What courses should I choose?

[flyers9]

Hi, I am currently a junior in highschool and am brand new to this forum. I am interested in becoming a sports journalist and would appreciate any info on what college courses I need to take.
thank you
Bianca

 

[RickStain]

Hi, I am currently a junior in highschool and am brand new to this forum. I am interested in becoming a sports journalist and would appreciate any info on what college courses I need to take.
thank you
Bianca

(sort of) Funny but true answer:
Time travel 101, so you can go back to when there were jobs

Not so funny:
Enroll in a college that offers journalism as a major, and they will make sure you get all the classes you need

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

 

[Stitch]

Hi, I am currently a junior in highschool and am brand new to this forum. I am interested in becoming a sports journalist and would appreciate any info on what college courses I need to take.
thank you
Bianca

(sort of) Funny but true answer:
Time travel 101, so you can go back to when there were jobs

Not so funny:
Enroll in a college that offers journalism as a major, and they will make sure you get all the classes you need

Then get a internship, work at the college paper, put together some clips and when you have a degree, you'll be ready.

 

[Walter_Sobchak]

In all seriousness, I would major in something like accounting or another profession where you can still get a job. Then do sportswriting on the side to see if you really like it.
Having a journalism degree doesn't mean anything when it comes to getting a job in the field, and I sure as heck didn't learn how to write from any classes.

 

[bob]

Study law, history, medicine and business. And if that doesn't work out, go to a trade school and learn to be an electrician or plumber. Then think about journalism.
Don't mean to be sarcastic (well, a little), but it'll really pay to have a well-rounded knowledge base.
Best of luck.

 

[ServeItUp]

Don't go to J-school. Take classes that interest you, BUT make damn sure you're working at the student paper, radio station, magazines, as well as getting internships in the summer. On a day-to-day basis I use absolutely nothing I learned in the classroom, so I have a bit more utilitarian view of things (i.e. I didn't get my money's worth and it bothers me greatly).

 

[Lugnuts]

1. BLOGGING for profit
2. BLOGinating and aggregating
3. How to look and sound great in your BLOGcasts.

I'm sorry, B. Seriously....

The one area where I don't see a rapid decline is the broadcasting of games. I think you should try to go to Fordham, Syracuse or somewhere that offers sports broadcasting and focus almost entirely on play-by-play.

If it doesn't appeal to you now, trust me, by the time you get there, you'll realize that's where it's at.

And because you're a woman, there will be a market. Why not be the first woman to do play-by-play for the NHL?

Go for it, girl!

 

[RickStain]

Don't go to J-school. Take classes that interest you, BUT make damn sure you're working at the student paper, radio station, magazines, as well as getting internships in the summer. On a day-to-day basis I use absolutely nothing I learned in the classroom, so I have a bit more utilitarian view of things (i.e. I didn't get my money's worth and it bothers me greatly).

Maybe it's just me, but I learned more in my classes and internships than I did working for the school paper. But it was a school way too small to support a daily student newspaper but the staff didn't want to admit it, so we were all incredibly overworked and churning out garbage just to get it out every day.

 

[bob]

I, too, learned very little in the classroom. I certainly didn't learn to write until I got a co-op job that enabled me to work at a mid-sized daily. Writing for the school paper is all well and good, but you'll learn more in a professional environment where you'll have plenty of professional advice and assistance.

 

[mustangj17]

Please don't do it. Don't do it don't do it don't do it.

Every company has been laying off people for 5 years now.

Things are getting really bad, 401k cuts, pension cuts, furloughs, more layoffs, buyouts, pay cuts, more job cuts, less travel. You name it, it's being cut.

 

[AMacIsaac]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

This is good advice.

 

[jps]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

This is good advice.

mother-in-law runs a mid-sized hospital. just had to lay off nine people a few weeks back. no job is safe.

 

[ZummoSports]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

This is good advice.

mother-in-law runs a mid-sized hospital. just had to lay off nine people a few weeks back. no job is safe.

The way things are going right now, nine people getting laid off is a good day.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

In all seriousness, I would major in something like accounting or another profession where you can still get a job. Then do sportswriting on the side to see if you really like it.
Having a journalism degree doesn't mean anything when it comes to getting a job in the field, and I sure as heck didn't learn how to write from any classes.

Seriously, Bianca, read this post over and over and commit it to memory. It is absolutely the correct answer.

When I was in high school and was sure I wanted to write for a newspaper someday, everyone in the field had the same advice - don't major in journalism. It was good advice then, and it's better now. You are much better off majoring in something else, even if you end up in journalism. Majoring in business or economics would give you a big advantage in covering the business world, far more than a J-school degree ever would.

And realistically... journalism jobs are going to be very, very, very scarce by the time you enter the workforce.

 

[KevinmH9]

The more seasoned veterans can attest better to the woes of the industry, but I'll say it bluntly: Major in something else. You're a junior in high school and you have plenty of time to find something else you're interested in. Talk to your guidance counselor who can suggest possible career choices based upon your interests or simply sit down and write down things you'd like to do.

There's no need to panic concerning the position you're in, but most will suggest on this board that you are better off not majoring in journalism.

 

[AMacIsaac]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

This is good advice.

mother-in-law runs a mid-sized hospital. just had to lay off nine people a few weeks back. no job is safe.

We are facing crisis levels due to nursing shortages. Natal unit at one regional hospital has closed.

 

[RickStain]

Man, I wish I had the guts to go into nursing. Two years in school and name your price.

 

[Stitch]

Make sure it's something in the health care industry.

This is good advice.

mother-in-law runs a mid-sized hospital. just had to lay off nine people a few weeks back. no job is safe.

We are facing crisis levels due to nursing shortages. Natal unit at one regional hospital has closed.

I hear all of the news about a shortage of nurses, then you hear about health care companies laying off nurses.

 

[mustangj17]

I think everyone on this board has a story about how rough the industry is. Whether it be some of the seasoned beat writers who got railroaded and cut because they made too much, the lucky ones that got out of the business, and even the young ones.

I don't know who the youngest people on this board are. I'm sure I'm one of them, I know Jay Sherman is another - and I know his stories of the industry aren't much better. Kevin, is a youngin' too if I remember correctly and even he suggests not majoring in journalism.

Writing is always something you can do as a hobby. Because it certainly isn't something you get into for the money - whether it is your career or not.