Overview of Journalism

Journalism is the practice of reporting news, investigating events, and analyzing information. It involves gathering news stories, researching facts and evidence, and communicating the story through various mediums such as video, audio, print, online or multimedia. Journalism is not limited to traditional news outlets—it can also include the investigation of topics in specialized fields or working with freelance or independent media outlets.

Career Opportunities Associated with Journalism

Careers in journalism include roles such as reporters, editors, photographers, and videographers. Journalists work for newspapers, magazines, television networks, radio stations, websites, and independent media outlets. Some work freelance for multiple outlets, while some may already have a lead position within an organization. Other specialized roles include foreign correspondents, investigative journalists, long-form writers, and data journalists.

Internship and Co-op Opportunities Related to Journalism

Journalism programs often provide internships or co-op opportunities that give students experience and the chance to build connections in the industry. Students may be able to get a job in their college’s newspaper or radio station or in an independent media outlet. Internships with major news organizations are also available and can provide invaluable experience.

Specialized Tracks or Concentrations Within Journalism

Journalism programs are often divided into sub-fields. Common concentrations are broadcast journalism, print journalism, photojournalism, digital journalism, and multimedia journalism. Students can specialize in a given field and usually have the opportunity to take related classes in areas such as media law, ethics, business journalism, and public relations.

How Journalism Prepares Students for Graduate School or Further Education

Journalism not only prepares students for the job market, but it also prepares them for graduate school. Many journalism programs teach courses in research methods and writing, as well as communication theory. These skills can be used in any field and are essential for completing graduate-level work.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Journalism

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a major role in the journalism industry and is revolutionizing the way news is collected and reported. AI can help journalists sort through large data sets quickly and accurately, allow for automated news extraction and analysis, and automate manual tasks in reporting. AI also has potential applications for fact-checking and moderating commentators.

The Career Outlook for Journalism

The job outlook for journalism is positive, though somewhat uncertain. As technology continues to evolve and change the way people get their news, the need for trained journalists, editors, and producers has grown. However, due to cost-cutting measures, many newsrooms are facing layoffs as well as consolidations and shrinking budgets.

Here are the top reported starting salaries for graduates in Journalism:

University of Southern California, Salary: $44,188

Northwestern University, Salary: $44,144

George Washington University, Salary: $42,777

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Salary: $42,011

American University, Salary: $40,534

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Salary: $39,869

Syracuse University, Salary: $39,363

Northeastern University, Salary: $38,872

Emerson College, Salary: $38,675

University of Colorado Boulder, Salary: $38,625

For privacy reasons, not all schools report the first year salaries for students who earned their bachelor’s degree in Journalism.