Help me advise my daughter
Discussion
My daughter is in the second year of her A levels. She is doing them in English language, Philosophy and Media.
Like most teenagers she thinks she knows what she wants to do and she knows everything.
She fancies working within the Media industry or Journalism. We are looking at Universities at the moment and she fancies doing a combined degree and is considering English and Philosophy or English and Media.
My studies and employment are within Engineering and as a result know Feck all about her choices. I do have a feeling that a Media degree in any form is scoffed at — is this correct?
What would PH advise as I feel she needs to study a degree in an area that will allow her employment flexibility in the future and having something like a media flavour might be prohibitive?
Can anyone offer any constructive advice please?
Thanks in advance
Like most teenagers she thinks she knows what she wants to do and she knows everything.
She fancies working within the Media industry or Journalism. We are looking at Universities at the moment and she fancies doing a combined degree and is considering English and Philosophy or English and Media.
My studies and employment are within Engineering and as a result know Feck all about her choices. I do have a feeling that a Media degree in any form is scoffed at — is this correct?
What would PH advise as I feel she needs to study a degree in an area that will allow her employment flexibility in the future and having something like a media flavour might be prohibitive?
Can anyone offer any constructive advice please?
Thanks in advance
You're in a place that many have been in before you. My first reaction is that journalism is on its knees. So assuming there's agreement there, the media world is huge and needs quality people in a whole host of specialities. If it's what she's interested in and can evidence that interest, then I'd support her all the way. And if she studies in London, Manchester or Liverpool, she'll be on the doorstep of our UK media industry. Good luck!
A lot to be said for studying what you enjoy. It's less of a chore & more likely to score well.
At the end of the day a degree is an ever diminishing yard stick for employers.
If she can have the best three years of her life (which is what uni should be) and come out with something it's a result.
Alas, jobs actually in media are much sought after, so it'll be the luck of the draw!
At the end of the day a degree is an ever diminishing yard stick for employers.
If she can have the best three years of her life (which is what uni should be) and come out with something it's a result.
Alas, jobs actually in media are much sought after, so it'll be the luck of the draw!
HeatonNorris said:
The trouble with a 'media' degree is that every two-bit ex-technical college is offering it as a degree, hence there are huge numbers of completely unemployable 'media' graduates currently exercising their learnings behind the till in McDonalds.
..but that could be said for nearly every other degree. It's now more about the experience & building life skills than the degree (because just about everybody has one)She needs to decide what area of media/journalism she wants to go into as they're both fairly broad and cover a lot of different jobs.
I disagree that journalism is on its knees, but it's had to adapt to a lot of changes, both technological and cultural. Journalism is incredibly competitive and if she goes down that route she should be prepared to build up her portfolio in any way she can and that will include doing unpaid writing.
Freelance writing is hard to break into, especially with so many people writing for nothing. If writing is her bag, then she could try blogging about something that will attract readers, keep pushing it, use social media, keep getting people to link to it and get her name out there as xxxxx blogger. One guy I know who got his degree in journalism spent 18 months unemployed but just managed to get a break doing articles for the FT. Even so, he's still sleeping on a friend's sofa six months down the line and still doesn't have a contract.
I am not a journalist, nor am I trained as one, this is just my input based on working for two large news agencies, a few years of blogging and working with writers both freelance and staff.
Best of luck to her. I did English and Publishing at Uni and I wish I'd made some difference choices but then a lot of that was me not knowing what I wanted to do at the time.
I disagree that journalism is on its knees, but it's had to adapt to a lot of changes, both technological and cultural. Journalism is incredibly competitive and if she goes down that route she should be prepared to build up her portfolio in any way she can and that will include doing unpaid writing.
Freelance writing is hard to break into, especially with so many people writing for nothing. If writing is her bag, then she could try blogging about something that will attract readers, keep pushing it, use social media, keep getting people to link to it and get her name out there as xxxxx blogger. One guy I know who got his degree in journalism spent 18 months unemployed but just managed to get a break doing articles for the FT. Even so, he's still sleeping on a friend's sofa six months down the line and still doesn't have a contract.
I am not a journalist, nor am I trained as one, this is just my input based on working for two large news agencies, a few years of blogging and working with writers both freelance and staff.
Best of luck to her. I did English and Publishing at Uni and I wish I'd made some difference choices but then a lot of that was me not knowing what I wanted to do at the time.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
..but that could be said for nearly every other degree. It's now more about the experience & building life skills than the degree (because just about everybody has one)
Not really. Physics, maths, chemistry, engineering, biology etc from a good university (either of them) is still going to count for a lot.The Daily Telegraph did a story on this about 9 months ago, I read it with interest as I have two kids in Uni, and like you I have what I consider to be a traditional qualification. Basically they said that there was a grater number of graduates with 'new age' degrees finding graduate level jobs then there were with traditional degrees and all us old 'fuddy duddies' where wrong when we advised our kids. Also unles you went to Oxbridge or Imperial London there was little differnce in where you got your degree.
I have worked with plenty of journos (hiring - i'm not one myself as you can see).
She needs a 'portfolio' as the industry - even at the local level - is highly competitive and is a destination industry for the very well off - ie rich kids who don't mind spending years with the odd bit of work because they have a flat paid for.
She should start a blog reporting a range of local issues (news) with some opinion posts written by her.
She should contact local pressure groups (for example a local anti development group) and write pieces for them.
