Sarah Lacy wants to know ‘who the hell is enrolling in journalism schools right now?’.
A little more than ten years ago, I stumbled out of a liberal arts college with a mediocre GPA into a job with a weekly business journal with a smallish circulation in my hometown of Memphis, Tenn. I’d never studied business or journalism, and I came from a family of academics. I didn’t even really understand what a stock was. But there was something I loved about it. I had great editors, and I was learning a ton everyday about everything from how to get information out of people to where I was supposed to put a comma and where I was definitely not supposed to put a comma. Like most great careers, I just sort of fell into it, and I’ve been there ever since. I’ve covered everything from old money cotton brokers to Facebook, and I’ve met some of the most fascinating people in the world along the way.
Also about a decade ago, one of my oldest friends had graduated with a degree in journalism and was doing an internship at the same paper. It was the late 1990s and everyone needed business reporters, so the job market was booming. It was in this environment that my friend decided to go to journalism school. She reasoned – as well-heeled professionals told her—that the sheer number of connections she’d get would ensure her a greater headstart in the job market than just spending those years working.
Fast-forward and my friend no longer works in journalism. Meanwhile, I’m not only gainfully employed, but have managed to make more money every year the industry has declined all around me. I get to travel around the world looking for great stories. I’ve had the privilege of writing one book, and I’m mid-way through another one. Frankly, I’ve gotten farther in ten years than I thought I would in fifty.
I think the art of journalism is even more important these days than ever before. It may still make sense for some people to learn journalism the old fashined way. But her question has some merit. There are many sources of learning journalism. Also the role of journalism is changing so much that I don’t know if what they teach at journalism schools maps well to the new realities. It may be better to learn on the job if you can find one. One can always take courses in the evening, if you are close to a good school or learn remotely online. There are so many options these days. But this approach may not work for everyone. But if one has the time and mone and want structured education, going to school and getting a degree is definitely worth it. Just because bill gates is a drop out doesn’t mean going to school is useless.