but in most journalism programs at colleges and universities, they don't touch on magazine or web-based journalism.

[roxy]

Have you looked into Emerson or BU's program?

[roxy]

im going to northeastern university next year and majoring in journalism. i want to intern with the boston globe once i get there
You will be right down the street. I don't think I could ever go to Northeastern though, so big.

[selftitled85]

This is not a terrible idea, but it's a bit farfetched. My gf is a journalism major and it's a bitch trying to get an internship, especially if you have no experience in the business. They don't just hire freshman who are eager about the news. Your best bet, internship-wise, would be to work at your school paper and from there try to get an internship (most likely volunteer) at a local, small paper. Then, once you've got a lot to put on your resume and a ridiculously high GPA along with a dash of zeal, you'll have a decent shot to get an internship at a major newspaper. Remember, every journalism student wants those internships, so it's stiff competition. But to support that idea, living in that city may be a plus if they don't have to pay for your housing or give you a living stipend.

If you're thinking about journalism, make sure you know the downfalls. Late nights at the paper (very late nights), serious stress trying to get things done on deadline (sometimes only an hour or less to write a story, including travel time).

You also have to be seriously interested in it. You have to live and breathe the newspaper. It takes an unbelievable amount of dedication.

But also, there are other kinds of journalism, but in most journalism programs at colleges and universities, they don't touch on magazine or web-based journalism.

i guess it came out wrong...

i meant that if you go to school in the city that in due time you can look there and wont have the hassle of looking for a place to live and so forth.

getting a job as a frosh is completely far fetched.

but if you go to say nyu...write for the paper...and start to live there over the summer. you will have a much better chance interning at "the new york times"

[knowbynow]

ball state is good for journalism i have a buggy going there next year

[FASSWcore]

i'm at kent state university majoring in newspaper journalism... it's an amazing program, we kick Ohio U.'s ass

[xgloryxfadesx27]

Have you looked into Emerson or BU's program?

I'd thought of BU. I was looking into Amherst earlier, but I hadnt really considered Emerson..

[xgloryxfadesx27]

This is not a terrible idea, but it's a bit farfetched. My gf is a journalism major and it's a bitch trying to get an internship, especially if you have no experience in the business. They don't just hire freshman who are eager about the news. Your best bet, internship-wise, would be to work at your school paper and from there try to get an internship (most likely volunteer) at a local, small paper. Then, once you've got a lot to put on your resume and a ridiculously high GPA along with a dash of zeal, you'll have a decent shot to get an internship at a major newspaper. Remember, every journalism student wants those internships, so it's stiff competition. But to support that idea, living in that city may be a plus if they don't have to pay for your housing or give you a living stipend.

If you're thinking about journalism, make sure you know the downfalls. Late nights at the paper (very late nights), serious stress trying to get things done on deadline (sometimes only an hour or less to write a story, including travel time).

You also have to be seriously interested in it. You have to live and breathe the newspaper. It takes an unbelievable amount of dedication.

But also, there are other kinds of journalism, but in most journalism programs at colleges and universities, they don't touch on magazine or web-based journalism.

I'm still pretty much undecided on majors right now, but since I'm already a little involved in some form of journalism for UpBeetMusic.com, I figured it wouldnt hurt to look into it. Thanks for all that insight.

[Brandn3w]

im heavily considering taking journalism as my major in college... is it a hard one to take on? i enjoy writing papers on certain topics.

[roxy]

I'd thought of BU. I was looking into Amherst earlier, but I hadnt really considered Emerson..
I was just thinking in the city you will have a lot of opportunities for experience and of course Boston is an amazing college city.

[selftitled85]

journalism is a bitch of a major.

if you are writing for a newspaper you need to write at a 7th grade level.

i was thinking of going into it but i found international affairs more interesting.

[FASSWcore]

journalism is rough, esp. when it comes to the editing process. you have to take ethics, every kind of grammar and usage rule you can think of, interest to the reader, relevance, scope, etc. all into account. i could go on, but what's the point?

