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May 4, 2010
What to do with a journalism degree?
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Category: Freelance Magazine Writing HELP
I have my bachelor’s in journalism. My ideal job would be to write feature stories for a magazine or newspaper, but I haven’t found that job yet (out of college three years).
I worked as a web editor out of college for 2 years, and then started doing public relations for a school. But I’m not happy here and would like to find something else.
I’m trying to find another journalism-related job, but there’s nothing out there that I want right now. It took me around 6 months to find this current job, so I don’t want to stay here and be unhappy for 6 more months while I look.
My only intern and college experience was with newspapers. What else would I be qualified to do? I need health benefits, otherwise I’d just do freelance writing. I also need a certain salary to be able to afford my rent and bills (I don’t have many, but with a salary below my current one I’d have to move back home to save on rent, which I refuse to do).
Help!
Thanks for your replies.
I started as an intern for a local weekly newspaper, so I’m not brand new to all this. I liked it there a lot, and they offered me a job when I finished college, but they ended up giving it to someone else.
So I worked as a web editor for a legal newspaper. I posted others’ stories on the website, but I also edited copy and wrote a few small columns per week. There was no chance for creativity, and the pay and hours stunk, so once I found my current job, I left.
My current job has me writing a lot more, and the pieces are interesting, but a lot of my job involves paying invoices and doing clerical work that I never thought I’d have to do. I’m tired of getting yelled at because others aren’t paying the bills I’m asking them to. I just want to write and that’s it.
The place I interned with actually offered me ANOTHER job recently, but the pay is only two-thirds of what I make now, which is not enough :(
I live 10 minutes from NYC, if it helps.
Let me clarify what I’m asking for:
I want to write feature stories. I don’t want to do website work, don’t want to do clerical stuff, don’t want to spend my entire day copy-editing medical journals. If I can’t write feature stories, then I really don’t want to be in the journalism field. I just want one task at a time to do – my current job has me VERY overwhelmed, because they keep giving me jobs that others could easily do, which makes me sidetracked from more important things.
I’m asking what else I can do, outside of direct journalism, with a journalism (technically English) degree, while I search for a feature writing job. Like how you can have a law degree but not necessarily argue in a courtroom or prepare cases.
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Become a Journalist??
or any other profession of journalistic nature
I know exactly what you’re going through! I have a degree in literature and wanted to work in the publication world. It’s easier to dream about doing it than doing it, right?
Why not try writing for a marketing company? It’s still writing and it gives you something for your resume. Or, have you tried searching for local publications published in your area? I’m sure there are some, believe it or not. And if so, if you can’t actually work for them, why not try freelance writing for them. Find out information about freelance writing–not as a profession, but on the side for fun. It’s great for the resume and gives you more professional experience.
Sadly, if you want go live the journalism dream, you’ll have to probably move to NY. All things are published there, so it seems.
Hope this helps!
apply for a job as a nuclear physicist
I have a degree in journalism, but realized too late that I didn’t actually want to work my way up from the mail room to the obits, etc. I like to edit, and I mistakenly thought I’d be able to do that anywhere upon leaving school.
I’m in a completely unrelated field now, but I did advertising and marketing for a while. They love people with communications skills to write their ad copy.
You may need to start small as a copy editor or in the classifieds department. Try smaller publications.
You should also consider going to a job recruiter. They specialize in matching people with certain qualifications to open positions. They’re hired by the employers looking for new hires, so it’s free for the person needing a job.
Good luck!
Even with a degree in hand you’re not going to start writing features for magazines or newspapers the minute you walk in the door. I suspect your expectations are too high and now you’re getting hit with a hard dose of reality.
If you want to write, start at a small newspaper and EARN your way up. You need to build a portfolio of work and most of it will be grunt work. Stories the veteran reporters did not want to do. Stories the editor could not assign to other than the bottom rung journalists who are just getting their feet wet.
If you’re able to write, then you have to start writing the stories no one wants. Unless you’re really good, chances are you won’t have the clout or respect to write features for a few more years.
Hell when I wrote for the college newspaper it took me THREE years to go from lowly reporter/copy-editor to Editor in Chief. I earned it. I worked my tail off for it and gained a lot of respect from those around me. My staff didn’t like me because I ruled with an iron fist but those outside loved how the paper looked more professional, more newsworthy. The staff wanted more of a gossip rag and I wouldn’t have it.
Simply put, if you want to write, start small and work your way up. Once you lower your expectations a little doors might start opening a little more for you. Until then, chances are you’ll remain stuck in jobs you don’t like and are unhappy in.
Journalism is rough and competitive. You’re either the shark or shark-bait.