Journalism degree: was it worth it?
Since I was seven-years-old, I dreamed to be a part of the sports media. Listening to sports radio every night, I sat in awe of the beat reporters who called in to share the latest information about our beloved teams.
Imagine a job like that! Being paid to talk to professional athletes. Convey what went wrong in the game and where the team can improve. I do that every day for free. That’s a dream job if I’ve ever heard of one.
Naturally, my interest in media, love of history, and craving for information led to a broader admiration for the role of the news reporter. The underpaid, overworked, unsung heroes who inform the public, expose corruption, and bring to light stories of incredible acts of human decency.
Journalism feels like a higher calling. It’s the pursuit that’s hard to describe for any myriad of “logical” reasons.
“You know you won’t make much money. Job security is shaky. There are fundamental flaws in the economic model of the news.”
Just a small sample of the responses when I’ve told people I was pursuing a degree in journalism. Even a member of Rowan University questioned my career path during a post-graduation check-in. It wasn’t like a cursory question either, more of a condescending ‘why would you possibly do that?’
This isn’t meant to bash Rowan University, either. I wouldn’t have the necessary skills to pursue a career in the industry if not for my time at Rowan. As the cliche goes, it was the best of times and the worst of times, but I’d omit the latter from the phrase. In fact, I wish I had attended the university from the start of my freshman year, rather than as a community college transfer. I hold the professors in the highest esteem and, as a member of The Whit, was granted incredible access from faculty and administration alike.
It’s a rough time for the industry. It’s been a trend for quite some time. I was aware of the struggles of print media. I wasn’t oblivious to the strife in newsrooms across the country. Yet, I still pursued the dream, confident my dedication would lead me to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Nevermind the current political climate. The anti-journalist fervor in America is disheartening. What used to seem to be a healthy skepticism about potential biases in the media has turned to an all-out disdain for people who report on the news.
Half of my extended family hates the profession. Enemy of the people. Frauds. Crooks. All of that jazz. They try to make a distinction to me.
“You cover sports. You’re not one of them.”
Yet, I don’t make the same distinction. Working in sports media is my true dream, but I have no intention of limiting myself. Reporting on sports and the news are the same. At its core, it’s still news reporting, just a different beat. There are still features and human interest pieces about the unique human experience we all share.
Also, it’s not true. I’ve been most proud when I’ve reported on big news events. Covering protests, the fallout of community tragedies, and students stranded abroad during COVID gave me the rush that I can only find from reporting.
Four months removed from graduation, I find myself at a bit of a crossroads. The dream hasn’t been realized. Just one of many recent graduates rudderless in the post-graduation waters of adulthood.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can’t be discounted. I had a handful of interviews lined up before the world flipped upside down. They fell through as newsrooms adapted to the unique challenges of the day. In the weeks and months since the opportunities have dwindled.
I try to keep in mind that it isn’t personal. Newsrooms have laid off or furloughed talented reporters with years of experience. At a time like this, no one is looking to hire a fresh-faced recent college graduate who will take their lumps in their first professional job. Not now. Not at a time of zoom meetings and virtual newsrooms.
What should I do? Pursue a graduate’s degree in a new subject? Apply to law school and fulfill my mock trial dreams from high school? During unprecedented times, I’m forced to reevaluate: was a journalism degree worth it?
Despite the unique challenges of the day, the answer in my heart is clear. Yes, but it doesn’t make the waiting game any easier.
