People may ask, what is journalism or the main reason behind it? Journalism can include reviews, politics, sports, entertainment, opinion, and trade. Its purpose is to provide important information to the public, so that they are more aware of the world around them. 

In the olden days, you could easily identify who was a journalist, just by seeing how invested they were in their careers. Many of them are professionals trained by a media organization, or they may have received a college education. A few well-known journalists include Anderson Cooper, Robin Roberts, Laura Ingraham, and Piers Morgan. These journalists cover most of the important topics that happen all over the world. 

Journalism is out there for those who have a passion for writing and reporting for the different news media, including magazines, radio stations, and television. If you are motivated to write for the purpose of informing others, then you may have a passion that you can focus on a main topic, like news broadcasting, sports, politics, business, or local community matters. 

In order to pursue your career, you should attend a university and earn your bachelor’s degree. Is it crucial to have your bachelor’s, because it is an excellent way to start you on your path. Earning your degree also shows news organizations that you are knowledgeable in the field of communication and that you have strong writing skills. 

Having your degree will open many doors for you. You can choose to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, visual media, digital journalism, investigative journalism, and business journalism. 

According to U.S. News & World Report, the top five best schools out there for journalism are the University of Southern California, Northwestern University, New York University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis. These universities are some of the best schools here in America, which means that the acceptance rates are usually less than 15%, whereas the graduation rate is more than 85%. 

It is important to keep in mind that tuition fees for these schools are more on the pricey side, but if you apply for scholarships at your high school, it will be such a benefit for you and your family. Many schools may even offer assistance for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. In 2020, USC announced that, if you and your family’s income is $80,000 or less, the school will offer free tuition for students. USC is doing such a generous offer of free tuition to those students and families who really need it. 

During the years you attend college, it is necessary to gain valuable writing experience throughout your time there, before getting into the real world. Many universities offer a journalism program for future journalists to pursue their careers. 

The most common place to begin is writing for your college newspaper. If you are more interested in reporting on news stories, than on sports and entertainment, a college newspaper will give you that opportunity. These experiences will boost and develop your skills, and they will make you prepared for the future and strengthen your portfolio. 

If you are interested in getting involved in journalism, I highly recommend talking with your counselor to see if there are any opportunities for you to start building your career. And you might also consider writing for the Explosion website, because Mr. Livingston is always looking for passionate students who want their voices heard!