Can I be a journalist without a journalism degree?

Question

I have recently graduated with a degree in archaeology, but I now have my heart set on being a journalist. I cannot afford to take another full degree - is it worth doing some sort of distance learning or adult education course? If so, which are best looked upon?

Answer 1

Absolutely, a lot of major newspapers and mags dont like to hire people with degrees. As one publisher told me Journalism School churns out hacks who couldnt write a good shopping list. I worked Free Lance and had a front page column. I wrote an article, took it to a newspaper, handed it in and it landed on the front page. My FIRST try, and it was a major newspaper in Canada.

I have never had one class in Journalism, the trick to remember before you hand something in is edit the hell out of it. Publishers LOVE getting work that doesnt have to be edited. Keep it short.

DONT write about local news that a staff reporter will be doing.

Check old copies if you have an idea to see if its been done.

VERIFY all your sources.

Keep your eyes open and your ears open for an unusual local interest story - always carry a camera with you everywhere you go, even grocery shopping, and a tape recorder.

One of my lucky finds, I stopped to buy a pop and a guy was there with a harley he had modified, turned it into a trike so he could roll his wheelchair onto a platform he constructed for it, AND he does this for other bikers in wheelchairs !

What a great story ! In a wheelchair and still riding his harley. You are guaranteed a story like this is going to be published, readers and publishers LOVE that kind of stuff.

So keep your eyes open for unusual things around you.

Do NOT write for free or just to see your name in print. If you are good, you are worthy of respect and that means a pay cheque. Dont sign away your copyrights on photos.

Good luck !

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can I be a journalist without a journalism degree?
I have recently graduated with a degree in archaeology, but I now have my heart set on being a journalist. I cannot afford to take another full degree - is it worth doing some sort of distance learning or adult education course? If so, which are best looked upon?

Answer 3

You ABSOLUTELY can be a journalist without a degree, you just need to know how to write. It may be a good idea to take some kind of instructional course, but don't worry about which are "best looked upon." If you can write a decent piece, an editor won't care whether you graduated from the most prestigious journalism school in the world or if you took a correspondence course advertised in the back of a comic book. You don't "apply" for a job as a journalist, you audition. It's all you!

Answer 4

One doesn't have to have a BJ degree to be a journalist, you can be a journalist with whatever degree you have , as long as you write well, and with passion and curiosity about the story or subject you are writing about. Archaeology might be very useful when talking about sites where they find bones of native tribes or pieces of an old ancient city. I would imagine you had other courses like history or economics or politics or psychology or sociology you took that might be useful.

Many community colleges and junior colleges as well as universities have online learning, some in journalism. Depending where you are that might be your best bet , but it's not a definite pre-requisite to be a reporter. I know I am one , freelance and I have no BJ degree. BA isn Psych and Sociology as well as B.Ed degree.

Answer 5

If you are very good with words, have a good vocabulary and English skills, then with a standard BA degree, regardless of the field, you certainly can be a Journalist. In fact, many newspapers, tv writing depts., magazines, journals, want someone who has a speciality if they can also put out a good readable print document. Go for it.

Answer 6

Degree in journalism, hmm sounds like a non degree to me,
to be a journalist I think you need to be able to express your self well and be opinionated. You either get and report the facts or have an opinion.

Answer 7

Some of the best journalists did not major in the discipline. See if a local paper can use you as a "stringer" - part-time work covering sports events, council meetings, etc. - and build your resume with press clippings. Experience is more important than degrees in that profession.

Answer 8

Absolutely. In fact, a lot of major newspapers prefer writers with degrees in some other area.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

488