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What are the most crucial skills a mass communication professional needs to stay relevant in the current media landscape?
I am currently a senior in high school and will be graduating upcoming June 2026. I am looking forward to going to college and want to major in Mass communication/media. I also want to have a minor in entrepreneurship so I can build my own brand.
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kaylah !
In order to know what skills you will need, you would need to know the career that you are going to pursue. Mass Communications and Media are very broad subjects, not careers. These majors will contain many subjects that can prepare you for a specific career. Depending on what your career goal is, there may be a better focused Major to choose.
The courses for a major in Communications are typically courses about media and society, visual storytelling, media writing, media ethics, and strategic communication. The courses for a Mass Media Major are usually Introduction to Mass Media, Mass Media in Society, and Mass Media and Society, media production, such as Introduction to Video and Audio Production, Broadcast Writing, and Television Media, Writing and Production. The production subjects can be a career. There are also courses you can take in media power, global media, political economy, ethical challenges, and specific themes such as media and religion, popular culture, or representation in film and television. So your Major Program is going to indicate to you the knowledge you will need to know and what skills are contained in any production courses you take. Your college path and reading and viewing about current events will keep you up to date and relevant for your work.
I would advise that you do more discovery based on a focused career. If you want to work in Television a Bachelors Degree in Film, Television, or Media Production would target a specific career. If you want to work in print or internet, Journalism would be a good Major. If your primary interest is in making films, a Film School will teach you all you need to know for a specific role in that field.
This is a somewhat competitive field so having the correct Major and Degree is very important. Please return and post another question including the exact career you have in mind.
As for minoring in entrepreneurship, again, you did not state enough information for advice. What is the product or service you have in mind of creating ? This is very important to get details so that advice directed for your career can be given. As for minoring, it is not necessary. You can take a couple or more of Business courses in the Business Department that focusing on creating your own service or product. There are lots of books also that tell how to start your own business. By stating more information about this when seeking advice, more exact information can be provided to you.
If you are not sure of what skills you need for your career choice, read the Major Program at the website of the college you will be going to. You'll need the correct Major and Degree based on the work you want to do. Go to employment websites and look up jobs that you expect will be your future career. See what employers are requiring applicants to have their degree in. Also, decide if you want to know a little about all media or want to be expert in one medium. The actual skills you'll need would be told to you in college and it will depend on what you plan to do as a career.
So definitely return and ask more questions with some details. Since you are in Manhattan, consider visiting and/or volunteering at The Paley Center for Media or the Museum of the Moving Image. You will pick up a lot of information and learn more about what career you want to focus on.
So, you will learn the skills for your career through your Major path in college and by doing volunteer work. Do return here if you have anymore questions and I wish you all the best !
In order to know what skills you will need, you would need to know the career that you are going to pursue. Mass Communications and Media are very broad subjects, not careers. These majors will contain many subjects that can prepare you for a specific career. Depending on what your career goal is, there may be a better focused Major to choose.
The courses for a major in Communications are typically courses about media and society, visual storytelling, media writing, media ethics, and strategic communication. The courses for a Mass Media Major are usually Introduction to Mass Media, Mass Media in Society, and Mass Media and Society, media production, such as Introduction to Video and Audio Production, Broadcast Writing, and Television Media, Writing and Production. The production subjects can be a career. There are also courses you can take in media power, global media, political economy, ethical challenges, and specific themes such as media and religion, popular culture, or representation in film and television. So your Major Program is going to indicate to you the knowledge you will need to know and what skills are contained in any production courses you take. Your college path and reading and viewing about current events will keep you up to date and relevant for your work.
I would advise that you do more discovery based on a focused career. If you want to work in Television a Bachelors Degree in Film, Television, or Media Production would target a specific career. If you want to work in print or internet, Journalism would be a good Major. If your primary interest is in making films, a Film School will teach you all you need to know for a specific role in that field.
This is a somewhat competitive field so having the correct Major and Degree is very important. Please return and post another question including the exact career you have in mind.
As for minoring in entrepreneurship, again, you did not state enough information for advice. What is the product or service you have in mind of creating ? This is very important to get details so that advice directed for your career can be given. As for minoring, it is not necessary. You can take a couple or more of Business courses in the Business Department that focusing on creating your own service or product. There are lots of books also that tell how to start your own business. By stating more information about this when seeking advice, more exact information can be provided to you.
If you are not sure of what skills you need for your career choice, read the Major Program at the website of the college you will be going to. You'll need the correct Major and Degree based on the work you want to do. Go to employment websites and look up jobs that you expect will be your future career. See what employers are requiring applicants to have their degree in. Also, decide if you want to know a little about all media or want to be expert in one medium. The actual skills you'll need would be told to you in college and it will depend on what you plan to do as a career.
So definitely return and ask more questions with some details. Since you are in Manhattan, consider visiting and/or volunteering at The Paley Center for Media or the Museum of the Moving Image. You will pick up a lot of information and learn more about what career you want to focus on.
So, you will learn the skills for your career through your Major path in college and by doing volunteer work. Do return here if you have anymore questions and I wish you all the best !