Why Journalism? Why University?

BY Sophie Loader

Journalism provides an individual with the power to express opinions on fact through written word, and is completely unique in this ability, which is why it is proving a popular choice for young people as a degree at university.

But what’s the point in studying journalism at university? Some may say that with the current decline in newspaper sales, journalism is a dying profession. This couldn’t be a more ridiculous opinion. There may be a decline in print newspapers, but the 21^st century generation is more obsessed now with sharing their opinions and views than ever before. Look at the boom of blogging, the revolution of social media, and ever increasing interest in current affairs, combined with advances in technology. Journalism is everywhere. And journalism is needed everywhere. Therefore we need qualified journalists, who need a degree.

There are now 89 universities in the UK providing a course in journalism, whether that be for multimedia, broadcast or print and with the ever developing world of media and technology, journalism is becoming a part of life that feeds into everything, and one we cannot ignore.  It is a profession requiring an individual to build a multitude of skills, and due to this university requirements are getting more and more prestigious as time goes on. Some universities such as City University London now require three A grade subjects at A Level in order to study the course and it could be argued that getting into journalism as a career would be virtually impossible without a degree. University lecturers say that “due to the fact the field of journalism has grown in the amount of competition and how popular a career path it is, people do not tend to follow the strict career path from apprenticeships in small newspapers anymore and instead strive for leading roles in journalism straight away, therefore young people need something that distinguishes them from others in the field. A university degree provides this”. University will provide you with a foot into a competitive world of writers. You need to be curious, fascinated with people, what makes them tick, flexible, passionate about words and above all else, you have to love writing. After all, power of written word is the basis of all journalism.

So You Want To Be A Journalist?

BY Joe McCarthy

The general election is coming up, as I am writing this each political party is releasing a dry and mundane manifesto. David Cameron is offering everyone the ‘good life’, Natalie Bennet is asking for a ‘peaceful revolution’ and Ed Milliband is introducing himself as ‘the next prime minister’.

My political opinions are spawned not from the BBC News Website or The Guardian, but twitter. As the older generation can vote, they have to think about the defecit and the NHS. As a 17 year old, I can think about the important stuff, I can watch vines of Ed Milliband rapping over BBK. Allow me to introduce you to the world of @PoliticalReactz, where serious journalism is butchered and stock images and captions are king.

This is the sort of thing that political journalism is becoming. In reality, do the young care about the defecit? Do they care about the stagnancy of inflation right now? The short answer is probably ‘meh’. @PoliticalReactz is the way the youth’s political opinions are formed, and perhaps how they will stay. Modern journalism is short, zany and usually 140 characters long. Every user of twitter is equal therefore so is each tweet. So if you’re saying that you want to be a journalist? Well; every time you RT a dubbing over of Iggy Azalea freestyling, every time you tweet that Nigel Farage is trash, every time you tweet a link to your ‘My Early Spring Style Ideas’ post on tumblr in a desperate attempt to be sent a free Triangl bikini- you are a journalist.

Forget the New York Times and The Daily Mail, this is the age of Snapchat. As I type I am on Snapchat watching 10 second snippets of global events, this weekend I witnessed Californian music festival Coachella live through a series of Snapchat stories. Then there is a feature in which media outlets like Cosmopolitan and Buzzfeed post snappy stories, usually about the colour of Kylie Jenner’s hair (electric blue btw). This is the real state of journalism in April 2015, I say the month because I’m sure that by May the way we receive news will have changed massively.

Is this the democratisation of journalism? A journalist who has worked themselves to the bone to get their copy done is as equal as someone taking their A-Levels and wants to tell everyone about what they think about the new Kendrick Lamar album. Yeah it’s cool, it’s exciting but like the age old mantra states ‘Quality Not Quantity’. No matter how many Buzzfeed articles that you’ve read, that will never be real journalism. Real Journalism is sticking your foot in the door and not leaving till you have the exclusive. Real Journalism is travelling to Syria and riding shotgun with ISIS. Real Journalism is spending Glastonbury covered in mud, drenched in other people’s urine and working out whether Kanye West won over Worthy Farm.

A Review: The News by Alain de Botton

BY Fred Vint

Alain de Botton’s most recent work revises the ethical role of the media and is essential in re-defining the role for the next generation of journalists.  Anyone embarking on a career in journalism is currently faced with an industry in something of a moral crisis. The Press is either heralded as crusaders of free speech or as parasites leeching on stories of dubious worth or obtained through unethical means.  This book is very much designed for the public, the consumers of the news, by addressing how we should interpret and value it within a secular society. In addition he imagines a utopian news corporations and how it would operate. Yet, it still holds enormous insight into how a journalist should operate. Crucially he provides a stark reminder to any scribbler; that the journalist has huge responsibility, not merely to sales or views or retweets but to the overall wellbeing of the readers, viewers and listeners.

