Remarks for First Day of Class

·      *** A challenging time for journalism as a profession that seldom has there been a greater need for responsible, courageous journalism ***

    But other practical benefits

h The fine art of asking questions – and getting answers

·      Sometimes you only have 100 words to say what you have to say. And sometimes you have 5,000. Journalism trains you to do both.

·      You are curious about life in general, but you don’t want to appear too inquisitive. Journalism is a license to probe while simultaneously training you to do so ethically and humanely.

• Advertising copywriter
• Digital copywriter
• Information officer
• Market researcher
• Multimedia specialist
• Public relations officer
• Writer
• PR (five times as many PR practitioners as journalists?)
• Corporate communications
• Charities and other organizations devoted to doing good
• Grant writers

Back to general usefulness

• critical analysis;
• resourcefulness;
• self-management;
• interpersonal skills;
• leadership;
• a flexible, creative and independent approach to tasks;
• the ability to meet deadlines;
• the capacity to communicate information effectively and clearly.

The ability to listen and to work productively in a team are also crucial skills.

The Internet has created a whole new source of journalism jobs, from professional bloggers to social media managers.

·      Many trained as journalists work for commercial brands, government or political entities or entrepreneurial and tech firms. Only 41 percent of the group doing journalism work for traditional media companies. Philosophy, economics, and journalism majors were admitted to law school at rates of 82, 79, and 76 percent.
       
     ETHICS!