Anyone seeking to get into journalism knows they need a qualification to fulfil their ambitions, as you’ll nearly always be turned away in applications, otherwise.
But knowing where to start can be difficult, which is why we’ve put together this guide to help you find the qualifications you need.
The profession of journalism has become a career almost exclusive to graduates, with many practicing journalists also carrying a postgraduate degree under their belt. Anyone seeking the university route should ensure thorough research beforehand.
This isn’t your only path, however, with apprenticeship schemes, NCTJ qualifications, or simply on-the-job training with a local newspaper all offering a route in.
To help you choose your ideal career, we’ve assembled some of the most common paths and what you need to achieve them.
A quick overview of your options
Newspaper
With local papers, you’ll likely have low pay, but can easily obtain training whilst you’re working through NCTJ courses, such as newsassociates.co.uk/what-is-the-nctj/.
Online
If current affairs and succinct writing are your expertise, online journalism is the choice for you. Your information needs to be short, snappy, and informative, and you’ll likely need some experience in news writing already.
Magazine
Magazines are highly diverse with what they can cover, giving you a greater chance to find a role you enjoy, but nearly all magazines will ask that you have a degree or formal training beforehand.
Photojournalism
This option will nearly always require a degree, but universities have begun offering specialised courses tailor-made for this role.
Broadcast
If radio or TV are your preferred paths, it’s a good time to get involved, as there are plenty of opportunities within these sectors in recent years.
Sports journalism
Like photojournalism, universities have begun opening up specialised courses for sports journalism as well, with the industry seeing significant growth in recent years.
Regardless of your career path, there are countless paths to pursue your interests. Whether you prefer to earn experience on the job, follow an apprenticeship scheme, or opt for university or NCTJ courses, you can find your dream job in journalism today.
