Journalism Degree Online | Online Journalism Courses and Programs

Journalism Degree Online | Our TOP Recommendations
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Reporters, news analysts, and correspondents collect information, write stories, and make broadcasts that provide viewers with information about local, state, national, and international events, offer points of view on contemporary issues; and report on the activities of public officials, corporate executives, interest groups, and others.

• Nature of the Work - The work of reporters, news analysts, and correspondents is typically chaotic. They work under tremendous deadline pressure. Broadcasts are frequently aired with very little time for preparation. Some reporters, news analysts, and correspondents are able to work in private, comfortable offices, while others work in large rooms filled with several other reporters, computers, and printers.
• Journalism Degree Online - More than 1,475 institutions provide degree programs in journalism, communications, and related studies. As of 2007, 110 of these programs were accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Typical curriculums feature courses in liberal arts and the remaining classes focus on journalism.
• Other Qualifications - Reporters usually need more than just good word-processing skills. Desktop-publishing and computer graphics skills also are beneficial. Computer-assisted reporting relies on the use of computers to evaluate data while researching for an article. This method and the interpretation of the findings require computer skills and knowledge of databases. News photography skills are also useful for entry-level jobs, which often combine the duties of a reporter with those of a photographer or camera operator.
  
  

Journalism Degree Online - Courses, Programs and Schools

Students pursuing a career in broadcasting enroll in courses in television and radio news and production. Those pursuing newspaper or magazine jobs typically focus on news-editorial journalism. To write stories for online media, they must learn to use computer software to blend online story text with audio and video.

Many schools also offer a master’s or Ph.D. degree in journalism. Several graduate programs are intended mainly as preparation for news jobs, while others train researchers and theorists, journalism teachers, and advertising and public relations workers. A graduate degree may assist people looking to move up more quickly.

High school courses in journalism, English, and social studies provide a solid foundation for college programs. Beneficial college liberal arts courses include English with an emphasis on writing, history, political science, sociology, economics, and psychology. Classes in business, computer science, and speech are beneficial, too. Fluency in a foreign language is required for some jobs.


Journalism Degree Online | Online Journalism Courses and Programs - Graduate - Job Outlook


Competition will continue to be close for positions on broadcast stations and networks, large metropolitan and national newspapers, and magazines. Career opportunities will be optimal for applicants in the growing world of new media, such as online news sources or magazines. Small, local papers and news stations will also offer greater job opportunities for futures reporters and news analysts. For entry-level newspaper reporters, freelancing will provide more opportunities for jobs as well. Students with a background in journalism plus another specific topic, such as economics, politics, or biology, will have an edge over students without additional background knowledge.

Journalism graduates have the foundation for work in similar fields such as advertising and public relations, and many take positions in these industries. Other graduates take sales, managerial, or other non-media jobs.

The number of job opportunities in the newspaper and broadcasting fields—in which reporters, news analysts, and correspondents work—is reactive to changes in the economy because these fields rely on advertising dollars.

Correspondents, news analysts, and reporters held about 67,000 jobs in 2006. About 59 percent were employed by periodical, newspaper, book, and directory publishers. Another 23 percent had jobs in radio and television broadcasting. Approximately 11 percent of reporters, news analysts, and correspondents were self-employed.


Journalism Degree Online | Online Journalism Courses | Programs - Graduates Earnings Statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports salaries for reporters, news analysts, and correspondents differ greatly. Average annual incomes of reporters and correspondents were $33,500 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $24,275 and $51,500. The bottom 10 percent made less than $19,750, and the top 10 percent made more than $73,750. Average annual incomes of reporters and correspondents were $31,750 in periodical, newspaper, book, and directory publishing, and $38,000 in television and radio broadcasting.

Average annual incomes of broadcast news analysts were $46,750 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $30,000 and $83,400. The bottom 10 percent made less than $22,500, and the top 10 percent made more than $145,500. Average annual incomes of broadcast news analysts were $48,750 in radio and television broadcasting.

Related Occupations: Reporters, news analysts, and correspondents need tot write clearly and effectively to do well in their careers. Good writing skills are also essential for writers, editors and public relations specialists. Several reporters, news analysts, and correspondents must also communicate information verbally. Verbal communication skills are important for interpreters and translators, announcers, those in sales and related careers, and teachers.


Journalism Degree Online | Online Journalism Courses and Programs - Colleges and Universities

There are an excellent number of choices if you want to earn Journalism Degree online. Online schools and colleges now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for colleges and universities where you can attain a Journalism Degree online.


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