Journalism or sports journalism degree ?

[starrynight19]

Any advice. Ds unsure which route to go. He is interested in sports but concerned he may be narrowing his options just doing it for his degree.

You can learn everything about journalism in a 1yr postgrad which is what most entrants to the profession now do. He'd be better off doing a degree in languages or science and keeping his blog etc as a hobby. That would really keep his options open.

I agree with everyone but having said that, one of my ex students went to do a sports journalist degree at Newcastle University and is now working as a sports journalist at our local (massive) newspaper.

I work in this area. As PP said, he needs an NCTJ qualification post degree.

Maybe he's not interested in doing a language degree? Its his money, let him choose. Unless the profession has changed massively, hugely academic achievement isn't a prerequisite for journalism. Let him do a degree in something he loves.

Yes, and worthy as they are , I am not sure why languages and science have been specifically mentioned over any other degree. I would imagine many journalist have English degrees, and also humanities and social sciences. Sally thing on Breakfast has a journalism degree btw. From Huddersfield.

I think the idea is that a degree in something (pretty much anything) other than journalism, plus experience and/or a one-year post-grad journalism qualification, would stand him in better stead than just a journalism degree.

Economics, business, accountancy, engineering, sciences etc could all be really useful as they might give you a path in through specialist/trade publications, which are a very common first job in journalism.

I think languages have just been mentioned a few times as what some journalists posters know personally have studied, not necessarily as a recommendation.

I think journalism has changed. Many fewer local papers. Few cub reporters. Doing it yourself is now popular and necessary. The 2 journalists I have known are both sports journalists. One came via the local paper route to The Times. One works for the Independent and did History at Warwick. He’s young! These days a high quality academic degree gets you further.

Having played a sport at a high level gets you very far! Ex players get on very well. As do children of sports people like Gabby Logan and Claire Balding.

I would go to a good university and write up the sports team matches for the university. Blog. Get your work read.

Journalism is badly paid and I don’t think a journalism degree is the best way forward. A post grad journalism qualification is.

OP why would he not do a sport related degree and then the diploma?

It's not that journalism degrees will work against you getting into journalism. It's that you don't have to do one. You can do any good degree and get into journalism as what will get you in is work experience, tenacity, talent and finding opportunities. Get whatever degree he will be best in. If that is French, then take French. If it is a journalism degree, then do that. It won't work against him. It is just that it might not do as much for him as one would think. But then if it's his passion then he will likely excel in it and that will work for him.

Proper degree then post-grad journalism or NCTJ. No excuse for not getting published as an undergrad to decide if you like it/can hack it.

My journalist sister, working in a sports related area, did a history degree, followed by post grad at City.

I would get a degree in a traditional subject and then do a year long post graduate diploma in journalism.

He’s probably looking at doing 3-5 years as a working journalist, unless he is the cream of the crop, then transferring into a communications role where having been a journalist is highly valued. If you get into government comms, you can also transfer sideways into policy roles etc where having a traditional degree will really help.

My DS has just finished a degree in journalism. He loved it and now has a job at the BBC. I think a vocational degree is a good idea these days where everyone has a degree. His degree included the NCTJ as part of it which is essential imo.

I also know a journalist and he also has a degree in journalism.

Oh, God, neither! I know a lot of top journalists (DH is one) and not a single one studied journalism at university.

A degree in itself will show he has certain qualities and skills. I know someone who works high up in an energy company and a member of staff has a music degree.

My DD applied to two Scottish unis and she seemed to have more options for studying a variety of subjects, so might be worth checking some out. Uni 1 - first two years she'd study her degree subject and two others, at the end of two years she could swap to one of the other subjects if she chose. Uni 2, she has to study another subject alongside her degree subjects that relates to it, it's not a joint degree but has the flexibility of changing subjects as she's studying two.

One other option, can he do a masters in journalism? If so, maybe consider that if there's another subject he'd be happy to study for three years.

minimum that’s good to know thanks.

He really does want to do a journalism degree , he is doing English and history a levels but has no desire to do these for his degree.

Have shown him all of these comments and thankyou to everyone for replying.

And he will definately be doing a degree that is nctj accredited so thanks for that

I agree with those who say follow his passion. The other thing to consider is that post grad degrees/diplomas are expensive and there will be more debt. But if he does want to do say history first and then post-grad, Cardiff do a very well regarded post grad journalism diploma, you don't have to go to City unless you want to.

But if he wants to study journalism as a first degree, let him.

There aren't many regional newspapers these days so the traditional cub reporter route is massively diminished.

DH (journalist) also says don’t do journalism BA - do something challenging then post grad at City.

So many journos saying ‘don’t do it!’

Please learn from my DS mistakes.

Active blogger, paid to contribute to a premiere league football blog (his team/his passion) etc etc

By Easter he realised his sports journalism course was not for him-relatively new and not very well organised.

He changed to multi media journalism but THB he would have been better off doing English or anything else really.

Let him carry on with the writing and blogging as great for CV but don't do a journalism degree

I was advised that a journalism degree was too ‘waspish’ and I ended up not being a journalist (but married to one) but I still write as part of my job anyway.

I realised that I was too much of a wuss for the investigative stuff (DH is sterner stuff) and that I was more the creative type and ended up doing another degree later on in art.