Comments on: My advice for would-be journalists http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/ Thoughts from a technologist and journalist Wed, 09 May 2012 14:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: aulelia http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2987 aulelia Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:36:49 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2987 Also, I do think there is a possibility of loving online and print. I think blogs are excellent but I don't think they can replace all segments of magazines. Like consumer magazines geared towards women like VOGUE etc, they have built a brand and they focus on fashion which in itself I think is harder to be translated onto the digital stage. Also, I do think there is a possibility of loving online and print. I think blogs are excellent but I don’t think they can replace all segments of magazines. Like consumer magazines geared towards women like VOGUE etc, they have built a brand and they focus on fashion which in itself I think is harder to be translated onto the digital stage.

]]> By: aulelia http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2986 aulelia Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:32:37 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2986 This is very eye-opening, especially since I have applied for a masters in magazine journalism. what is your opinion on the fate of magazines ? Do you think they have more staying power to survive the digital revolution ? This is very eye-opening, especially since I have applied for a masters in magazine journalism. what is your opinion on the fate of magazines ? Do you think they have more staying power to survive the digital revolution ?

]]> By: Journalism reality check « Korr Values http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2922 Journalism reality check « Korr Values Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:38:48 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2922 [...] in any field. But I think Pat Thornton’s sense of scale is just a little skewed when he writes: Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Journalism is under fire right now, much more so [...] [...] in any field. But I think Pat Thornton’s sense of scale is just a little skewed when he writes: Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Journalism is under fire right now, much more so [...]

]]> By: pat http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2919 pat Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:30:28 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2919 @Patrick - The e-mail was primarily about getting into journalism, not about the merits of getting a masters. I think I am more than qualified to speak about the state of the industry and what kinds of skills and mindsets are needed. Plus, the person who wants to get a master's has been out for a few years working and wants to get into journalism because she loves writing. Loving writing is not a good reason to get into modern journalism. A person needs to love reporting. Now, this person may very well be open to learn a myriad of a reporting techniques. I thought I should at least tell her what she should be prepared for. Also, what I posted wasn't my e-mail in its entirety. I left of some pleasantries, and I also left off the part where I told him to e-mail a specific journalism professor. @Patrick – The e-mail was primarily about getting into journalism, not about the merits of getting a masters. I think I am more than qualified to speak about the state of the industry and what kinds of skills and mindsets are needed.

Plus, the person who wants to get a master’s has been out for a few years working and wants to get into journalism because she loves writing. Loving writing is not a good reason to get into modern journalism. A person needs to love reporting. Now, this person may very well be open to learn a myriad of a reporting techniques. I thought I should at least tell her what she should be prepared for.

Also, what I posted wasn’t my e-mail in its entirety. I left of some pleasantries, and I also left off the part where I told him to e-mail a specific journalism professor.

]]> By: Patrick Beeson http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2918 Patrick Beeson Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:55:33 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2918 As someone with a graduate degree in journalism, I find it hard to understand how you can offer advise on the subject not having the experience in doing so. There is a big difference between the various programs out there, especially when considering the MS/MA tracks. I have an MA, which accounts for the traditional academic/research courses I took in my program at the University of Alabama. There was also a path for folks wanting more of an applied approach. I didn't get my Bachelor's in journalism. And I wouldn't recommend those that did get their Master's in journalism unless they were going the MA route. My program encouraged very little in the way of "writing" courses and pushed students to take courses outside the JN department, such as business. In this way, you gained the academic/research skills and picked up other knowledge areas that could be applied to your PhD program or job. I don't regret getting my Master's in journalism. I think it was one of the best decisions I ever made, in fact. As long as you're committed to your decision to attend grad school, and aren't under any misguided preconceptions of what it can/will provide, I think getting your Master's is a great decision. Oh, and you need to be prepared to either be poor for a year or two, or get your employer to pay for it. :) As someone with a graduate degree in journalism, I find it hard to understand how you can offer advise on the subject not having the experience in doing so.

There is a big difference between the various programs out there, especially when considering the MS/MA tracks.

I have an MA, which accounts for the traditional academic/research courses I took in my program at the University of Alabama. There was also a path for folks wanting more of an applied approach.

I didn’t get my Bachelor’s in journalism. And I wouldn’t recommend those that did get their Master’s in journalism unless they were going the MA route.

My program encouraged very little in the way of “writing” courses and pushed students to take courses outside the JN department, such as business. In this way, you gained the academic/research skills and picked up other knowledge areas that could be applied to your PhD program or job.

I don’t regret getting my Master’s in journalism. I think it was one of the best decisions I ever made, in fact.

As long as you’re committed to your decision to attend grad school, and aren’t under any misguided preconceptions of what it can/will provide, I think getting your Master’s is a great decision.

Oh, and you need to be prepared to either be poor for a year or two, or get your employer to pay for it. :)

]]> By: Artigos para hoje | Articles for today « O Lago | The Lake http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2916 Artigos para hoje | Articles for today « O Lago | The Lake Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:48:09 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2916 [...] My advice for would-be journalists, Pat Thornton [...] [...] My advice for would-be journalists, Pat Thornton [...]

]]> By: Jason Preston http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/2008/04/10/my-advice-for-would-be-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-2914 Jason Preston Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:36:12 +0000 http://patthorntonfiles.com/blog/?p=243#comment-2914 I think that was very well put. To my eyes, while journalism is one of the <em>toughest</em> fields to be getting in to right now, it is also one of the most exciting. I see opportunities for newspapers and publishers all over the place. I am not a reporter myself, I'm a Social Media guy. But if I had to rewind and pick again, I would be sorely tempted by journalism. I think that was very well put.

To my eyes, while journalism is one of the toughest fields to be getting in to right now, it is also one of the most exciting. I see opportunities for newspapers and publishers all over the place.

I am not a reporter myself, I’m a Social Media guy. But if I had to rewind and pick again, I would be sorely tempted by journalism.

]]>