I can't do math. That's why I'm a Journalist.

College Majors
1

<p>Ha. Bumper stickers.</p>

<p>Anyway, by my name, I'm sure you could infer that I'm a journalism kid. However I'm starting to think it will be a terrible career.</p>

<h1>1 People hate the media. They think its biased, people don't understand that good news isn't news, and they complain about it non-stop.</h1>

<h1>2 When we have a pet hamster, what do we line their cages with to catch their crap? Someone's hardly researched article in a daily. Chances are it wasn't even read.</h1>

<h1>3 People hate to be sources. They don't want to be bothered, and have a knack for hanging up on us.</h1>

<p>I was wondering if anyone out there considering journalism or who is majoring/minoring in journalism can give me some advice. I love it, but I feel so discouraged!</p>

2

<p>i'm not studying journalism, but I like to study film which can be similar.</p>

<p>Questions 1 and 2 only matter if your a bad journalist. As for question 3, that's part of the job. You need to develop more self-confidence and not care about pestering people to get your point across (people aren't made of glass- just learn to push them a little more than they're used to). </p>

<p>If you're a genuinely good writer with a knack for expressing complex ideas, you'll have the power and opportunity to influence and move people, which is pretty awesome. You'll also have opportunities to meet many interesting people and will constantly be gaining a much better perspective on life (which makes you a better writer, person, etc.). You're not tied down to one subject forever-- you'll be able to do all kinds of things (report in a warzone one day, document a scientific discovery the next day, etc.). </p>

<p>If you're the type of kid who really cares about the world and is passionate about making it a better place, making a name for yourself as a journalist means people will lesson when you have something to talk about. </p>

<p>Going back to #1, it seems like you're worried about journalism not being an "honorable" profession. 50% of that's in your head, and 50% of that true. Some journalists are dishonest scumbags. I guess a lot of them realize when they first get into the profession that you've got to be a little dishonest and a little bit of a rat to succeed because it is such a difficult profession to rise in (like acting, etc.). But, as long as you're honest and assertive, I don't see what can go wrong. People are drawn to those characteristics, and there are enough honest journalists out there to prove that. </p>

<p>If you like journalism, stick with it. As long as you're a good, honest person, you shouldn't worry about what other's think (if you're an a*shole, you should realize that people naturally won't like you-- it has nothing to do with being a journalist). Basically, just do what you want. Life's too short to second-guess your instincts. </p>

<p>(Wow, I wrote a lot. dude, you better read this.)</p>

3

<p>Wow thanks. You're right. I never really thought about it that way. Not all journalists are scumbags, there are just journalists who happen to be scumbags. A lot of us are trying to get out there and make a living doing something we love by providing a service and telling the truth, it's the ones who don't care about anything but "making it" that give us a bad rep.</p>

<p>I really do believe it is an honorable profession.</p>

4

<p>SOME journalists are bad, not all. Some handle situations in ways that I don't think are appropriate (we just had a very shocking event happen at school last weekend, and reporters stood inside of our chapel videotaping our Masses and interviewing students as they walked outside). While they didn't report anything bad about the school specifically, all of the headlines talked about the event itself, and the arrests that were made as a result, and for the most part ignored the fact that the entire campus community gathered on the steps of our student union in support of those who were affected. Where were the reporters when an entire campus displayed such unity? </p>

<p>These are the reporters and journalists I don't care for; the ones who only want to get a good story. However, there are many who love what they do, and who are good at it as well. I do believe that journalism is an honorable profession, and that they provide something very valuable to everyone.</p>

5

<p>Yeah. Sadly, the truth is that good news just isn't news. So your schools unity just doesn't make a solid story, reporters don't crawl over each other to get that lead.</p>

<p>I think thats another reason why people just don't like us. Hah.</p>