Journalism should be considered one of the greatest humanitarian acts possible. Day in and day out, journalists seek truth and provide this knowledge to the greater public. There won’t be a lot of praise for the work – but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen; it’s safe to say this won’t be the most profitable career – that much isn’t likely to change. But that’s not usually what attracts journalists to the profession in the first place.
Like most humanitarians, journalists work beyond their self-interest. They don’t need the limelight – their words are their fame; they found their passion and molded it, spending countless hours perfecting their craft. This is what it takes. Time is the name of the game. And how you use it can and will affect your career as a journalist. Cast aside all notions that four years of undergraduate level work were enough to train you. Aspiring journalists need to enter graduate school for journalism if they wish to set themselves apart and, more importantly, succeed.
The fiery debate over graduate school is constantly stoked, but it’s time to extinguish any opposing notions. Job markets continue to look for the best possible applicant to add to their team. While a bachelor’s degree was once more than sufficient, it is now a requirement; shifts in expectations now view a master’s degree as the norm. While a multitude of colleges offer comprehensive preparation during a student’s undergraduate years, aspiring journalists do themselves a great disservice by assuming that this will be more than enough.
Aside from shifting norms, graduate school provide journalists with the ability to focus solely on aspects of journalism, while undergraduate years have time constraints and other classes to consider. This is when our future journalists will hone their skills, along with a specialization in their field of interest. While they will be expected to manage greater projects and work with multiple deadlines – all in preparation for the real word – students will receive guidance from distinguished professors in a way not applicable on the undergraduate level.
Professor Benjamin Hudson, an adjunct lecturer at Baruch College, has invested quite a bit of time in journalism. With over 25 years of experience, professor Hudson has reported in Arizona, Greece, and Venezuela.
“Most of my experience is as an editor. It’s probably why I teach the copy-editing course here,” said Hudson.
Despite attending graduate school himself, professor Hudson believes graduate school is not a necessity “if you’ve done really well in an undergraduate program that is rigorous.” However, he acknowledges that a greater expectation is required today. If a job listing has ten requirements, fulfilling nine things is “not enough anymore.”
Reporters today are expected to have a hand in multiple aspects of journalism: reporting, copy-editing, social media, multimedia, among others. Familiarity with these skill sets will be integral for a successful career in journalism, especially as the field shifts away from traditional means and digital journalism continues to peak.
Two other major factors must be considered when graduate school is discussed: money and drive. Every financial situation is different, thus raising complications. While the cost of school is expensive and rising, the resources gained outweigh financial burdens. A greater skill set, a wider network of likeminded professionals and mentors, and increased reservoir of education are invaluable for an individual preparing for their future career. While debts can be paid off and money gained, the time spent in graduate school and the subsequent resources gained are beyond anything quantifiable monetarily.
Drive also factors into a decision. The structure of school provides guidance for the developing journalist. The true danger lies in the time off post-graduation once a student is left to fend for themselves. While many students are proactive and involved in taking the next step through means outside of graduate school, there are never guarantees. As time passes, aspiring journalists must stay ahaad in a competitive market. Without a graduate program to assist and guide them, they must shed the shackles of unproductiveness and be willing to tackle a variety of projects to reflect their progress and worth in a growing market. While there is no shortage of praise for effort, aspiring journalists will want to have top notch work under the belt to elevate them to the next level.
Journalism should be seen as a ladder without limits. The steps in between are never far and wide, but you will be stretched a bit further when you skip a step. Graduate school should be seen as one of those steps to the top. You may very well still see success without it, but when the ladder adapts to the world but you don’t adapt to the ladder, what’s your next step?
