What do you do for a living?

[bgeno]

Re: What do you do for a living?

*cough* Indiana *cough*

Philip Merrill College of Journalism student here (Maryland), and technically we're the best of the bunch (80% of our graduates find jobs the first year after graduating; the next best: 69%).

Enough with the pissing contest... lol

Everyone says they're the best every year. Notice I didn't mention Penn State, even though we ranked among the best in the 07-08 William Randolph Hearst Awards...
1st in combined writing/broadcast, ahead of Mizzou, N'Western, 'Cuse, IU, UM
4th in overall writing/broadcast/photo/multimedia, ahead of N'Western, 'Cuse, IU, UM
4th in intercollegiate writing, well ahead of Maryland, 'Cuse, IU, UM
3rd in intercollegiate broadcasting, ahead of Mizzou and N'Western, IU, UM

But I'm baffled by print/newspaper majors...you spend your time learning how to write/layout/edit newspapers, which aren't even the main form of communication for reporting companies anymore! I switched to broadcast to learn how to work a camera and do TV/online stories, but have interned - in my first year - at two websites and get my writing experience that way (and my broadcast experience at a student sports station), with some html/online layout as well. Just my humble, young opinion. I have much love for journalism majors anywhere.

Yeah, because when big time CEO's want to know the news they sit down in front of their tv, not with the paper.

And all major newspaper's have their articles published online also.

I'm not saying that the newspaper is extinct, but in today's journalisim industry you have to be able to do TV, online multimedia, writing, everything. From what I've looked at with print majors it still focuses on newspaper layout and newspapers in general. Yea, they are still there, but the primary source of news is the internet and you can get writing experience anywhere, hell, even in a blog. Unless it is your dream to write for a newspaper (not uncommon), I don't get why you'd want to major in print when you can major in broadcast or online, get more skills in TV producing (and get very, very valuable experience in on-air appearances, which are very common for writers), and still get writing experience on your own time.

Like I said, just my opinion. I went to MD with the intention of majoring in print. Then I took their basic classes in the j-school and the more I learned the more I realized that you can get writing experience anywhere, and in today's job market you absolutely have to be able to do TV, writing, and online/html stuff. Which is why I switched to broadcast, because I saw chances to write for websites, while learning to work TV cameras, radio boards, and some basic online stuff.

Sportswriters need to be able to do more than write for a newspaper (at least for the major newspapers; e.g., the Caps' beat writer not only does his blog, but he does a video blog during the playoffs and is on TV a lot during the season). That's just my point. Like I said, I love all journalism majors, but just my thoughts on which track to pursue.

Newspapers are dieing. They even tell us that in school. Physical newspaper sales are plummeting, and no ones seems to be able to find a way to make good money off of online media. People aren't reading the newspaper. If they're reading anything, they're reading it online, and it is only going to get worse as the computer generation moves forward into those CEO positions and realize how impractical it is to pick up a newspaper when you can do a simple google news search or just go to the website of your favorite newspaper and get nearly all the same content (most of the time for free).

You have to diversify your skills and your resume as much as possible in today's climate.

Whether you're studying print and doing some broadcasting or PR on the side or vice versa, you have to be able to do multiple things to survive in today's communications world.



Personally, I'm studying broadcasting but doing a lot of different stuff on the side.

At school, I'm involved in our online radio station year-round. My first internship was in standard communications (research and writing for the state gov). My current internship is in TV. I have an internship coming up as the SID (PR) for our hockey team at school. And I hope to squeeze in a radio internship before I graduate (as radio is my greatest interest).

[tyler289]

Re: What do you do for a living?

You have to diversify your skills and your resume as much as possible in today's climate.

Whether you're studying print and doing some broadcasting or PR on the side or vice versa, you have to be able to do multiple things to survive in today's communications world.

Personally, I'm studying broadcasting but doing a lot of different stuff on the side.

At school, I'm involved in our online radio station year-round. My first internship was in standard communications (research and writing for the state gov). My current internship is in TV. I have an internship coming up as the SID (PR) for our hockey team at school. And I hope to squeeze in a radio internship before I graduate (as radio is my greatest interest).

Totally agree. I'm doing the same sort of thing; I work at the online station as well, broadcasting, editing highlights, reporting (covered football and basketball freshman year...it was sweet!), basic stuff. Now I've turned it into a writing internship, hopefully which I can turn into a PR internship next summer. We're required to intern with a TV or radio station at some point, everyone apparently just does Comcast SportsNet DC, so I'll probably head that way for a semester as well.

And with regards to school, it doesn't matter which school you go to if you're dedicated enough. I haven't even begun the hardcore major classes at the university but yet I have tons of experience not only reporting, but editing, producing, etc. So it all, really, comes to down to the person's dedication and ability. The school, for the most part, is the best contact you have. Professors at UMD (and any other good J-school) have tons of contacts when it comes to jobs and is a constant source of internships and jobs after school. My roomate was considering Penn State but ultimately came to MD only to end up switching majors, lmao.

All in all, journalism majors FTW
With newspapers dying and the industry changing, one thing that has actually grown in the last ten years is the opportunities in sports journalism. Every area has a local sports TV channel (Comcast, FoxSports, etc) and there are countless websites that offer internships or, if you're good enough, paid positions to cover sports. Sports need reporting and these days there are tons of new places to get your feet wet. The internet has helped sports become more accesible to the fan, and people need reporters to tell them how their local team (especially at lower levels, like minor-league baseball) is doing.

[ubernoob]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Government slave.

[Chef Matt]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Government slave.

I used to be one of those too. Chefin all the way now.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Accountant

[Ruffy]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Former ticket sales rep for the Toronto Argos.
Former On-field Coordinator for the Buffalo Bisons.
Former Broadcast Associate - Rogers Sportsnet - Sportsnetnews
Former Editorial Assistant - TSN - Sportscentre

Currently
Project Coordinator for an Engineering Company
- restoration work (construction review)
- Reserve Fund Studies

Stay out of sports unless your an athlete....poor hours, high stress, low pay. Other than that its fun!

[Eton Rifles]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Postal Service employee.

[Scott]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Just got a new job as a bartender at a Country Club

[Cebby]

Re: What do you do for a living?

I just sell all the free Nintendo Wiis and ipod Nanos that I win online.

[dbeth]

Re: What do you do for a living?

High school math teacher.

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Research and development chemist.

[deaduck]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Research and development chemist.

Is that anywhere as near as fun as it looks on Better Off Ted?

[Kelso]

Re: What do you do for a living?

System Analyst. I never thought being an 8 hour desk jockey would be so boring.

[stewaat]

Re: What do you do for a living?

System Analyst. I never thought being an 8 hour desk jockey would be so boring.

I used to do that, and it's 9 hour desk jockey.

BTW who in the hell needs an hour lunch? Let me eat at my desk and go home an hour earlier.

[Unoriginal Name]

Re: What do you do for a living?

Is that anywhere as near as fun as it looks on Better Off Ted?

I have never watched Better Off Ted.

I will have to watch it now to see and I'll report back.