Why You Should Major in Journalism

Before I started college, I never even considered being a journalism major. I thought I'd be interested in Computers, English, or Business for other reasons. Finally, I realized that no other major can compare to journalism, because being able to express your opinion to an audience, no matter how big, is a feeling that can't be beat.

Being a journalism major is much more than just writing papers and finding different stories. It's making friends at your school paper, getting coffee so much that your local barista has your order memorized, and talking to people you wouldn't normally talk to, just to hear their stories.

These are just some of the greatest things about being a journalism major:

1. It's an excuse to drink as much coffee as humanly possible.

Because there is always a deadline to meet and nothing keeps you awake like three cups of coffee. You're usually up several nights all night finishing a column or post. Plus you can rack up enough points on the Dunkin Donuts Perks app to get free coffee at least once per week.

2. It's socially acceptable to be attached to your phone and computer at all times.

There is always an email to send, a call to make or a picture to take for an article. Even if you're playing Candy Crush while walking to class, people assume you're probably doing something important.

3. You can justify the hundreds of dollars spent on tattoos and piercings.

Communications employers typically don't mind them and they "express your artistic side."

4. It's amazing to think that the words you say have an impact on others around the world.

Someone from Australia could be in bed right now reading the words you write, or someone in Brazil could be on a train reading your article. Knowing that people take time out of their day to read the words you carefully choose means a lot and makes the midnight deadlines worth all the trouble.

5. You have automatic friends from the media clubs you're basically required to join.

Almost every journalism student is in an on-campus media club, so by the end of freshman year, you'll get to know pretty much everyone in your major. Plus, they're just as quirky and neurotic as you are.

6. You get to listen to some amazing and heartbreaking stories and experiences from others.

The "Humans of New York" account is just one example of learning inspiring stories from people you'd normally pass by on the street without a second glance. Everyone has a story, and getting to experience the most exciting, intimate or heartbreaking moments of someone's life is an experience that can't be beat.

7. You pretty much never need to buy textbooks.

Journalism is something that can't be taught out of a book (minus the dreaded AP Style book) so you save $200 per semester that can be used for buying more coffee or that paid Wordpress account you've been saving up for.

8. You can do almost anything after college with a degree in communications.

Every single company or corporation needs a communications department because that's how money is made. Even if at first it's just a basic secretary job, you'll never struggle to find work after college.

9. It is not an easy major by any means, but it is not impossible either.

Journalism has the stereotype of being an easy or "blow-off" major because we don't need to spend hours studying a textbook in the library. Just because we don't need to study much doesn't mean it's an easy major. The hours we don't spend studying we spend throwing ourselves into every media organization on campus. We're slaves to our editors and our computers.
On the other hand, even though it does keep us very busy, none of the work is impossible and most of it is very enjoyable.

10. You can do anything with writing.

If you're a strong enough writer, you can convince readers that the grass is blue. You can describe the scent of dew in the morning so well that readers actually feel like they're smelling it. You can paint a picture without ever picking up a paintbrush. When you write, even your most outlandish ideas are possible, and usually those are the ideas that make for the best stories.