Job Discussion Forums

mattflemming · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 1

I heard somewhere that if you have a journalism degree you can get different jobs than you would with say, a bachelor of arts.
Is that true?

what are the advantages to having a bachelor of journalism when looking for jobs teaching english in asia or elsewhere?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It didn't seem to make a difference for me except in my own mind I guess. If I were in a position to hire you, I would look quite favorably upon a journalism degree, but I can't speak for anyone else.

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

I have a journalism degree and have found it neither a hinderance nor a help in getting a job - then again, it is a BA in Journalism. I've worked in Europe, the UK (no the UK is not in Europe, spiritually anyway!) and Latin America and the degree has never been an issue, although I did nearly get a job as a english news reader on Croatian radio! I think that was because I was a native speaker though, nothing to do with the degree.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I think the thinking of most language schools is that either a bachelors is a bachelors is a bachelors - or they are looking for an edu/TESOL-related degree.

Unless you were applying specifically to, say, the Journalism department at a university, it wouldn't make much of a difference one way or the other.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I too have a journalism degree. My current employer seemed quite impressed by it, but mostly I suspect because he likes to talk about what's going on in the world! In my mind, it is helpful, because some of the speaking tips I learned in radio courses help me when speaking to students. I also learned a lot about writing and language during my courses and the few journalism jobs I held. So I'd say it's useful, but it probably won't help you get a better job.

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

My husband has a journalism degree. The biggest advantage he received was not being assigned oral classes. He is teaching English Journalism, which actually means he teaches seniors how to read a newspaper. It is an enjoyable class to teach, but he doesn't consider it a better position.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Seems like we have a club going on here. Why don't we start up the Dave's Press Corps?

Luna Chica · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Trujillo, Peru

Hey can I join too? I also have a bachelor of journalism. Maybe we should get our own thread on Dave's, what do you think?

Aramas · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:58 am Post subject:

I've always considered that a journalist is to a writer what a burger-flipper is to a chef Smile

keepwalking · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 194 Location: Peru, at last

And yet I bet you have read more newspapers in your life, watched more TV and listened to more radio than you have read books! Interesting though how many former hacks are now selling their language in a different way.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yeah it is interesting is it not? I originally came to Mexico on the idea that I would do some freelancing...travel pieces mostly. I find myself too busy teaching to really make it work. I have done a bit of translation work, which I'm sure would be much more difficult without good writing skills.

BTW, Dave's is accepting, and I assume, publishing submissions. There's a sticky about it somewhere up top.