> Source: https://coursetojob.com/subjects/journalism-and-media/ — updated 2026-09-26 · language: en > Markdown version of this CourseToJob page for AI agents. The HTML page is canonical. Data licence CC BY 4.0: cite the page URL and the original statistical source. Creative arts and media # What can you do with a journalism and media studies degree? Also called: Journalism · Media studies · Media and communication · Mass communication · Communication studies Updated September 26, 2026 [How we use data](https://coursetojob.com/methodology/) Quick answer A journalism and media studies degree teaches how news and media content is researched, produced and shared, and how media shapes society. Practical courses cover reporting, writing, video, audio and digital publishing, while media studies modules look at media industries, audiences and ethics. Graduates often become journalists, writers, public relations officers or digital marketers. ## Careers with a journalism and media studies degree Journalism and media graduates work for news organisations, broadcasters, publishers, agencies, businesses, charities and governments. Some become reporters, editors or producers, but traditional newsroom jobs are limited and competitive. Many graduates use the same skills in public relations, digital marketing, content creation and corporate communications, and some later become marketing managers. Others work as writers, video producers, social media managers or researchers. A strong portfolio of published work often matters as much as grades. - **[Journalist](https://coursetojob.com/careers/journalist/)** — Journalists find, check and report news and stories for newspapers, websites, television, radio, podcasts and social media. Degree often expected - **[Public relations officer](https://coursetojob.com/careers/public-relations-officer/)** — Public relations (PR) officers manage how an organisation communicates with the public, the media and other groups. Degree often expected - **[Digital marketer](https://coursetojob.com/careers/digital-marketer/)** — Digital marketers promote products, services and organisations online through search engines, social media, email, websites and online advertising. Degree often expected - **[Writer](https://coursetojob.com/careers/writer/)** — Writers create written work such as novels, non-fiction books, scripts, poems, articles, advertising copy and website content. Degree optional - **[Marketing manager](https://coursetojob.com/careers/marketing-manager/)** — Marketing managers plan and lead the work that makes people aware of a product, service or organisation and persuades them to choose it. Degree often expected **Other roles graduates go into:** Broadcast producer · Social media manager · Copy editor · Communications officer · Video producer · Fact-checker ## What you study and the skills you gain - **Typical topics** — - News reporting and writing - Media law and ethics - Broadcast journalism: video and audio production - Digital and social media publishing - Media theory, audiences and culture - Data journalism and fact-checking - Public relations and strategic communication - Portfolio projects and work placements - **Skills you gain** — - Researching stories and checking facts - Writing clearly and quickly for different audiences - Interviewing people and asking good questions - Recording and editing video, audio and images - Using social media and audience data tools - Meeting tight deadlines under pressure ## How the degree differs around the world In the UK and much of Europe, a bachelor's degree usually takes three years. In the United States, Canada and many Asian countries it is usually a four-year programme, often called journalism, mass communication or communication studies. Programmes differ a lot: some are practical and industry-focused, while media studies degrees are more theoretical. In some countries, journalism is mainly taught at master's level or through training schemes run by news organisations. Some programmes are accredited by industry bodies. In most countries journalism is not a licensed profession, although a few have a professional register for journalists. ## How do journalism and media studies graduates do? ### Earnings and employment by country The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Social sciences, journalism and information”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average). | Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Estonia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/estonia/) | 112 (2023) | 89.8% (2024) | 89.2% | | [Chile](https://coursetojob.com/countries/chile/) | 112 (2023) | 82.5% (2022) | 85.7% | | [Denmark](https://coursetojob.com/countries/denmark/) | 107 (2023) | 89.5% (2021) | 87.8% | | [Norway](https://coursetojob.com/countries/norway/) | 107 (2023) | 87.0% (2024) | 89.3% | | [Switzerland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/switzerland/) | 107 (2023) | 86.4% (2024) | 89.5% | | [Finland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/finland/) | 106 (2022) | 88.6% (2024) | 88.8% | | [United States](https://coursetojob.com/countries/united-states/) | 101 (2023) | 83.7% (2017) | 84.3% | | [Costa Rica](https://coursetojob.com/countries/costa-rica/) | 101 (2023) | 72.4% (2024) | 79.2% | | [Latvia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/latvia/) | 100 (2023) | 86.8% (2024) | 87.7% | | [South Korea](https://coursetojob.com/countries/south-korea/) | 100 (2023) | — | — | | [Canada](https://coursetojob.com/countries/canada/) | 98 (2020) | 80.4% (2021) | 80.4% | | [Romania](https://coursetojob.com/countries/romania/) | 97 (2023) | 91.1% (2024) | 91.5% | | [Slovenia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/slovenia/) | 96 (2020) | 89.9% (2024) | 90.8% | | [Australia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/australia/) | 96 (2020) | 85.5% (2024) | 88.4% | | [Luxembourg](https://coursetojob.com/countries/luxembourg/) | 95 (2023) | 84.6% (2024) | 85.7% | | [Austria](https://coursetojob.com/countries/austria/) | 94 (2023) | 83.0% (2024) | 86.4% | | [Portugal](https://coursetojob.com/countries/portugal/) | 93 (2020) | 90.7% (2024) | 90.7% | | [Mexico](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mexico/) | 93 (2023) | 78.6% (2024) | 81.5% | | [Sweden](https://coursetojob.com/countries/sweden/) | 92 (2023) | 88.5% (2024) | 89.6% | | [United Kingdom](https://coursetojob.com/countries/united-kingdom/) | 91 (2020) | 85.5% (2021) | 84.6% | | [Germany](https://coursetojob.com/countries/germany/) | 81 (2020) | 85.1% (2024) | 88.7% | | [Iceland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/iceland/) | — | 94.4% (2016) | 93.6% | | [Lithuania](https://coursetojob.com/countries/lithuania/) | — | 92.5% (2024) | 90.4% | | [Poland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/poland/) | — | 91.2% (2024) | 