Can't decide between Maths or Journalism

[KingCatMeowInSpace]

DS is considering applying for courses in multimedia journalism as likes idea of presenting or social media type jobs but school think he should be applying for something more traditional at an RG uni as he always gets in the 90% in tests/exams in maths, physics, history,English. Not sure what to advise him - are the school right or does he apply for a more practical course at a non RG Uni? Any advice?

Good friend of mine is a very successful journalist on one of the big broadsheets. Did a traditional degree and journalism post-grad, from what she's said this is common. It's even harder to make a decent living these days as print media is dying and everyone thinks they can produce 'content ' so online stuff is really really high turn over. He's better of doing a degree that has more possibilities so he can diversify. He may also find that his degree helps him get into a niche area of reporting would he look at maths and economics for example

What year is he in now? Does it have to be a maths degree?

Traditional degree is more likely to be useful, you don’t need a degree to be a TV presenter or social media content creator. Does he even want to do a degree? Why not get a job and do something in his free time if social media is his goal?

I’m in media with a traditional degree and then did a postgrad in journalism. If your son does a trad degree, he can always volunteer at local papers/do student media to show he’s interested. Then he can do journalism postgrad

Top universities don't teach multi media or journalism so if he's more than capable of going to a decent RG university then his teachers are absolutely correct in guiding him properly

With a maths degree he will earn more money on average if this matters to him.

I have a PhD in chemistry, but I'm now a b2b editor in space tech. My dp has a degree in maths and is in finance. I think if your ds is maths minded, he should go for a stem subject - he can still go into journalism, there's a lot of opportunities to gain experience during his degree, but it keeps so many doors open.

Journalism degrees are very often not worth the paper they are written on. I know because I have one. The few people who have got anywhere with their journalism degree have done so because of the contacts made and extra things they did during the course rather than from the degree itself. And it really is a few people. Most have ended up in a job they could have done without the journalism degree and associated debt.

Yes he's definitely more than capable of the work at a 'good' Uni and does very well in all his subjects but doesn't love or is passionate about them, just does naturally well in them.

I would recommend a traditional “good” degree, and he can do a post grad journalism after. Keeps his options open

Hi OP - what year is he in? Are his A levels maths, physics, history and English? If so he may struggle with maths at an RG uni as many of them expect FM (even if their spec does not say so - as some schools don't offer it). See threads passim on this topic.

I am a journalist and have been for years but I have had quite a varied career including a spell teaching. Agree that print media are dead - but also that content is still needed.

I am rather dubious about journalism degrees in general tho equally I am aware that more and more of the people appointing journalists have a journalism degree themselves (I don't as they didn;t exist). This may mean they lean towards someone else with the same degree.

I agree with others here that he may be better off taking a degree in a subject that interests him (yes economics? physics?) and then taking a post-grad in journalism and looking for work in his specialised scientific area.

I've said this before on this board but what journalism does he do atm?
If he likes the idea of presenting or workign in SM, what is he doing about that? It's never been easier to get your work published. Does he post on Insta and TikTok about whatever he is passionate about? Does he write pieces for the local paper? Or for websites for his interests? Or a blog?

Journalism is all about contacts and if he can make some good ones that's going to help long term. I would expect anyone applying for a writing role on leaving uni to have several years of published work to show me.

I have several journalist friends who have worked unbelievably hard for very little money to get to good positions. They are mostly quite miserable.
I'd do maths, loads of options with that.

My best mate from school is a journalist.

The internet is killing journalism off. It's just not as valued as it should be. I'd say study maths.

Friend said her journalism degree was a mixed bag of useful and irrelevant. I'd do maths

do maths or a science with a view to investigating science journalism / science communication as a career. there are still plenty of options for people who understand the science but can also communicate and write about it well.

BTW pp are not correct to say that top unis don't offer courses in media and journalism - a friend's lad did journalism at Sheffield (RG) and (after a random search) Manchester and Bristol offer digital media and Nottingham offers international media.

Is he doing further maths at A level? If not, he won’t get into maths at a decent uni.
There are so many courses, go to some ibis and visit departments and see what he wants to do,

Do not do journalism as an undergraduate degree. If he’s still really keen, look into it post-grad. Even the most successful now struggle to advance to traditional senior roles - because there aren’t any. It is a low paid and very thankless career unless you make it to senior level. Which nowadays is even harder than ever.

Has he done any internships or shadowing in journalism? Does he have a real sense of the job market? How does he plan to actually make a living in a field that increasingly devalues the work of trained professionals who know how to produce quality products over people who can score more clicks? Has he thought about the heavy impact AI is likely to have on the field in particular?

i don’t know one person with a journalism degree actually still working in journalism.

DSmet a young Guardian sports journalist recently at a football match. He had a multimedia journalism degree from Bournemouth. As Clary says, it's becoming a more accepted route.

BTW #2
There are a lot of people saying how grim/hard it is to be a journalist and they have a point - I know a number of people with a journlism degree who work in unrelated industries. But it is fun and it can be a great job.

What it is most definitely not is well paid, if that is a factor for him (and it may not be). Bc there are lots of people wanting to do it, they can pay peanuts. I have more than 30 years experience in a wide range of journalism and comms roles and I have never paid higher-rate tax. I'm pretty sure that outside London I am not unusual.

A mate of mine was advertising a news editor role on a TV station in Nottingham, experienced journalist needed with management experience required as well, salary band starting at £32k.

Most science journalists have very little science background. A science degree would be a great step into that career.

I’m was a straight-A student, did a journalism degree at a decent uni, and am now a journalist. Everyone in my newsroom did either a journalism degree or a year’s postgrad journalism qualification.

I think it’s the best job in the world. Print might be dead but more people read my stories online every day than they did when the paper was at its height. Good local journalism makes a really, tangible difference to people’s lives. It’s an absolute privilege to help make that happen.

The pay is shite though. All of us in my newsroom are married to people who earn more than us. You can still earn big bucks though if you work for a national. The DM pays extremely well.

I know a lot about the sector and he should do maths but spend spare time holiday etc doing journalism work experience or freelancing. He should get involved in uni newspaper as well. Then maybe a journo postgrad.

If you’re a decent writer, are able to make good contacts and you make it onto either a decent local or a national paper, it can be great. It’s brilliant to do something different every day and meet such interesting people.
But, like you say, the pay is abysmal. Mental health is also generally extremely low. And many rely on family or spouses to make the profession sustainable. As good as the career is in theory, it just isn’t practical most of the time.