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!

Thanks for that link @JazzyBBG I did my PR degree at Bournemouth so interesting to see how it's evolved! I recall online PR modules mostly being about websites and the very start of blogs...

At the time I also looked at Leeds and Central Lancashire - these were the only unis that offered PR sandwich courses and I really wanted the work experience to show I could DO the job.

I spent 13 months in industry and had relevant experience that made me (in my opinion) much more employable than someone without it - I was lucky enough to get a placement in the niche area I wanted to work in.

@ConfusedGin how funny - I desperately wanted to do that course but after not doing English A level was told I wouldn't get on. There was a big drama a couple of years ago when they finished it - I was doing CIPR at the time and it was all over their news. However this looks like it still has a strong PR focus which is good. I have a couple of friends who did that course one is a newspaper editor and one is a marketing director now.

@JazzyBBG It was competitive back then, that I recall. I got an unconditional offer which was like hen's teeth. And I LOVED A Level English Language. Would happily do it again now

The course does have a nice balance and some interesting modules that are relevant to the modern job but not things that couldn't be learnt on the go.

The one thing I will say is that it was about 90% females and could be a little cliquey as a result. I definitely recall having my outfit looked up and down when I rocked up. Definitely more guys on media / marketing based courses

I did the one year NCTJ postgrad newspaper journalism diploma at UCLAN in the 90s, it was one of a few (Cardiff, Strathclyde too I think) and it definitely helped open doors as it had a really good reputation in the industry.
I hear the Eng Lang/Comms BA Hons degree at Liverpool JM is very good. Many people I work with in Comms these days are ex journalists with degrees in politics, history, law, economics, English Lang.

OP a slightly different viewpoint here ...

I have posted before about this and have modified my expression of my view somewhat. Yes, relatively few working journalists have a degree in journalism - this is because it did not exist when they did their degree (I am an example).

OTOH more and more people are taking a degree in journalism and editors or those appointing to journalism roles are more and more (IMHO) looking for that degree. Certainly if you genuinely want to be a journalist, a degree in the subject (however much some (me) may think it is a bit of a nonsense degree for various reasons) cannot possibly be a hindrance. I definitely know a number of people who graduated in journalism in the last 3-8 years who are working in the industry.

All that said, I would be dubious about advising your DS to take a journalism degree. It (obviously) really narrows your options, and very much presupposes that you have chosen that career. If you take a different degree, as others have said, there are ways to learn the trade of journalism post-graduation. And your different degree (politics, philosophy, English lit, marketing, criminology, social policy) will also give you other options.

If he doesn't enjoy reading and analysis of literature, then Eng lit is definitely not the degree for him - DD has just graduated in Eng lit and that is pretty much what it was.

If he wants to be a journalist, he needs to show that and now. Does he write? It is easier than ever to get your writing published - write a blog, offer to write reports for the sport you love and the local club will probably publish them on its website. Write pieces about your local area and publish them. Start a what's on locally web page. If he doesn't do something of that kind already, or has no interest in it, then I suggest (kindly meant) that journalism is not for him. It is very competitive, not well paid and now more than ever you really have to want to do it.

Sorry for the essay! By all means PM me if you would care for the benefit of my journalistic experience (30 years and counting) in more details :)

Dd did a languages degree and then a Sports Journalism MA which included the NCTJ professional qualification at LJMU - very practical and lots of links to industry, so I imagine their Comms courses as mentioned by a PP are similar. She is now freelancing and getting plenty of work. Friends/peers have done similar or just the NCTJ qualification or worked their way up or had a parent in the industry! But she has wanted to be a journalist since she was 16 and has been working towards it since then - I think you have to want it to put the graft in!

Journalist here: I would encourage him to do a degree in something like economics, politics, take classes in foreign relations, business/finance and anything else that may set him apart from the English grads. Can he intern in London or somewhere local on the weekends or over the summer? I would encourage him to look at City University London, they have journalism specialisations like business and finance (lots of opportunities in London), war and conflict reporting, digital/social journalism, broadcast etc…If he likes finance/business/companies/markets there are plenty of jobs in London at various places and lots of room for movement and a solid career.

It’s also more difficult to make the switch from comms/marketing to journalism than the other way around. Newsrooms don’t hire people with comms/marketing/pr experience, but plenty of journalists go over the comms/marketing side.

I’ve worked at a national broadsheet for over a decade and there are more and more recruits and recent grads from Oxbridge and the Ivy League at the London-based US papers. If he wants to aim there, he’ll need a solid degree.

I did a journalism degree and loved it. A traditional degree wasn't right for me. Went to the top ranked uni at the time (NCTJ accredited) and it was bloody brilliant. Got a job on a journalism trainee scheme straight from uni. Have since worked as a journalist or in comms/PR roles. My course mates almost all got good jobs in journalism. Most ended up leaving for PR as it's typically better paid.

What I'd suggest is going for a highly ranked course with professional accreditation. You don't need to do a traditional subject at all. And get work experience/ built a portfolio while at uni.

@Hermione101
The DS in question is doing English, RS and Theatre Studies A levels. The majority of the degrees and subjects you suggest are simply not possible as he doesn’t have the right subject combinations at A level. This is the big problem.

When people took innovative degrees years ago, they were looked upon as decent candidates for jobs. Now the university sector is huge, employers can pick and choose from a large number of very bright DC with journalism skills or journalism degrees. It’s a very different HE sector now.