Should I do a journalism degree?

So you've reached that point when you have to decide if you get a degree in journalism or do another degree subject (or subjects) and take the journalism post-grad route?

First off, there are pros and cons to both routes and no one rule for all either. You have to do what is right for you. Do you have the money to do a degree then a post-grad course in journalism? Do you want to do further post-graduate studies? Only you can answer these questions.

Pros of getting a journalism degree

Specialising in journalism as a degree will give you an all round solid foundation in the fundamental skills of the trade including a range of multimedia skills that are now essential to the job.

Many journalism degree courses also include NCTJ exams - the UK industry standard entry exams - meaning you can by-pass post-grad journalism studies and apply straight for reporter jobs once you leave college or uni.

Journalism degree courses tend to be run by former journalists or editors who have real knowledge and expertise in the trade so you can usually pick up some good journalism skills and techniques.

The tutors can usually pull on their real contacts to come into class for students to interview. A real police officer for instance might take part in a fictional press conference in class or you might have to interview him/her one-to-one about a fictional murder, child abduction, robbery or so forth.

Journalism degree courses usually take three years to complete so give you plenty of time to learn and master the key skills of being a reporter. Interview techniques, how to find a news story, writing news articles etc; the sort of things you'll be doing daily as a journalist. 

Cons of getting a journalism degree 

One of the biggest criticisms from those in the media business is that what you learn on a journalism degree in three years you can learn in less time than that working for a news organisation.

There is also the argument that learning on-the-job is far better than in a classroom where the setting is cushioned and not real.

Doing a degree in another subject then doing a post-grad course in journalism is broadens your knowledge and could equip you better if you wanted to specialise in a particular subject as a journalist. Having a degree in economics might be more useful if you wanted to be a business reporter for instance. Likewise, a degree in a foreign language (particularly a Middle East or Far East language) would be useful if you had ambitions to be a foreign news correspondent.

A degree in journalism is very specialised and if you get to the end of the course and decide you don't want to be a journalist you could find your career options limited.