Communications/Journalism/English?

[Han23]

My DS is about to go into y13 (English, RS, Theatre Studies). He loves writing but now a pure English degree isn’t totally floating his boat as he doesn’t read tons nor love analysing literature which I would think are pretty essential. His strengths lie in communication through his writing and acting skills. He doesn’t want to study drama btw. A more vocational degree would suit him perhaps but any suggestions really welcome. I keep hearing mixed reports about a journalism degree but I know he may love this! Obvs hard to know future direction but a career in PR/content writing possible. Thank you 🙏 time slightly against us!

I did a combined English language and communications degree. I think that would suit what he's looking for

A journalism degree directs you towards being a journalist. Another degree, followed by short journalism course gives you more options, and in my humble opinion, makes for better journalists. Same idea as with law degrees and law conversion.

@Moominmammacat
Journalism and Law are not great comparisons. Lots of Law degree holders get to the very top in their chosen career. Lots of journalism degree holders don’t. Many journalists have an excellent first degrees and then do an MA in journalism. There are, however, various ways to get into journalism but law is completely qualification based.

When looking at being a journalist - what type? Local newspapers are virtually dead in the water. So what particular area? Economics, theatre reviews, politics, foreign reporter, health? Most journalists these days have a first degree in a subject that informs their subject choice as a journalist. I’m not sure what he could write about in an informed way. What about broadcast journalism?

So it might be best to run a school magazine, keep writing at university, decide what interests him and try to get a job. I think the days of being good at writing are not necessarily good enough without knowledge. He needs to decide what his knowledge base will be.

A DS we know has a psychology degree and now sub edits an on line politics magazine. Politics was a great hobby. On line is another option but again it’s not just “writing”. Most have a focus and you need to get very well informed in order to write coherently and earn money. Many journalists are poorly paid. Many submit work and get paid next to nothing. It’s competitive and hard to get a toe hold.

And plenty of law degree holders are paralegals or barristas. 😊

@Moominmammacat
Yes they are. 18000 law grads and 6000 training contracts and 450 pupilages. All open to non law grads as well as law grads. However journalism is open to literally anyone too. Far fewer paid openings. At least paralegals are paid! You could do a law degree and try to be a journalist. As a barrister my DD does a lot of communication both oral and written.

That sounds exactly like me, I did do some literature in my first year but hated analysing it so moved to language. I'd agree to do a different degree and then move to journalism from a broader base. I'd actually recommend the degree I did (20 years ago but I'd love to do today's equivalent!) - combined communications studies with English language at Liverpool - you can flex the mix as you go through and decide what you're more interested in.

Most journalists these days have a first degree in a subject that informs their subject choice as a journalist. I’m not sure what he could write about in an informed way.

This. Much better to study a subject matter of interest (English, Theology etc) and then do a short journalism course.

@pinklavenders
Exceot DS in question doesn’t really seem suitable to do English Lit as he doesn’t enjoy reading. Usually reading informs vocabulary and good writing so I’m wondering what he could do as a first degree?

Journalism is quite hard to make a living at and get into although it is a very broad church so people end up doing all kinds of different jobs in it. Perhaps he should look at his ideal job and see where young people who today are already doing it went to university and their degrees by looking on their linkedin profiles.

Avoiding Jeremy Clarkson’s DD and others given a leg up because of who they are.

I wanted to be a journalist (way back in the 90s) and took a law and politics degree rather than journalism. Then I worked for a year in PR and was funded by a newspaper group to do a one year postgrad diploma in newspaper journalism (covering essentials including shorthand/media law)
I've had a really fulfilling 25 yr career so far working in print and broadcast and now v happily working in semi-public sector communications roles.
I'd advise taking a degree that your DS is interested in, something broad but relevant to journalism - and to get as much work experience during time at university as possible. Many TV/radio/print outlets offer work experience/internships and it's a great way to make contacts, gain experience and work out what area they want to specialise in. Good luck!

Thank you, I agree that’s probs best route.

English with communications rather than pure journalism or pure English.
Alternative would be media and communications degree but not sure about that either.

Having worked in PR and agencies, I have honestly seen every type of degree - English, journalism (even as specific as sports journalism), PR (like me, but we're rare), history, politics, law...

Media and communications degrees can be broad base but not entirely necessary for getting into PR. Content writing could be demonstrated in other ways eg freelancing or blogging to build a portfolio alongside a degree that will interest him

DH is a writer, he would concur with everything @TizerorFizz has said. He knows hardly anybody who did a journalism degree per se, they all did other degrees, although he says that has changed slightly these days.

He agrees too that getting some experience is key – he walked into a local newspaper office and begged them to give him some work. The modern-day equivalent is probably writing for a website or blog. Also you need to figure out what type of writing interests you and suits you – reporting is very different from feature writing or comms in an official capacity, or working for an agency etc etc, and they all require subtly different skillsets.

I think it’s difficult to write something authoritative if you don’t have anything that greatly interests you of you know plenty about. The first degree can help with that. Definitely write pieces for anyone who will publish them and start at school. A school magazine maybe? Reports of matches? Anything that can get him started.

Agreed. Like most things you get better with practice, so write all the time, even if it's not for publication and purely for your own benefit – whether that's film/book reviews, sports reports, op ed pieces, or whatever area interests you, be it tech, or finance, or gardening.

Have a look a the Masters courses at Cardiff Uni. Really excellent training in various types of journalism. They really value applications from students on degree courses in a complete mix of subjects.

As others have said, there is no need to do a journalism or comms/media degree. He would do better to choose something that will give him subject expertise (eg economics, politics) or just something that interests him. If he wants to be writer, he needs to write- a blog, school mag, uni paper. Work experience is very helpful- try local papers and have a thick skin.

Have pmed you.

Communications is actually a little more career minded than journalism, simply because there aren't a huge number of openings in pure journalism. To get into pure journalism its all about getting the appropriate work experience and taking the initiative to do that. If he hasn't done that by his age, he's already behind a lot of the competition. Communication is good because it is broader and theres a huge industry in PR etc. And there is still potential to do writing that he's keen on.

I would lean away from journalism for this reason. Communication is broader and you often can pick your modules to tailor to a course that interests you most.

Avoid English. Its the least practical in terms of application in the real world.

There are a number of really good courses in communications out there. Some are tough to get on.

This is so helpful, thank you

@MadeleineBassettHound
Economics would be a stretch with his A levels and Politics might be too.

The top ranked universities for Communication and Media want mostly AAB, eg Sheffield, Exeter. Some have courses in clearing, eg Loughborough, Newcastle and Cardiff so not overly competitive.

Bournemouth used to be the only pure PR degree but it's now evolved to this - www.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-hons-marketing-communications-public-relations-foundation-year-option

As someone in Comms you need a sense of commerciality to be really good so whilst the writing skill is of course important you will need a wider skill set.

I've also worked with a number of ex journalists who have moved into Comms because there are more opportunities with the death of local press. Essentially there is more content than ever before but getting paid for it is the hard part!

Russell group might open more doors. Bournemouth are far less picky and BBC would get you in. Courses in clearing too.