How important is it to have a bachelor's degree to have a successful career in journalism in today's industry? The reason I ask is this: I have some friends who are part-time clerks/copy editors at the newspaper I work at.
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They've been lured away from finishing school by the prospect of working full time, before finishing their degrees. Sure, they have a job now (why the newspaper is content to employ people full time who haven't finished their degrees could be another question I guess, but I'll first stick to my first inquiry for now). I worry that if there are ever future layoffs at our paper, these people could potentially be left in the cold -- plenty of experience but no credentials behind their names, making them unattractive candidates to future employers.
You always hear about "old-timers" who've cut their teeth in the industry without any formal schooling in journalism. But how often does that really go on today? Would you advise young people to finish school before choosing to work full time in journalism? Am I off-base in telling them it might be in their best interest to finish their degrees, despite how appealing a salary and benefits are at the moment?
Melinda
I admire your concern for your friends and share the value you place in a college degree. However, it is still possible to have your career and degree, too.
The real danger is not in taking a job while in school. The real problem is a decision to completely stop going to school. It is hazardous to figure that experience alone will get you what you want. It probably won't, especially not with the way the work world is evolving.
If work prevents a person from going to college, that can be a problem. But the paycheck -- and a tuition-reimbursement program -- might make the job a key to getting a degree. Certainly, many or most students have to work now.
They are not making a bad decision, but they should keep going to school if they hope to snare the jobs and the much bigger paychecks that are enjoyed by people who finish what they start in college.
Coming Tuesday: With three years of experience, this journalist feels that she has lost the spark for innovation and that it is time to either change jobs or change careers.
