10 Best Degrees for Journalism: What to Study for a Career in Journalism

What are the best degrees for journalism, and what should you study to build a successful career in journalism? Explore the top degree options and career paths. Journalism has changed dramatically. Reporters no longer work only for newspapers, television stations, or radio broadcasters. Today, journalists may publish investigations on digital news sites, produce podcasts, report from social media platforms, create documentaries, analyze public datasets, or build independent newsletters. That evolution has also changed what aspiring journalists need to study.

While a journalism degree remains the most direct academic route into the profession, it is not the only worthwhile option. An English major can develop exceptional writing skills, while political science can prepare someone for government reporting. Economics can provide an advantage in financial journalism, and data science can open doors to investigative and data journalism.

The best degrees for journalism therefore depend partly on the kind of journalist you want to become. This guide examines the degrees that can prepare students for journalism careers, the types of journalism each degree supports, their advantages and limitations, and the practical experience students should build alongside their education.

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Do You Need a Degree to Become a Journalist?

No, a journalism degree is not universally required to become a journalist. However, earning a degree can provide valuable training in research, writing, reporting, communication, critical thinking, and media ethics. A college education may also provide access to student publications, internships, newsroom mentors, and professional networks. More importantly, journalism is a profession where demonstrated ability matters enormously. Editors and employers may want to see evidence that you can:

• Find credible sources
• Conduct interviews
• Research complex subjects
• Verify information
• Write accurately and clearly
• Meet deadlines
• Understand journalism ethics
• Explain complicated issues to a general audience
• Produce digital or multimedia content

That is why a portfolio is so important. A journalism graduate with no published work may be less competitive than an English, economics, or political science graduate who has completed internships and produced excellent reporting. The strongest preparation combines education, journalism experience, and published work.

What Makes a Degree Good for Journalism?

There is no universal ranking of the best degrees for journalists because different journalism careers require different knowledge. A degree becomes particularly valuable when it develops several of the following areas.

• Strong Writing Skills: Journalists need to communicate complicated information clearly and efficiently. Writing courses can help students develop grammar, structure, style, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Research Ability: Good journalism depends on evidence. Students need to know how to locate reliable sources, evaluate documents, identify inconsistencies, and verify claims.
• Subject-Matter Expertise: Specialized knowledge can give journalists an advantage. A journalist who understands economics, technology, politics, science, or history may be better positioned to explain complex stories.
• Digital Skills: Modern journalism extends across websites, social media, video, podcasts, newsletters, and other digital formats. Understanding digital publishing can therefore increase employability.
• Multimedia Production: Journalists increasingly work with photographs, video, audio, graphics, and interactive content.
• Practical Experience: A strong academic program should ideally provide opportunities to work on student newspapers, magazines, radio, television, podcasts, or digital publications.

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10 Best Degrees for Journalism

Introduce the list by explaining that the “best” degree depends on the type of journalism the reader wants to pursue.

1. General Journalism

If you want to build a career in journalism, earning a journalism degree may seem like the obvious choice. However, the industry welcomes professionals from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Among the best degrees for journalism, a general journalism degree stands out because it gives you a broad foundation while leaving room to explore different areas of the profession.

A general journalism program is an excellent starting point if you know you want to work in media but have not yet decided which direction to take. Rather than locking you into one specialty, it introduces you to the core skills journalists use across print, television, radio, digital media, and online publishing. More importantly, a general journalism degree teaches you how to think like a journalist.

You learn to investigate claims, evaluate sources, ask meaningful questions, and communicate information with accuracy, fairness, and credibility. If you are drawn to investigative reporting or want to uncover stories that influence public conversations, this broad academic foundation can give you the versatility to pursue multiple career directions.

2. Broadcast Journalism

If you are more interested in bringing stories to life through television, radio, video, or digital broadcasting, broadcast journalism deserves a place among the best degrees for journalism to consider. This specialization is designed for students who want to combine strong reporting skills with the technical and presentation abilities required for broadcast media.

Broadcast journalism programs teach students how to research, develop, produce, and deliver news for television, radio, streaming platforms, and online outlets. Alongside journalism fundamentals, you will learn how technology shapes the way audiences consume news.

Your coursework may include:

• Broadcast programming
• Sound and video editing
• Program design and production
• On-camera and on-air communication
• Microphone techniques
• Broadcast reporting
• Media law and policy
• Journalism ethics

The practical nature of this degree makes it particularly valuable for students who want to work directly in media production. You can learn how to investigate a story, conduct interviews, write scripts, operate production equipment, record footage, edit content, and meet demanding newsroom deadlines. By graduation, you should have experience producing original news stories, documentaries, interviews, and other multimedia content.