The vast majority of aspiring journalists are attracted to the long held view that the Watergate scandal (which exposed and ultimately led to the downfall of Richard Nixon’s presidency) represented the zenith of investigative journalism. However de Botton challenges this preconception which he calls The Watergate Paradigm. In his typically flowery prose, he bemoans the constraints that the news places on itself by casting itself simply as an extension of the police, bringing the evil and corrupt to justice, on behalf of the voiceless public. The idea that the media’s role is to find those culpable of blame, is unhealthy and can only lead to disappointment, he argues. Instead the media should be capable of enhancing and improving the perspective of the reader rather than reducing the world to a series of civil wars, economic crashes and natural disasters. Rather than the many small acts of kindness which are of equal significance. This is one example of how de Botton suggests the media should alter its own perception. The vast spectrum of topics he covers, which makes it relevant regardless of the type of genre being pursued, which range from economics to health. Sport however is conspicuous by its absence – you can’t help but feel that the subject is deemed by the author not worthy of any philosophical analysis.

This book covers many different angles of journalism including photography which since it is the most accessible medium afforded to our Generation. Generation Z is capable of accessing a multitude of data, through Blogs such as these. Among these issues our opinion writer Joe McCarthy deals with in: So You Want to be a Journalist. A focal point of Du Buttons argument is that the constant and instantaneous nature of the news causes two problems to arise; the first that stories often do not come with appropriate context. An example provided is that de Botton highlights how often it is very hard for a reader to empathise to a situation of importance such as a case of embezzlement swirling around a Ugandan President. The argument is developed further, that the nature of the media means that perspective is often lost leading to simply confusion or at worse apathy.  The second fault of the media is the seemingly arbitrariness of the media, exemplified by its use of photography. Instead of using ‘obvious images’ to illustrate an article, he demands the use of more abstract images, an attempt to shift journalism to a more artistic form.

I would not recommend this book as an all-encompassing guide to the media industry. However it does provide a fascinating and unique approach to the media through the lenses of an accessible and often witty philosopher. This book provides a challenging way to how we should approach journalism and if it is not valued by conventional journalists, then all the more reason for Journalism for Dummies to celebrate Du Botton’s unique attitude to the Journalistic profession.

Rating:  4/5

Journalism, Your Future

BY Argita Memia.

Communication. Essential to human life. Without communication, how would we survive, how would we express our need for food, water and comfort? In modern society, our idea of communication has obviously evolved, where now we talk about more cultural issues surrounding our lives, e.g. who to vote for in the coming General Election?

The jobs surrounding Journalism are infinite, regardless of whether you like to write, talk or even both. Careers include, Broadcast Journalist, Magazine Journalist, Writer, or someone who writes Book Reviews. The possibilities are endless for you. The flexibility of what you could do with a Journalism careers presents you with a world of opportunities of what you could do. Literally. A Foreign Correspondent could have you transported to the most beautiful places on the Globe. If you like travelling, then this is the career that will fulfil your ambitions.

Or even if travelling isn’t quite your cup of tea and you prefer to wear your pyjamas, sitting in front of your computer with your cat on your lap then you could become a blogger! Dominic Ponsford, editor for the U K Press Gazette said “All you need is a website, a mobile phone and a twitter handle.” Social Media presents us with the ability to transfer our thoughts to a global stage in a matter of seconds. Within minutes, your tweet, article or video could be viral; highlighting the power that Journalists have to alter the perspectives of their audience.

Furthermore, the easily- adapting nature of young people puts them at an advantage, where the use of multi-media technology in Journalism is expanding at a constant rate. Allowing young people the ability to be open to even more jobs as older journalists perhaps wouldn’t find it as easy to establish themselves in the world of social-media.

Journalism is possibly one of the most exciting jobs out there, if you are a naturally inquisitive person then Journalism allows you to explore new intellectual terrain every day. Suzanne Franks, Professor of Journalism at City University says “you go to all sorts of exciting places, talk to so many interesting people”. Daunting as it sounds to be introducing yourself to new people on a daily basis, these skills are developed through the study of Journalism. As a result, Journalism gives you the ability to grow as a person in terms of your character and your ability to perceive. “You have got to be a flexible, adaptable character”, this aspect is paramount in the field of journalism, as this job is not for people who are not willing to explore their views and opinions.

The money earned within Journalism varies massively depending on what career path you go down. For example, a Broadcast Journalist’s starting salary is £15,000 to £20,000. But again, this changes based on whether you choose to become a local or a national broadcaster. Whereas, if you decide to become a Newspaper Journalist, and achieve a decade’s worth of experience, then lucky you! You’ll then earn about £35,000 to £40,000.

So why do people our own age decide to become journalists? Joe McCarthy, A Level Student believes “that Journalism is amazing due to the way that you shape someone’s opinion”, and this opinion is echoed in Charlie Pittock’s opinion where “Journalism allows me to research my love of Sport and gives me the ability to write about my passion”. There is no set reason why to become a Journalist, but “if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon” Tom Stoppard.

 

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