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Journalism -which course is best? (1 Viewer)

16021991

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Hi Guys,

I'm in Year 12 and am hoping to land a place in one of the many journalism/media & communication/arts courses.

I have preferences for Sydney, UTS, UNSW, UOW and UWS with varied ATAR cut-offs.

I am a writer - but a factual one (my creative writing is ridiculously bad), and would like to get some advice from people already doing a journalism course on which is the one I should lean towards :)

It would be very much appreciated :)

Thanks guys!!
 

jaimebien

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http://community.boredofstudies.org...ty-discussion/199530/best-uni-journalism.html

The general consensus is that CSU is the best university for journalism, UTS the best university of journalism in Sydney and that USYD mixes more theory into the course.

Personally, I put USYD as my first choice because I wanted a well-rounded Arts degree. From what I understand, the UTS Journalism degree narrows in on journalism specifically. So at the moment, at USYD, I'm doing my Media and Communications major, along with other Arts electives. I don't mind that my degree may be more theory-intensive than other universities, because I'm still going out to get my own work experience (in my own time), which is additional to the compulsory internship in the 4th year as well as the news pieces we have been and will continue producing.

At the end of the day, you just have to ask yourself what you want out of your degree. If you are also considering CSU (bear in mind that you will have to move out, though I hear the campus life is great), you should check the application process now as they take into account the ATAR as well as a questionnaire and prescribed essay (so there are several deadlines to worry about, I think). More info here: http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/undergraduate/communication_journalism/additional_req.html.If you're serious about journalism, you should keep an open mind to this course, even despite location. Keep your options open.
 
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wrong_turn

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just for technicality, its not a course that you are referring to. it is called a program or degree program. a course is like a subject.
 

jaimebien

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My bad, though arguably at USYD, Media and Communication is your course, not you degree, since you would major in it. Any reason you're up so late/early? I....need to get through my readings. Gah it's too late and I'm not thinking straight.
 

16021991

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Thanks for the links, those other threads are also very helpful.

Let me ask you this - is journalism the right path for me? As I said, I'm a factual writer, with a way with words (on occasion lol).

I want to write - is there another path that hasn't occurred to me?
 

*rUsTy*

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Well I did a journalism course last year at Macleay College and found that the writing is extremely simplified. That's a challenge in itself deciding how to use limited amounts of words to get the story across.

Only you can decide if it's the right path for you. It's like every job I suppose, you don't know until you give it a go.
 

16021991

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Really? Wow. I'm not one of those "use 20 words when 4 will do" people.... I like 20 words....

Would be interesting to learn though I guess :)
 

*rUsTy*

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Yeah, I was the same. Was pretty surprised how simple the writing was. For example, the intro should cover the who, what, where, when, why and how? in no more than 17 or so words. Paragraphs are only one sentence, two at most. Keep in mind news writing is made so even the dumbest people can understand it haha.
 

jaimebien

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Thanks for the links, those other threads are also very helpful.

Let me ask you this - is journalism the right path for me? As I said, I'm a factual writer, with a way with words (on occasion lol).

I want to write - is there another path that hasn't occurred to me?
Glad you found them useful.

I definitely think you're asking some of the right questions in deciding if journalism is the best path. Remember, though, that journalism is as much a process as it is the act of writing. A journalist would have to research/investigate a topic, interview people (are you a people person? do you have the social and verbal skills? if the answer the two previous questions is no, that's ok, because verbal skills can be improved upon, but then, would you be enthusiastic or willing to labour through this crucial part of the job even if you hate it?). Another part of the job is networking, which some people hate, or conversely, constantly being alone (for example, if you're based in a rural location).

A lot of people in my degree do this course because they love writing--in all sorts of forms. (As I mentioned before, my degree is broader, so it gives people opportunities to pursue editing, PR, etc.) If you're choosing journalism just because you love formal writing, perhaps you might consider being a proofreader or editor (though I don't imagine there's much writing in that), public relation officer or copywriting (though it's debatable how formal the writing in those jobs are, since you have to write with a spin or at least persuasively). There's also arts research, which will give you an opportunity to research and write about whichever field you choose. The last one I'm thinking of is to be a critic, which actually is a proper job. (One of the liveliest critics today must be Mark Blankenship, who writes this blog: http://www.thecriticalcondition.com/. Another favourite is John Mullan who writes for the Guardian newspaper in the UK and also teaches at a university. You can read some of his writings here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnmullan. His philosophy is very much about making literature or "high art" accessible to the common reader. And of course, there's George Steiner - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Steiner - who's a modern day Renaissance man.) I think people often associate being a critic as being a journalist who just happens to shoot people and their work down in newspapers or magazines, but a critic does have to have pretty specialised training in the arts that perhaps a journalism degree isn't best suited for.