[resUrectMe617]

I'm starting to take electives in Journalism next semester (soph year) so that I can get a feel for what the major will be like. for the most part, i'm about 90% sure that i will be taking journalism. i kind of had the dilemma that you are having: journalism vs english.

i am looking to either get into music journalism or use the skills in writing/researching/analyzing from the journalism major and applying it to law school later on. possible law career: entertainment law. basically, i chose journalism because i feel it is more "career oriented" in that you can use journalism to propel you into a number of careers, whereas an english major (from what i've learned from professors) is not AS ideal if you're going for that "professional career" (ie journalist, investigative reporter). a lot of english majors go on to become english teachers or professors. plus, i looked through a lot of the courses in both majors and compared the two side by side. journalism offers things like photojournalism, interview training, lectures in how minorities are portrayed in the media, and how the first amendment law is applied in journalistic writing. really cool stuff if that is the way you wanna go. it all depends you know?

the thing is at my school (new york university), if you decide to major in journalism, it is required that you double major. if you wanna know why, it makes some sense. if you already know you wanna become a sports journalist you can double major in journalism/and then something sports related. like for me, i am choosing to double major journalism/politics.

but yeah i don't know if that helps any.

as far as internships are concerned.. don't expect to enter college, declare your major and be able to secure a good internship position. like everyone has said already, start off small...your local publication, and work your way up. like my teacher said, if you go into journalism, be prepared to write for a small publication out in the middle of nowhere first, before setting your goals on getting a job in a big city like NYC. as of right now, no newspaper/publication internships for me. rather, i am interning at a publicist company in brooklyn. still sort of relevant, its basically to help "get the feet wet".

[xgloryxfadesx27]

I'm starting to take electives in Journalism next semester (soph year) so that I can get a feel for what the major will be like. for the most part, i'm about 90% sure that i will be taking journalism. i kind of had the dilemma that you are having: journalism vs english.

i am looking to either get into music journalism or use the skills in writing/researching/analyzing from the journalism major and applying it to law school later on. possible law career: entertainment law. basically, i chose journalism because i feel it is more "career oriented" in that you can use journalism to propel you into a number of careers, whereas an english major (from what i've learned from professors) is not AS ideal if you're going for that "professional career" (ie journalist, investigative reporter). a lot of english majors go on to become english teachers or professors. plus, i looked through a lot of the courses in both majors and compared the two side by side. journalism offers things like photojournalism, interview training, lectures in how minorities are portrayed in the media, and how the first amendment law is applied in journalistic writing. really cool stuff if that is the way you wanna go. it all depends you know?

the thing is at my school (new york university), if you decide to major in journalism, it is required that you double major. if you wanna know why, it makes some sense. if you already know you wanna become a sports journalist you can double major in journalism/and then something sports related. like for me, i am choosing to double major journalism/politics.

but yeah i don't know if that helps any.

as far as internships are concerned.. don't expect to enter college, declare your major and be able to secure a good internship position. like everyone has said already, start off small...your local publication, and work your way up. like my teacher said, if you go into journalism, be prepared to write for a small publication out in the middle of nowhere first, before setting your goals on getting a job in a big city like NYC. as of right now, no newspaper/publication internships for me. rather, i am interning at a publicist company in brooklyn. still sort of relevant, its basically to help "get the feet wet".

Yeah that did help a lot. I would love to get into Music Journalism, so maybe I'll look into double majoring like you said.

[roxy]

Yeah that did help a lot. I would love to get into Music Journalism, so maybe I'll look into double majoring like you said.
Also certain schools have deals with different places, they accept a certain amount of interns strictly from that school. I know the Pheonix does this with schools around me.I don't know if you are familiar with the Pheonix but they write about music and entertainment, food, and Boston in general. Once you get some experience or even just a good resume you can easily intern there and work up to bigger places.