What is one academic minor for someone who wants to specialize in something journalism-related?
With the increasing global need for objective and true journalism, journalists are now expected to be well-read and knowledgeable about at least one other field. We asked experts to tell us an academic minor they believe aspiring journalists should definitely take up while studying.
Here are 11 academic minors for journalism majors:
- Finance
- Communication
- Publishing
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Marketing Or Copywriting
- Public Relations
- English
- A Field You Want to Cover
- Copyediting
Finance
Understanding the basics of finance, accounting, and investments can open doors to many journalistic specializations. Besides future opportunities to cover financial markets or technical aspects of accounting, it also gives an edge in all business-related topics. Paired with interest in a specific industry like energy or tech innovation, it can expedite the route to a promising, niche career in journalism. Many reporters that follow this path can obtain a special pass to industry fairs or events and enjoy a degree of professional independence relatively early into their careers.
Michael Sena, SENACEA
Communication
One academic minor for someone who wants to specialize in something journalism-related is a degree in communications. By studying communications, students learn about the different aspects of the journalism field, such as writing, editing, broadcasting, and advertising.
Matthew Ramirez, Rephrasely
Publishing
Students should consider a minor in Publishing if they’re looking to pursue a career in the journalism field. Not only is this minor writing intensive, but also allows students to study other forms of creation, such as magazine writing or book publishing. This is an effective way to perfect their craft using more detail and specifics than journalism. Together, students can combine their passion for the hard news industry and gain useful skills in publishing.
Corey Ashton Walters, Here
Political Science
Political science is a great tool for aspiring journalists to minor in. Even if you’re interested in sports journalism, or other kinds of niche journalism, the intersections with politics are inevitable. It’s important to have a solid groundwork of understanding of the movers and shakers of business, power, and culture at large.
Daniel Osman, Balance Homes
Sociology
Journalism can be informed by many different theoretical backgrounds but the study of human social relationships and their many implications help journalists be informed of modern social history and how it informs behaviors today.
Journalists have a duty to the ethical pursuit of the truth. Modern-day journalism runs tangentially to the truth as a form of entertainment, but arguably the most important news we consume is the real events and history that unfold every day.
Being informed on race, class, and the relationship between the working class and the state, and how journalism has been politicized helps a prospective journalist approach their field holistically and with mindful intentions.
James Shalhoub, Finn
Psychology
I minored in psychology and majored in English. I can’t tell you how helpful that has been. I have a better understanding of why people do things. Not only that, but I know the psychology of what makes people interested in a story. I know how to craft engaging topics, and that’s what it’s all about in the field of journalism. You have to get into the mindset of your target audience. Then you know what they want and how to present it in a way that’s digestible.
Jennifer Pieniazek, Resume Now
Marketing Or Copywriting
One of the most important tools for any digital worker is copywriting, and learning how to write marketing materials is a great way to be able to expand your career choices and your writing styles. Copywriting will be a great tool for anyone looking to write!
Catherine Way, Prime Plus Mortgages
Public Relations
“A minor in public relations equips learners with expertise in persuasion, professional writing, crisis communications, etc., all necessary skills for journalism jobs. Journalism as a job entails gathering, assessing, and presenting the information, and public relations practitioners craft information in a specific way to promote a favorable relationship with the public. Learning PR not only helps you acquire good communication and writing skills, but you can customize and optimize such skills for whatever industry you ply your trade. Public relations also exposes you to a wider range of journalism-related careers in diverse industries, where you get to promote events, write press releases, and design social media campaigns.
Ryan Yount, Luckluckgo
English
A useful minor for one interested in specialized journalism is English. It might sound obvious, but within English departments there are many different types of courses. There are the obvious literature and persuasive writing courses, but also topics on ethics, history, and media. A journalism student will undoubtedly improve their craft by having a strong foundation in writing, but more important is becoming a well-rounded writer with an understanding of the many political and historical contexts a journalist operates within.
Brandon Adcock, Nugenix
A Field You Want to Cover
If there is a particular ‘beat’ that appeals to you, you should choose a minor that gives you a deeper understanding of that subject. Think beyond a core journalism course. If you want to be a crime reporter, minor in criminal justice. If you’re interested in covering court cases, choose a pre-law minor. If it’s a government beat you’re after, consider political science. If you’d like to report on white collar crime, try cyber security. Another tip: On your resume, don’t bury your minor. Illuminate your educational background and experience, even if the only experience you have is what you learned in a classroom. Show them what you know and you will get assignments that best suit you.
Alan Ahdoot, Adamson Ahdoot Law
Copyediting
Copyediting is essential for students looking to specialize in journalism. As they advance in the industry, they’ll learn that punctuation and the rules of language are key to success. They have the ability to eliminate jargon out of sentences and ultimately make writing easier to read to the public. For journalists looking to become editors, copyediting is necessary for proofreading and grammar.
Lillie Sun, Three Ships Beauty
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