5 Things To Know Before Studying Journalism At University

You work fingers to the bone to prepare a good, attractive resume for the college application so that you manage to have a fair start at a new life. One of the pathways which students choose is Journalism, which is incidentally a challenging yet exciting career option to choose. Those who want to major in Journalism dream of a loud, insightful, and freer world of speech, expression, and information. Well, that is the essence of studying journalism, but there are many more considerations to consider.

Majoring in journalism could be a life-changing decision, and such a decision must be taken after giving deep thought to the process and consequences of the same. In case you are aiming for a similar career path, I have a few things to tell which I believe you should know. These are 5 in number and should be taken into account before filling up the application to a school of journalism.

1. You will have to read a lot
   Journalism means you must know the world. Even if you want to stick to regional journalism, you are expected to know most things about the same. One of the most important assets of a good journalist is the knowledge of the affairs of the world. Hence, it is expected—and very rightly so—that you read a ton to brush up your knowledge. Moreover, the more you read, the more you will hone your reading habits and would be able to read volumes of information without losing patience. The requirement to stay updated is one that cannot be overstated.
2. Vacations will be jam-packed
   College vacations are presumed to be about going on long, relaxing vacations with friends and family. Well, in case you are a student of journalism, things may be different for you. During semester breaks, most journalism schools require/expect students to undergo internship programs. You will need good internships if you want to make it big in the world. Do not go for any internship; research well. That being said, do not think that starting with a small but good organization is not a wise option. The point is that you should be able to learn new and better things about your area of interest, and the size of the organization should be secondary to that.
3. You will have to learn the art of networking
   A journalist knows how and where to get information. However, this is the case with those journalists who have networked well. You will have to forge strong professional relationships with people and organizations. The art of networking is progressive and requires time and patience before it can be perfected. Right from your first year, you should try to maintain cordial relations with your peers, seniors, and teachers. Try engaging them in discussions, help them out when feasible, and stay in touch. You never know when you will need someone from the contact list. Information—authentic information—does not come easy so it is advised you network with as many people as you can.
4. Undertake on-campus activities
   Those who do not socialize often and seldom participate in on-campus activities will be on the losing side. Schools of journalism carry out many engaging activities, from debate competitions to club activities, which reduce your inhibitions and teach you many things for the future. For example, joining a newspaper club would help you in getting access to the school’s resources, first-hand information about important events, training from seniors, and organization of related events. In fact, such participation encourages networking and can establish strong relationships.
5. Late-night deadlines and workload
   Journalism is not a thing for a couch potato. You cannot lazy around because you will always be writing assignments, undertaking on-campus activities, and meeting tight deadlines. This means that there is no night or day for you, which is exactly what it means to be in the world of journalism. Journalists work really hard to stay active in a field that is as rigorous as theirs, and this is why journalism schools ensure that you are working and producing results. Whether or not you like this, you will have to make do with it because this is the way.

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