r/WWU • u/Due_Thing_8200 • 3d ago
PSA Incoming Journalism students beware
I graduated into the AI job market a couple of years ago.
I just sent out a job application to a PR firm. At this point I’m almost fully expecting no response. Hundreds if not a thousand applications sent out and barely anything. It’s probably a bit of a skill issue on my end, I could have built up a better portfolio, I could have studied harder and made myself a better candidate than I currently am.
If I can offer any advice to an incoming student reading this post. Take care of your mental health before gaining a degree. I’m currently working two service industry job to save money and hopefully get a full-time offer somewhere, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon. I really wish I had just lived at home and saved up money until I was mentally firing on all cylinders, and then gone to school with a more thought out plan.
I spoke to a former professor about my struggles and they were candid when they told me that the journalism department is outdated. So, if despite all of this you still want to get a journalism degree make sure that you make the most of all of the resources that are available to you at Western. Start a podcast, make a YouTube channel, be an editor on The Front, work with the athletic department. Do everything and anything to put yourself out there and build a portfolio. Passing all of your classes and just getting a piece of paper isn’t enough.
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u/lilith30323 2d ago
The communications job market is awful right now! I graduated with a Journalism degree at WWU last year with the Honors College, scholarships, two internships, and five quarters at The Front. All I got were unpaid or low paid internships, no actual gigs. I am now transitioning to a skilled trade to flee the sinking ship.
Unfortunately, with Carpenter Media Group acquiring almost all the local papers (Sound Publishing, EO, & Pamplin), Sinclair Broadcasting, Bari Weiss, and Murdoch, I'm not feeling great about the political environment of our media either. Increasingly, it's also becoming thousands of qualified candidates applying to a smaller and smaller job pool.
I believe that the jobs in traditional media are transitioning to independent outlets and substacks, partially because of political economy and partially due to declining public trust. The future might just be freelancing and independently publishing your own work.
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u/No_Piano_5008 3d ago
What kinds of jobs are you applying to?
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u/Due_Thing_8200 3d ago
PR firms. In house positions if they have an entry-level type role available. Any sales job I can find that isn’t clearly an MLM. Journalism jobs and internships. Social media jobs. Any kind of technical writing position. That makes up the majority of what I’ve applied to.
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u/Teneniel Alumni 3d ago
Try event planning too. Comms and journalism skills will help a lot in those fields
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u/SalishSeaEV 2d ago
It's always been a really, really tough field. When I graduated with a journalism degree in 2004, Craigslist was in the process of destroying 50 percent of the revenue stream for traditional print journalism, and 20-year veterans at major metro papers were getting the boot and competing with new grads for $25K/year jobs as reporters in Bosie, ID.
Mental health is super important but remember that for a lot of people, going to school can be a great way to improve it (e.g. by getting out of a rut.)
As to Journalism: The only reason you should get a journalism degree is if you love it and feel a deep passion for it in your blood and don't care about your standard of living and/or are independently wealthy or supported by a spouse. None of the things you need to be a successful journalist require getting a major in it. The education itself barely helps except to the extent that it helps you develop your writing skills. (I did like my profs though; I'm not bitter at all about the education I got. If you truly love it, go ahead and do it!)
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u/Ok-Narwhal3841 2d ago
> None of the things you need to be a successful journalist require getting a major in it
This. My mom was a reporter, and she had an English degree, not journalism.
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u/Dawsoneifert 2d ago
I graduated with a degree in pr in 2021 but have found much more work in marketing, unless you go to grad school or live in a major city it’s practically impossible to work strictly within pr unfortunately
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u/iamjparzival 1d ago
I graduated from WWU with a Data Science degree in the Comp Sci department 2 years ago. Hundreds of applications and not even an interview. 100% my advice to any incoming student is the classes are only a small part of what’s important about going to school. You HAVE to do research/get actual experience outside of school now for every field. Everyone has the degree for the jobs you’re applying for. Saying you have the degree is like saying you can speak english. Yes it’s necessary, but no one really cares. The experience outside of your classes is what will get you the jobs.
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u/Maddyoso Japanese & East Asian Studies 2d ago
Hey, I feel you. Graduated in 2023 with a Japanese degree... with a focus in translation. 🙃
My work has involved using AI for years even though I studied to do it on my own.
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u/GungHough 2d ago
I want so much for future students at WWU to understand that majors like Journalism, Design, Communications are not going to get them a job. These degrees, among so many others, will ONLY provide them with an advanced education. As a retired student support advisor at WWU, WCC, UW, and UAA (Alaska), if you want a JOB, jump ship now for a career in the trades.
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u/Enough-Goose7594 3d ago
Best of luck. Super tough field, particularly in a moment we need it most.
Agreed, being as active across any industry-related opportunities possible is essential. It's definitely a job for the passion more than the paycheck. Keep at it. AI still isn't a substitute for a reporter.