It’s an exciting time to be a journalist. While the industry is in flux and completely uncertain, some of the biggest stories in a generation have been reported in the last several years, from #MeToo to the Trump presidency. While journalism as a profession isn’t for the faint of heart (or for anyone who wants to be rich), it can be a fulfilling career path for those with extra curiosity. And while professional journalists might recommend undergraduates use their time in school to gain expertise in a particular area or beat, honing your journalism skills while you’re young isn’t a bad idea if you’re dying to be the next Cronkite.
Here are our top four picks for this year:
MIZZOU
The University of Missouri is renowned for its journalism program, arguably the best undergraduate program of its kind in the nation. This program offers degrees in both Journalism and Strategic Communications with classes ranging from TV news producing and digital editing to health reporting and data journalism. One of the biggest appeals of Mizzou is the hands-on reporting experience. If you’re going to cut it as a journalist, you’re going to need to learn about the practice outside of a theoretical classroom setting. The best way in is to actually do the work. Mizzou is focused on practical application. While it may not seem as exciting as starting out in a big city like New York, there are plenty of opportunities—arguably more of them-- for students to get involved in the local market, including working at the local NBC affiliate. If you’re after a print path, you can try your chops at the community paper. There are also opportunities to work at the local NPR station.
MEDILL
Northwestern University is one of the top schools in the country and Medill, its journalism school is one of the best in the world. The school offers degrees in both Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications. Classes include Philosophy of Modern Journalism, Multimedia Storytelling, and Reporting and Writing, among others. One of the interesting things about Medill is that students in the program will select concentrations outside of Medill. Professional journalists often recommend students become experts in a “beat,” so having classroom experience outside of journalism will be helpful. There are also study abroad opportunities, including global residencies in Argentina, Qatar, and South Africa. In addition, the Medill on the Hill program allows students interested in political reporting to ship out to Washington, D.C. and attend lectures and seminars there.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University’s College of Communications offers a track in journalism. The school says it has produced 24 Pulitzer Prize winners. It offers classwork in law, ethics, and digital media, among other topics and also affords students the opportunity to be hands-on. Offerings include participation in the BU News Service, the school radio station, and the Daily Free Press newspaper. Plus, Boston is a great place for any young reporter to hone their shoe-leather reporting skills.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
UT’s Moody College of Communication includes a track in Journalism and Media. The curriculum offers core classes like Digital Storytelling and Photo. What’s perhaps most interesting about the course offerings is the wide array of subjects. Students can take classes about Media and Minorities, Journalism and Religion, The Business of Sports Media and News Media and Politics. There are also practical skills courses including Web Production/Editing and Video. Finally, the school offers internships for credit, allowing students to gain work experience before entering the field.
Whatever school you choose, should you be interested in pursuing a journalism major or career, you should prioritize doing the work now. It’s important to begin to build a portfolio and start gaining hands-on experience, including, but not limited to editing your high school paper.
Need help deciding if a journalism major is right for you? Reach out to us. We’re great at helping kids match with heir ideal school.