91.6% | | [Netherlands](https://coursetojob.com/countries/netherlands/) | — | 90.5% (2024) | 90.6% | | [Slovakia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/slovakia/) | — | 89.8% (2024) | 90.5% | | [Belgium](https://coursetojob.com/countries/belgium/) | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.5% | | [Czechia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/czechia/) | — | 86.1% (2024) | 88.4% | | [Ireland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/ireland/) | — | 85.8% (2021) | 86.9% | | [Croatia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/croatia/) | — | 83.6% (2024) | 89.7% | | [Italy](https://coursetojob.com/countries/italy/) | — | 83.5% (2024) | 84.7% | | [Spain](https://coursetojob.com/countries/spain/) | — | 83.5% (2024) | 83.9% | | [France](https://coursetojob.com/countries/france/) | — | 82.1% (2024) | 87.3% | | [Greece](https://coursetojob.com/countries/greece/) | — | 81.0% (2024) | 82.3% | | [Peru](https://coursetojob.com/countries/peru/) | — | 80.9% (2024) | 81.7% | | [Türkiye](https://coursetojob.com/countries/turkiye/) | — | 68.1% (2016) | 72.9% | | [Hungary](https://coursetojob.com/countries/hungary/) | — | 62.2% (2024) | 76.2% | Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. ### Graduate earnings in the UK The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Journalism” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year. | Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | After 1 year | £22,700 | £17,900 | £26,400 | 85.7% | | After 3 years | £26,400 | £22,300 | £31,100 | 87.3% | | After 5 years | £29,600 | £24,200 | £35,900 | 88.3% | | After 10 years | £35,500 | £26,400 | £47,900 | 86.2% | Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. [More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk](https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/media-and-communications/) ## Is a journalism and media studies degree right for you? ### It may suit you if - You are curious about people and events and enjoy asking questions. - You like writing, filming or recording and want to build a portfolio. - You can work quickly and stay calm under deadline pressure. ### Think twice if - You want a secure, predictable job, as media work is often short-term or freelance. - You are not ready to work evenings, weekends or unusual hours when news happens. - You expect the degree alone to get you a job, as editors mainly look at published work and experience. ## Further study Many graduates start work straight away, often after internships or work on student media. A postgraduate journalism course is a common route for graduates of other subjects, and some are recognised by industry training bodies. A master's in media, communication or data journalism can help with specialist roles, and a PhD leads to research and university teaching. Short courses in video editing, data skills or media law are also useful. ## Questions about studying journalism and media studies **What jobs can you get with a journalism and media studies degree?** Common jobs include journalist, editor, broadcast producer, writer, public relations officer, digital marketer and social media manager. Graduates also work in corporate communications, content creation, advertising, publishing and research. Newsroom jobs are competitive, so many graduates use their skills in communications and marketing roles, and some move into marketing management. **Do you need a journalism degree to become a journalist?** No. Many journalists studied other subjects, such as politics, history, languages or science, and then learned the job through student media, internships, postgraduate courses or employer training schemes. A journalism degree gives you practical skills and contacts, but editors mainly look at your published work, your ideas and your knowledge of a subject. **What is the difference between journalism and media studies?** Journalism degrees are mainly practical: you learn to find, check, write and produce news for print, broadcast and online. Media studies is more theoretical and looks at how media industries work, how audiences use media and how media affects culture and politics. Many degrees combine the two, so check the balance of modules. **Is journalism a good career?** It can be very rewarding if you care about informing the public and enjoy variety. However, the news industry has changed a lot, with fewer traditional jobs, more freelance and short-term work, and modest pay in many early-career roles. Skills in video, data and digital publishing improve your chances, and they also transfer well to communications jobs. ## Related subjects - **[English literature](https://coursetojob.com/subjects/english-literature/)** — An English literature degree teaches you to read, analyse and write about novels, poetry, plays and other texts written in English, from medieval writing to the present day. 6 linked careers - **[Marketing](https://coursetojob.com/subjects/marketing/)** — A marketing degree teaches how organisations understand customers, develop products and brands, and promote them through advertising, digital channels, sales and public relations. 5 linked careers - **[Politics](https://coursetojob.com/subjects/politics/)** — A politics degree, often called political science, studies how power works: how governments are chosen and run, how laws and policies are made, and why people and countries cooperate or come into conflict. 6 linked careers ## Sources 1. [OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/) — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64 2. [UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO)](https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/graduate-labour-markets) — CAH CAH24-01-04 — Journalism 3. [UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013](https://uis.unesco.org/en/topic/international-standard-classification-education-isced) — ISCED-F 0321 **How to cite this page:** CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a journalism and media studies degree?. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/journalism-and-media/ (accessed September 26, 2026) [Report a data or content issue](mailto:hello@elitedigitalagency.io?subject=Data%20issue%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fcoursetojob.com%2Fsubjects%2Fjournalism-and-media%2F) ## Key facts - **OECD field of study:** Social sciences, journalism and information - **ISCED-F 2013:** 0321 - **Linked careers:** 5 - **UK median pay after 5 years:** £29,600 **On this page** 1. Careers with a journalism and media studies degree 2. What you study and the skills you gain 3. How do journalism and media studies graduates do? 4. Frequently asked questions Machine-readable: [JSON](https://coursetojob.com/api/v1/subjects/journalism-and-media.json) · [Markdown](https://coursetojob.com/subjects/journalism-and-media.md)