It's a tough industry, but I disagree with those above that say don't bother - she just needs to prove herself compared to the rest.
She should also contact media organisations and ask them.
For example post on all newspaper website comment forums (on appropriate threads) stating she wants to get into the industry.
She needs a 'portfolio' as the industry - even at the local level - is highly competitive and is a destination industry for the very well off - ie rich kids who don't mind spending years with the odd bit of work because they have a flat paid for.
She should start a blog reporting a range of local issues (news) with some opinion posts written by her.
She should contact local pressure groups (for example a local anti development group) and write pieces for them.
It's a tough industry, but I disagree with those above that say don't bother - she just needs to prove herself compared to the rest.
She should also contact media organisations and ask them.
For example post on all newspaper website comment forums (on appropriate threads) stating she wants to get into the industry.
Edited by 0a on Friday 29th June 01:17
I would advise she stay away from anything with 'media' in the title - even if it is joint honours with something more conventional like English. Doesn't matter how good the institution or the grade, 'media' will be thought of as a soft-option by every employer outside of the media industry.
However, something like English from a Russell Group university would be well respected in the media industry, but would also be well respected by every single other industry as well. Get a 2.1 in English or English/Philosophy from a decent uni and pretty much every conceivable career path is open to you.
Additionally, you tend to find that in a broad sounding degree such as 'English', there is actually a lot of scope for choice with regards to modules.
For example, I did a 'Biology' degree and by keeping it broad, I got to do some 'Zoology', some 'Pharmacology', some 'Immunology', etc. In fact, I could have done most of my modules in 'Zoology' and still come away with a 'Biology' degree. In other words, by picking something as broad as 'English', you will have so many module options to choose from that you need only study the ones that really interest you.
Something else to bear in mind...from what I have seen with numerous friends on joint honours courses, it really is more like 1.5 regular degrees. Worth it if both subjects really interest you, but otherwise, I'd steer clear as employers seemingly don't value joint honours any more highly.
One more thing. Placements and work experience. Get as much as humanly possible and start now. It really is just as useful as the degree itself when it comes to future employment. Graduate schemes seemingly filter first by grade (2.1 essential), then by work experience, then by subject/institution/perceived skill set.
I wish I had realised just how key placements and work experience are...and that I had the foresight to do some in the first/second year of uni. I applied for law training contracts with no relevant law experience last year - absolutely no interest. Applying again this year with a couple of weeks' experience in a London law firm and a couple of weeks' experience working for a US law firm in Beijing - lots more interest.
So, work experience....get it!
However, something like English from a Russell Group university would be well respected in the media industry, but would also be well respected by every single other industry as well. Get a 2.1 in English or English/Philosophy from a decent uni and pretty much every conceivable career path is open to you.
Additionally, you tend to find that in a broad sounding degree such as 'English', there is actually a lot of scope for choice with regards to modules.
For example, I did a 'Biology' degree and by keeping it broad, I got to do some 'Zoology', some 'Pharmacology', some 'Immunology', etc. In fact, I could have done most of my modules in 'Zoology' and still come away with a 'Biology' degree. In other words, by picking something as broad as 'English', you will have so many module options to choose from that you need only study the ones that really interest you.
Something else to bear in mind...from what I have seen with numerous friends on joint honours courses, it really is more like 1.5 regular degrees. Worth it if both subjects really interest you, but otherwise, I'd steer clear as employers seemingly don't value joint honours any more highly.
One more thing. Placements and work experience. Get as much as humanly possible and start now. It really is just as useful as the degree itself when it comes to future employment. Graduate schemes seemingly filter first by grade (2.1 essential), then by work experience, then by subject/institution/perceived skill set.
I wish I had realised just how key placements and work experience are...and that I had the foresight to do some in the first/second year of uni. I applied for law training contracts with no relevant law experience last year - absolutely no interest. Applying again this year with a couple of weeks' experience in a London law firm and a couple of weeks' experience working for a US law firm in Beijing - lots more interest.
So, work experience....get it!
Edited by wiffmaster on Friday 29th June 06:33
NorthernBoy said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
..but that could be said for nearly every other degree. It's now more about the experience & building life skills than the degree (because just about everybody has one)
Not really. Physics, maths, chemistry, engineering, biology etc from a good university (either of them) is still going to count for a lot.2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
NorthernBoy said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
..but that could be said for nearly every other degree. It's now more about the experience & building life skills than the degree (because just about everybody has one)
Not really. Physics, maths, chemistry, engineering, biology etc from a good university (either of them) is still going to count for a lot.The degree side of things I don't know. I did engineering, not media.
Best advice I can give is get involved with anything and everything media related (in between getting drunk and going at it like bunnies) Work on the Uni radio, volunteer for newspapers/magazines, anything she can do to set her apart from the thousands of others with a media degree. Proof that she can actually do the job.
Best advice I can give is get involved with anything and everything media related (in between getting drunk and going at it like bunnies) Work on the Uni radio, volunteer for newspapers/magazines, anything she can do to set her apart from the thousands of others with a media degree. Proof that she can actually do the job.
I've just come out of Uni after 3 years of Media and Production, now I don't think I really want to work in the production side, but in Marketing instead, which is where I've been aiming all my applications for jobs...
Get her to try and get a couple of short work placements over summer etc in each area, see what she likes best.
Get her to try and get a couple of short work placements over summer etc in each area, see what she likes best.
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