Q: Do you think it is helpful to get a masters degree in history for a career in journalism and is it even worth going to graduate school or should I just pursue finding a job at a daily or weekly newspaper? Would you say I have enough experience for finding a job at a newspaper? I am currently the news editor at my college newspaper, I had an internship at a weekly and have done free lance work around my community.
I have one more question for you. I also applied for an internship at a large newspaper. Do you think having an internship at a weekly will affect me from getting the internship?
Lisa, New Mexico
A: Graduate school can definitely be worth it as a way to pursue your interests and to achieve some personal goals, but a master’s degree in history will not help a journalism career very much. Newspapers value experience more than they value advanced academic degrees.
Your experience is on the lighter side for what most daily newspapers are seeking. Larger dailies are even choosier.
While the weekly internship will not hurt you, an internship at a daily would have been more helpful. Sometimes, though, we can take only what is offered.
Your next step, journalistically, will likely be to another internship – a daily, this time – or to a job at a weekly or very small daily.