Why majoring in journalism is still a good idea

Why major journalism? It’s pretty much impossible to read anything about the industry without seeing the words “death” or “crisis”.  So isn’t it a waste to get an (increasingly expensive) college degree in journalism?

Once you look beyond the title, I don’t think so. And a number of editors and publishers agree with me, or at least I’ll assert that. Mindy McAdams has a terrific round up of the survey results, and one item caught my eye. When asked to suggest any reason students should consider a career in newspapers, those editors and publishers responded that the “skills of a journalist will always be in demand regardless of format.” I think they were getting at the format shift from print to Internet, but those same skills are applicable far beyond a shift in medium.

Journalism is a practical skill, along the same lines as business, engineering and computer programming. However, it often gets lumped into liberal arts or humanities along with English, philosophy, history and political science. But I would encourage anyone who has an interest in those fields to spend some time in journalism classes. I believe the practical skills taught there are more useful in a professional atmosphere than the skills learned in literature classes.

Here are some of the skills that a journalism education (ideally) provides:

Curiosity. As a new journalist, we may try to pretend we know what’s going on. It doesn’t take long to figure out that doesn’t work. Your reporting is only as good as your questions. So we learn to unabashedly ask “but why?” over and over again until we get it.  Asking questions and being curious is a great skill to have in any job.

Big picture thinking. My colleague Nick Bergus said (via Twitter) that “j-schools teach how to organize and present info to the maximum effect and comprehension.”  I’m probably oversimplifying his point, but I think journalism forces you to look for the greater story. Journalists don’t get caught up in a bunch of tiny details. We take all of the bit of information and put them together to tell one clear story. That ability is also an asset when writing proposals, making pitches or presentations and generally communicating with other people.

Interviewing skills. Journalists learn the art of small talk. Through interviews and casual encounters, we learn how to make people comfortable, talk about non-offensive topics, and control our body language, facial expressions and verbal cues. If there is one thing I’ve found lacking in some of my new fellow colleagues and interns, it’s the ability to be sociable without crossing the line into impropriety (i.e., talking about the previous night’s debauchery). The ability to hold a conversation is crucial is almost any job, but particularly in sales, client relations and customer service.

Meeting deadlines. Although constant deadline pressure makes some of us procrastinators (guilty!), the ability to meet a deadline is crucial in almost any job. What comes hand-in-hand is the ability to multitask.

Top-notch writing skills. I hope the English majors don’t take offense, but it’s rare you find an employer who appreciates long-winded prose and imagery. Journalism, for the most part, teaches you how to write concise, uncomplicated and clear copy. This style is perfect for business communications. You might have to learn some new lingo, but all the bones are there.

I’m sure there is much, much more we could all say on the subject. Any ideas for other widely-applicable skills?

My basic point is that a journalism degree doesn’t mean you have to find, or even want, a job at a “traditional” journalism outlet.  These skills can be just as useful as a lawyer, a PR rep or a salesperson.

Better to be laid off or left behind?

I am so incredibly sick of hearing about the economy. It’s bad. I know it. But it wasn’t until this month that people I personally know were laid off. And then, this week, one of my colleagues who holds the same position/title as me was laid off. It hit a little close to home.

In the immediate wake, there was some panic. What would happen to me if I were the one on the chopping block? How would I pay the bills? Where would I look for another job? Etc, etc. But after a couple days, the frustration set in. It seemed like management didn’t consider how those of us “left behind” would handle the workload. I began to wonder whether it would be better to be laid off — get out early, have the chance to start fresh somewhere elese — or left behind. But, then again, I might just have a touch of “it’s always greener on the other side” syndrome.

So, I went looking for some advice on the subject. This was the closest thing I found. I guess it’s not much of a blessing after all

I think the view on this depends on the company situation. If this downsizing is a temporary action in response to economic factors beyond (almost everyone’s) control, then taking on more responsibilities to fill the void could be a great strategy for advancement. In companies are looking to do more with less, they could be more accepting of new methods, tools and ideas. I keep reminding myself that there really is opportunity out there.

Unfortunately, there’s a study that showed ineffectively managed downsizing bred resentment and resistance. The pleasant effects are decreased morale and innovation and – bonus – increased conflict and scapegoating. If this is your work environment, it isn’t difficult to image that being handed a fresh start isn’t so terrible after all!

But Kristin, being laid off still means no money. No guarantees.

Yup. I get it. I think that is what makes us Millennials unique. Our confidence/optimism/arrogance (whatever you want to call it) means we can tackle this sort of change head on because we have absolute faith that something else, something better will come along.

So, am I happier to be left behind rather than laid off? Jury’s still out.

Inside the box

I was having a G chat conversation with a friend today when she said (or, rather, wrote) something that that caught my attention. She was getting frustrated with a PowerPoint presentation she was working on because it was consuming her life. She said: “I feel like my life has come down to deciding whether things should be in boxes or arrows.”

Now, I have my own frustrations with PowerPoint as a communication tool, but I think there is a greater point here. As a young, entry level employee in a big company, my friend (and many like her, including myself) get brainwashed in templates, style, protocol, procedures and everything else that makes up a corporate psyche. Sure, those standards are necessary to make things run smoothly and ensure consistency. But we get so consumed with *literally* thinking inside the box that we forget how to be creative. When the boss turns to you and wants to see innovation, creativity or something new, it’s such a disarming feeling. And trying to propose any new innovation is almost impossible to do while still observing the litany of rules.

I think this goes way back, before our first jobs. I saw this post by David Armano a while ago, and it has stuck with me. We (millennials) are used to guidelines and rules like coloring within the lines. Playing by them guaranteed excelling on standardized tests, getting good recommendations, going to good colleges, yet were never did anything exceptionally well. By simply following the rules, doing what we were supposed to do, we progressed right along.

So how do we, as Armano said, let imaginations grow while still enforcing some basic ground rules? I’m not exactly sure, but as I’m contemplating a new internship program at work, I’m trying to keep that in mind. I think there should be opportunities to take on a pet project and devote time — an hour a day or five hours a week — to it. And I think fresh interns have a real opportunity to hear a problem and make some imaginative suggestions. Those of us with the ground rules can handle making it conform, if necessary. I’m just starting to brainstorm so other ideas are very, very welcome!