What Do Careers in Journalism Involve?
As has been suggested, a degree with a major strand in journalism is a good starting point, but your employment prospects will also rely heavily on a number of other factors. Of the top four criteria used in selecting applicants for journalism cadetships (based on figures by the National Association of Graduate Careers Advisers), two are attributes that cannot be learned: writing ability (first) and determination (third). Level of qualifications ranks second and awareness of current affairs ranks fourth, although it is important to remember that it may only be in the course of gaining your degree that you discover whether or not you are likely to meet the other two criteria. In order to improve your career prospects, the question you probably should answer is this: are you able to demonstrate the appropriate writing ability and determination to potential employers? The key is to be active as early as possible. Some relevant activities might include: • Being aggressive about getting wor
