It’s right about now that many people, old and young, that will be considering their next step in career and education. Whether you’re finishing school or jumping back into education after a break, there is lots to consider surrounding further education and University.
Unfortunately there are stages to getting to that end goal of your dream career and that all comes back to the subjects you study and qualify within.
Luckily for me, I always knew I wanted to be in the field of writing, storytelling and ultimately journalism. I seeked advice and support where I could which made the whole process that much easier.
Why you should consider Journalism as a degree?
Journalism has hugelyyyy helped in my career sector. Whilst I may not be the aspiring, hard hitting journalist on New York’s streets ( which I ever dreamed of when at school ), I have in fact done one better. I have a successful, growing space on the web of my own. I have the ability to work with numerous business and help their business grow with copy and I also have freelance pieces that can be shared through typical media outlets like Magazines, newspapers and more.
Journalism is hugely diverse and is a sector that is ever changing. There are lots of pieces of journalism to consider which can help in various career fields, aside from just journalism.
Since you are here, you’re obviously considering to study journalism in the near future. It can be hard to know how to get there, so I’ve collated some of the qualifications you’ll need to grab that Journalism BA spot! I’ve teamed up with Mill Hill School in London with this one and have put together the following information to help aspiring journalists succeed in their careers.
What you’ll need to study at degree level
Journalism is a broad term, which is there’s not a set of subjects you have to take to succeed. With that said, there are some A Level subjects that are more appropriate than others, and it’s likely that you’re already angling towards those anyway.
Essay Based Subjects
Subjects like English Literature or History, are great places to start since they will help you with your writing skill. Analysis subjects like these really help when it comes to constructing knowledge base journalism pieces like politics.
Consider a Language
Language subjects are an added bonus and can put you at a huge advantage when seeking employment. Multi-lingual journalists can be pretty hard to come by!
More specific
If you are aware of an area you’d like to cover in journalism, than consider grabbing A-Levels that will help your cause. Things like politics, economics or even media can help with your further understanding down the line
Other top tips to strengthening your portfolio
There are other things you can consider getting involved with, aside from your A Level subjects, which will help you get onto a Journalism course at university.
I would highly recommend building a portfolio and showcase your skills and dedication to the field. Think about starting a blog or perhaps contributing to your local newspaper. If broadcast journalism is more your cup of tea then you’ll need to brush up on your public speaking skills, so it’s worth considering joining a debate club, or even starting a podcast.
Journalism is a great field to study. With an array of transferable skills, and avenues you may have never considered ( like blogging, freelance and more), it’s certainly not a degree that will be wasted!
Have you been looking into what you would study? Have you considered a career in journalism? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below!