Journalism jobs with OSU degree?

Question

I've finally decided after a year at college that I want to major in journalism--probably get a job in advertising, but actually writing for a mag/newspaper would be great too...I'm just worried that my degree from ohio state university wont be considered good enough to land me a decent starting job..does anyone know how successful their journalism school is in getting jobs for students?

Answer 1

go to OSU's career center and let that loan money provide you with the dividends that you paid for. Use those resources to make contact with fellow aluma dn get job leads and/or internships that get you where you want to be!

Hope this helps

Answer 2

To get connections you really need to impress a few journalism teachers. I mean WOW! them. The most you could hope for from them, however, is strong recommendations. So if you don't have connections, you'll need to start at a weekly newspaper. Just make sure there is also a competing daily newspaper in that area. If you write some phenomenal stories, you might catch the eye of a daily newspaper editor. As far as money forget about it. Unless you work for a major metropolitian newspaper, you'll end up feeding the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches four days a week. To get to that level of major metropolitian newspapers, you have to be really talented and really lucky. Journalism is a glamour job and a very interesting line of work. Many want to do it. It's hyper, hyper competitive to get what you want you'll need plenty of talent and/or family connections.

Answer 3

As a general rule, WHERE you get the degree doesn't matter as long as you work hard and have a solid GPA, good journalism clips and some internship experience. Work for your student paper on campus, get summer internships and do a little freelancing, if possible, for your hometown paper. Get a campus job too -- all schools have PR, Alumni or Foundation departments and they'd love a student to work for them.

Journalists don't make much money, so when you say "decent starting job," if you expect to make more than $30K a year you're delusional -- sorry but it's true. My first job, which I've just left, paid poorly and had terrible benefits. And frankly, I'm good at this stuff. My next job included a 15% raise.

Your school won't get you a job, but you can find profs and so on to help mentor you and who know people (i.e. editors in the field). That's a lot more important than the career center might be, which is all about writing the perfect cover letter.

OSU is a good school that many people have heard of with a solid reputation. However, don't be just a comm major -- be a doublemajor in business, poli-sci or something else you're interested in. Also, learn about web design and videography.