The media is one of the most competitive sectors to land a job in, with roles like journalists and editors regularly making it onto the shortlists of the nation’s dream jobs.
The reality is that with so many people vying to be the next Lois Lane, most newbie employees in this sector are paid little more than minimum wage and even as they start to climb the ranks, few will see their salaries rise accordingly.
But if you really are sure that it’s a media darling’s life for you, then you’ll need to choose your degree course wisely. Employers in the media can afford to be incredibly picky about the graduates they take on and there is still a preference for established universities and courses.
Some employers are wary of media degrees, preferring to select graduates from traditional arts backgrounds. BAs in English and History will stand you in good stead if you want become a reporter or feature writer.
A degree alone may not be enough though. Print journalists and broadcast journalists alike need additional qualifications from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalists Training Council (BJTC) respectively. Training for these crucial qualifications is rarely offered by employers in the sector, and would-be journalists will need to either undertake the appropriate college courses or sign up for an NCTJ/BJTC approved MA.
There are a few NCTJ/BJTC accredited BAs out there and these may well be the best degree courses for a career in the media, if you want to avoid delays and leave university work ready. These courses also often assist undergraduates in finding worthwhile work experience placements and summer internships, helping them to make contacts in the industry and boosting their chances of landing a job in an increasingly tough sector.