Book and Media Studies?
Hey! I want to get into journalism and I’m wondering what programs and stuff I should do.
I’m taking some Media courses in first-year. Any benefits?
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Book & Media studies, eh?
I’ve never taken a course from this program, but I do love reading. Alas, I will resort to speculation, and harassing smart people to answer your question.
The website says: The program prepares students for vocations in journalism, publishing, editing, communications and graduate programs in information and library science.
This seems pretty evident that it would be relevant to a career in journalism, right? I noticed that the program description seems to emphasize text-based journalism. However, the course listings are evenly distributed between print and non-print media (e.g. radio, TV). There also seems to be a focus on the history of media, which may seem less relevant to the practice of journalism. Call me a romantic, but I still think being able to situate contemporary media in its historical context is a foundational skill for any journalist.
Another idea for you is to take courses from the Innis College Writing & Rhetoric Minor program.
This program is much more focused on the development of practical writing skills. Beyond this, the program aims to develop your ability to critically reflect upon, and construct, arguments. The program is also interdisciplinary (the wave of the future, my friend), as it is structured to complement other academic streams. So, it’s my humble opinion that throwing this Minor into the mix would directly benefit your journalistic aspirations. It’s also important to note that you don’t need to be enrolled in the Minor to take the Writing & Rhetoric courses.
Beyond these options, I recommend taking a subject POSt in a field of interest to you. What kind of journalist do you want to be? A generic newscaster or editor? A political columnist? An economic writer? An endless fountain of second hand embarrassment? I’m not trying to pigeon-hole you, but it occurs to me that journalism is more than just being able to investigate issues and articulate them to broader audiences (a.k.a. the process of journalizing). I think that it’s very important to generate some expertise/interest in a more substantive field of study (a.k.a. the content of journalism).
So, sample courses from various streams to see what might be of interest to your prospective career as a journalist. You might find some great candidates for an additional Minor or Major.
You should also get involved in a student newspaper. Each College has one, and I get the impression that they are always desperate for contributors.
I hope this helps. I also hope that any newsies out there can chip in with some experience-based advice!
