Lecturing in journalism

[Leaver?]

I have lots of experience in journalism.
However, I’ve kept a close eye on developments in the last few months across the industry and I’ve just completed a Masters, as another option.
My question is, how do I go about getting into lecturing/academia?
Have any journalists gone down that route?
Is there much demand?

 

[Flip Wilson]

Yep, I've gone down that route. I went from a newspaper to an SID gig, and while there, got my master's. Finished my last class and the chairwoman of the department asked if I wanted to teach a beginning reporting class. I did that, and then we moved back to our hometown and I started as an adjunct at my undergrad alma mater. After a year of that, I joined the faculty fulltime. Teaching is a good, good gig. Hours are great, I love working with students and working on a campus is pretty cool. Pay is good, too, but other, more experienced faculty say it's not great. The biggest benefit of working here, however, is the ability for me -- and eventually my kids -- to take classes for free.

Feel free to PM me if you need anything else.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Yep, I've gone down that route. I went from a newspaper to an SID gig, and while there, got my master's. Finished my last class and the chairwoman of the department asked if I wanted to teach a beginning reporting class. I did that, and then we moved back to our hometown and I started as an adjunct at my undergrad alma mater. After a year of that, I joined the faculty fulltime. Teaching is a good, good gig. Hours are great, I love working with students and working on a campus is pretty cool. Pay is good, too, but other, more experienced faculty say it's not great. The biggest benefit of working here, however, is the ability for me -- and eventually my kids -- to take classes for free.

Feel free to PM me if you need anything else.

What do you consider "A great salary"?

 

[forever_town]

Umm ... one you can live on?

In other words, not a journalist's salary...

 

[Flip Wilson]

Yep, I've gone down that route. I went from a newspaper to an SID gig, and while there, got my master's. Finished my last class and the chairwoman of the department asked if I wanted to teach a beginning reporting class. I did that, and then we moved back to our hometown and I started as an adjunct at my undergrad alma mater. After a year of that, I joined the faculty fulltime. Teaching is a good, good gig. Hours are great, I love working with students and working on a campus is pretty cool. Pay is good, too, but other, more experienced faculty say it's not great. The biggest benefit of working here, however, is the ability for me -- and eventually my kids -- to take classes for free.

Feel free to PM me if you need anything else.

What do you consider "A great salary"?

I believe a beginning lecturer salary is the low $40s. Another good thing about the flexibile hours is the ability to freelance. I have one regular publication for which I write, and most months make at least $600 for a couple of articles. I also work with the AP some during basketball season.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

That sounds about right.

 

[Apex]

Yep, I've gone down that route. I went from a newspaper to an SID gig, and while there, got my master's. Finished my last class and the chairwoman of the department asked if I wanted to teach a beginning reporting class. I did that, and then we moved back to our hometown and I started as an adjunct at my undergrad alma mater. After a year of that, I joined the faculty fulltime. Teaching is a good, good gig. Hours are great, I love working with students and working on a campus is pretty cool. Pay is good, too, but other, more experienced faculty say it's not great. The biggest benefit of working here, however, is the ability for me -- and eventually my kids -- to take classes for free.

Feel free to PM me if you need anything else.

What do you consider "A great salary"?

I believe a beginning lecturer salary is the low $40s. Another good thing about the flexibile hours is the ability to freelance. I have one regular publication for which I write, and most months make at least $600 for a couple of articles. I also work with the AP some during basketball season.

Not always true. Some lecturers at UNC are making low 20s.

 

[OnTheRiver]

Also, be careful when you get up in the ivory tower. It's made more than a few decent journalists lose their common sense.