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What should I study in college in order to become a journalist?

I'm a 9th grader interested in becoming a news journalist. I wanted to know what college courses I should take in order to pursue this career. #journalism #journalist #media

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Brian P. D.’s Answer

Don't limit yourself to any single area. When you get to college, take a wide range of courses - English, history, science, business, fine arts, foreign languages and cultures. Also find some clubs you think might interest you, whether those are academic, cultural, sports, political or issues-driven groups. And of course consider joining the college newspaper or radio station. You will naturally discover which topics interest you the most and then you can pursue those in more depth with additional courses and methods of study. You should certainly take classes that help you become a better writer and communicator, but journalism incorporates so many different areas that you should find the subjects you want to cover as a reporter - where you want to share important information and tell stories - rather than focusing on the study of "journalism." There is merit to studying journalism as an academic and professional field, but that knowledge and those skills can also be developed by working as a reporter on the college and professional levels. Use your time in college to get to know yourself and what motivates and excites you and the rest will fall into place.
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Atul’s Answer

Take AP courses in English and History.
If the school offers public speaking courses it will come handy for a degree in journalism.
Make sure you earn high scores in these subjects and write an essay (for college admission) that gives a glimpse of your talent.
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Crystal’s Answer

In order to become a journalist, you will need to study classes that align to journalism such as news and feature writing, editing, and the like. With the ever changing field I would highly suggest don’t stay in the print or broadcast field alone. Find a program that allows you to experience print, TV, radio and digital to not only get a well-rounded education but also find which type of media that you feel you love the most. And finally, get experience. Sign up for school’s paper, radio, TV or podcast and learn on the job.
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Sophia’s Answer

Hi! Many schools have journalism programs and writing programs (communications too). You could also focus on the field/industry you want to write about (business journalism, scientific journalism, international journalism, etc.). Depending on what you are interested in, it might be good to take courses slightly outside of journalism/writing/communication to differentiate yourself. For example, I have a friend who wanted to be a journalist for environmental issues, so she majored in journalism and environmental science.

Another option would be to go to a site like Linkedin, and type in the company you might want to work for. From there, you can research what positions people have and what their educational background is. For example, you could search "Bloomberg News" on Linkedin, go to the "people" tab, and from there you can see where they studied to provide some ideas. Specific profiles will usually tell you their program/major. I just saw one profile of a woman who majored in international studies and got a masters from NYU in business journalism!
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Mackenzie’s Answer

On a very basic level you will want to take classes that help you form a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking. It doesn't hurt to expose yourself to various subjects and disciplines early on. It will help narrow down the fields you are most passionate about, while also challenging you to get out of your comfort zone. But because of the multimedia toolbox required by most journalists today, you might want to find a college that offers a journalism program that will help build up those skills (writing, editing, video/audio production, photography, graphic design etc) and give you hands-on experience and potentially open up your network in the industry. Whichever direction you decide to go, it's important to remember that all of the skills required to become a journalist can be improved on your own through practice and curiosity.
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Josephine Hua’s Answer

Like Sophia said, many colleges offer journalism and communication program covering different aspects of the new reporting. You can find the niche that suits you best. Also, journalism is all about practicing. While in college, you can look for opportunities to cover your school, college or your community. Or you can create your own news reporting portal. I also like Brian's suggestion that don't limit your interest in one area. A good reporter is not only good at writing. Explore your interest and keep your curiosity around the world.
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