Q: My question is, do I need a degree and, if not, where can I get more training online?
It’s hard to get people to trust in you, and I really don’t blame them, but I wouldn’t mind working under someone and learning from the best. Can you help?
Phyllis, Tucson
A: Generally, yes, you need a degree to get a serious look. That said, there are people at the Detroit Free Press and, I would think, most papers, who do not have degrees. Not many, but a few.
They get into those positions by starting small – perhaps two days a week or something – and working their way into the full-time, permanent jobs.
In many of these cases, these are people who were going to school to get into journalism, and who then came up with part-time jobs at newspapers while they were students. The jobs grew, they stopped going to school an, voila! There you have it.
Generally, though, a college degree is a minimal requirement, so I would start working toward one, even as a part-time student, and simultaneously try to push your journalism career forward. A candidate who is working toward a degree will generally be more attractive than one who has neither a degree nor any intention of getting one.
Personally, you might find the degree to be personally rewarding and a step toward greater confidence and earnings for your whole career – whether you stay in journalism or move outside of it.
