by Caroline Guthrie, CDC Intern
Careers in Journalism can be at magazines, news shows, newspapers, and so much more. People interested in creative industries can be successful in journalism-related careers. Coming from a school like Bucknell, there are many ways to make the most of this liberal arts education without majoring in journalism.
Networking
- The most important part of getting started and furthering your career in journalism is networking
- Bucknellians LOVE to hear from other Bucknellians
- Most people in the industry are extremely generous and willing to give you their time and advice
- Take advantage of the few alumni from Bucknell who are now in journalism careers
- Reach out via email to Bucknell alumni and ask for a 15-20 minute phone call
- The CDC has many resources that detail the art of emailing
- Bucknell Alumni can be found on LinkedIn & The Alumni App
- Reach out to Bucknell professors who may have ties to the journalism industry
Trends in the Industry
- Graduate school is an option. However, many journalists did not go to graduate school
- Notable graduate schools include: American University, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, New York University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, University of Wisconsin
- Many people partake in Post-Graduate Programs at companies (such as the NBC Page Program)
- It is important to realize that entry level jobs usually consist of night shifts and weekend hours… this is only temporary!
- Many people in the journalism industry frequently change jobs in the first stages of their career
- It can be difficult to to move your way up at one company, sometimes it’s better to always take the best opportunity, even if it means leaving a company
- There are many different areas related to journalism. These include public relations, production, booking, on-air talent, writing, editing, and communications
- Real experience is more valuable than anything else
Internships
- It is crucial to gain experience through summer internships, especially coming from a school like Bucknell where there is no “journalism” major
- Broadcast Journalism Internships
- Print Journalism Internships
- Many local newspapers and local news stations have unpaid internships that are great learning experiences
Job Search Resources
- Media Bistro
- Whisper Jobs
- Public Media
- Society of Professional Journalists
- JournalismJobs.com
- Broadcast Career Link
Desired Majors in Journalism (specific to Bucknell)
- English – Film/Media Studies
- English – Creative Writing
- English – Literary Studies
- Political Science
- Economics
- International Relations
Bucknell Journalism-Related Activities
- The Bucknellian
- WVBU-FM
- Her Campus
- Film & Writing Courses
Desired Skills
- Writing
- Video Editing
- Film Production
Bucknellians in Journalism-Related Careers