There is one more question, the litmus test if you will. Think about journalism and then answer this question: does the mere thought of it spark some flame of excitement in you? If there's nothing, not even a tiny spark, then it's not for you.
 
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16021991

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Wow jaimebien that is some really great advice - thank you so much for taking the time :)

I do get that spark and I am a people person :) i do like the idea of being a critic - could be very interesting. Do you think I should go for a journalism degree or a media & communications degree?

I'm just thinking about what will open more doors....
 
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proper and salient journalists/writers dont study journalism....(most would study arts/literature/political economy, if at all)
sry but people cannot be taught orginatily or wit
 

ad infinitum

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proper and salient journalists/writers dont study journalism....(most would study arts/literature/political economy, if at all)
sry but people cannot be taught orginatily or wit

Indeed. These courses are more targeted at those who have no real interest in ideas but rather those that have a penchant for reciting facts of one sort or another.
 

wrong_turn

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oh and media and communications is called your specialisation =P

course makes up a specialisation
a specialisation/s makes up a program
the program makes up the degree
 

jaimebien

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Wow jaimebien that is some really great advice - thank you so much for taking the time :)

I do get that spark and I am a people person :) i do like the idea of being a critic - could be very interesting. Do you think I should go for a journalism degree or a media & communications degree?

I'm just thinking about what will open more doors....
No worries. I was in a similar position last year, so I'm happy to help where I can. I definitely think you should pick an option that caters both to your various interests (in this case, critical writing and critical analysis) and opens up opportunities. USYD's BA (Media and Communications) is great for your purposes, but another option could be the various Communication degree at UTS such as BA in Communication (Writing & Cultural Studies) at UTS. USYD's BA would also work, as you could specialise in a few areas of arts/humanites and back it up with practical experience outside of uni to get your foot into the industry.

proper and salient journalists/writers dont study journalism....(most would study arts/literature/political economy, if at all)
sry but people cannot be taught orginatily or wit
I agree with that to some extent. Things like a good news instinct or as you said, originality and wit, cannot be taught. However, a formal education in journalism could serve to strengthen and develop such traits. Also, journalism is a career that comes with a very specific set of skills. You can learn to write in the different types of media on the job, or you could learn it at uni with guidance and less risk. I think the best way to learn to become a journalist is a combination of formal education and practical experience (where you can apply what you've learnt and still add more to it, instead of learning basic things on the job so that you miss out on the bigger lessons).

Still, you're right on the money about specialising in a field like literature or political economy, because knowing how to write is one thing, but knowing what you're writing about is another. This is the major reason why I picked USYD, because I can study journalism and also get a proper arts degree.

oh and media and communications is called your specialisation =P

course makes up a specialisation
a specialisation/s makes up a program
the program makes up the degree
Ah thanks! You learn something new every day.
 

panicstation

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UTS Journalism is fantastic. I study Spanish language and culture, have the opportunity to study film or literature or history or politics and am taught journalism by people who are actually still practising journalists, including ABC reporters and Herald reporters and SBS reporters. There is not a hasbeen columnist among them.

The other thing is that we are a very tightknit group. No college snobbery or school snobbery.

Hope you got to the UTS Open Day.
 

spazamataz

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CSU is probably the best for journalism.
And UoW's bachelor of Journalism is good too (according to friends).
But I stress, do not do the Bachelor of communication and media studies journalism specialisation unless you want to actually learn about communications and not solely journalism.

Also, the whole 'best' university is nothing but a marketing campaign set up by universities. Go to the one that you think has the most enjoyable course in your eyes (Look at outlines and what the subjects involve), at a place you think you can live, and if it comes down to it, where friends are at.
 

dangerdude

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Hey guys,

We run a sports website and are currently looking for a journalism student (or two), to work with us at your own pace on an exciting project. We pay well and the work will be fun.

If you are interested please check out and reply in this thread: http://community.boredofstudies.org...e-studying-journalism-we-looking-writers.html

If you are interested just reply in that thread and I will get in touch with you.

dangerdude.
 

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