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Posted May 17, 2013

Do you need an MA in journalism to make it in the industry?

Journalism is an industry that’s synonymous with big pay cheques, fast cars and well pressed suits. Whilst most journalists may look like they’re having the time of their lives on the surface, the fact is that it’s a fairly low paying industry when compared to others – and breaking into the industry in the first place is becoming an increasingly difficult task. What lots of journalism graduates want to know is whether or not an MA in journalism will really help their chances of “making it big” in the industry. On the evidence we’ve seen, we’d have to say that an MA in the discipline really won’t make that much of a difference.

Industry qualifications are more important Whilst an MA in journalism will look great on your CV , lots of employers prefer to see industry qualifications. What do we mean by an “industry qualification”? You might ask. Well one example is the NCTJ qualification – which is obtained once an individual studies a course and passes the various modular exams involved. The NCTJ course is a prerequisite of most print media employers – it covers everything from the ethics involved with journalism, right through to learning shorthand.

The fact is that an MA in journalism looks good – but don’t rely on that qualification to get you your dream job. A rival applicant with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and the NCTJ award may be a much more appealing applicant for some employers – the main reasons being the time and money involved with putting recruits through the NCTJ course.

Most journalists didn’t study journalism Shock, horror! Lots of people don’t realise it but a huge proportion of journalists out there don’t have a degree in journalism. Popular degrees for journalists to hold include politics, philosophy and history. Lots of journalists spent their time in university learning about a specific topic – not necessarily learning the discipline of journalism. This is good news for people who want to become a journalist but didn’t study a journalism course at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Some employers actively seek new recruits who don’t have a course in journalism or media studies – instead they only recruit those who have an in depth knowledge and a degree in a certain field.

If you didn’t study journalism as an undergraduate but you decide the field appeals to you, the opportunity to complete an MA in journalism is one that you should jump at with both hands – providing you have the time, money and inclination to study an MA course .

The answer to our original question is simple: You don’t need an MA to “make it big” in the journalism industry – but having one can be beneficial. Instead, a qualification such as the NCTJ award is often preferred by employers.

This article was provided by Nick, a published journalist and head of content at Graduates.co.uk .  Nick is also a Director at a freelance writing company, which hires journalists both during and after university.

 

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