Those skills can open doors to positions in video journalism, news writing, broadcasting, media production, video editing, and media relations. If you enjoy communicating information but do not want your work confined to a written page, broadcast journalism can give you the technical and storytelling foundation to compete in a rapidly evolving media industry.

3. Photojournalism

Modern journalism is increasingly visual, making photojournalism another compelling option among the best degrees for journalism. If you naturally look for stories through photographs and video, this degree allows you to combine journalistic investigation with visual storytelling. Photojournalism programs focus on using still photography, video, and other visual media to document events, people, communities, and issues.

Students learn not only how to operate cameras and equipment but also how to determine which images communicate a story accurately and responsibly. The goal is to develop professionals who can document real events while maintaining accuracy, context, and ethical standards. You may learn how to plan visual assignments, work in unpredictable environments, select compelling images, edit photographs, and collaborate with reporters and news production teams.

A major advantage of studying photojournalism is the opportunity to graduate with a professional portfolio. Instead of relying solely on a degree to demonstrate your abilities, you can show prospective employers tangible examples of your reporting and visual storytelling. For students who want a journalism career built around images, video, investigation, and storytelling, photojournalism offers a practical route into an increasingly visual media landscape.

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4. Radio, TV and Digital Broadcasting

If you want a journalism career that keeps your options open across traditional and emerging media, radio, TV and digital broadcasting is one of the best degrees for journalism to consider. Rather than preparing you for just one type of newsroom, this versatile program introduces you to radio, television, streaming platforms, websites, podcasts, and other digital media formats.

Students learn how to research and communicate time-sensitive stories for different audiences and platforms. You may develop skills in news writing, reporting, video production, audio production, editing, directing, and on-camera presentation. The curriculum can also introduce you to the business side of media, including budgeting, teamwork, production planning, and project management.

Practical experience is another major advantage. Many programs require students to complete reporting assignments, produce broadcasts, create multimedia projects, or work on other portfolio pieces. By graduation, you can have tangible work to show prospective employers rather than relying solely on a degree on your résumé.

Career options can extend well beyond traditional broadcasting. Graduates may pursue positions as broadcast journalists, reporters, announcers, producers, anchors, production managers, content writers, web strategists, bloggers, or podcasters. Media departments within corporations and nonprofit organizations can also create opportunities for graduates who understand how to produce compelling content across multiple platforms.

5. Publishing

Publishing is another strong option among the best degrees for journalism, particularly for students who enjoy writing, editing, content development, and the process of turning ideas into polished material for public audiences. A publishing degree does not confine you to traditional newspapers or magazines. It can also prepare you for the rapidly expanding world of digital publishing. The curriculum typically explores how books, magazines, newsletters, websites, and other forms of content are developed, edited, designed, and distributed.

Along the way, you can strengthen your writing, copy editing, proofreading, content management, and editorial judgment skills. Many programs emphasize practical projects that allow students to demonstrate what they can do. You might develop a magazine concept, contribute to a publication, complete an editorial project, or create other portfolio work. Internships with publishers and media organizations can further expose you to professional workflows and industry expectations.

Your career options can include managing editor, editor in chief, freelance editor, publishing coordinator, media sales professional, book distribution specialist, or interactive media professional. If you want a journalism related degree that combines strong editorial training with broader publishing opportunities, this pathway deserves serious consideration.

6. Communication and Media Studies

Communication and media studies can be one of the best degrees for journalism for students who want journalism skills without limiting themselves to a traditional newsroom career. The program examines how people create, distribute, interpret, and respond to information across modern media environments. You can develop practical abilities in news reporting, information management, storytelling, audience analysis, media research, and message development.

Courses may also explore communication theory, media culture, ethics, law, public policy, and the relationship between media and society. The interdisciplinary nature of this degree is one of its biggest advantages. Students learn how communication influences organizations, communities, consumers, and public discourse while gaining experience with emerging technologies and digital platforms. Advanced coursework may involve independent research or a capstone project that allows you to apply what you have learned to a substantial piece of work.

Depending on your interests, you could develop public relations materials, conduct media research, produce digital content, or write an in-depth feature for an online publication. For students who want the flexibility to move between journalism, media, communications, and related industries, communication and media studies can provide a broad academic foundation without locking you into a single professional path.

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7. Public Relations and Advertising

If journalism appeals to you but you would rather use your communication skills in a fast-moving business environment, public relations and advertising can be a compelling alternative. Among the best degrees for journalism, this option stands out for students who want to combine persuasive writing, media strategy, audience research, and relationship building. A public relations and advertising degree teaches you how to shape a positive public image for companies, organizations, brands, public figures, and other clients.

You will develop strong writing skills while learning how to communicate effectively with journalists, media outlets, customers, and other stakeholders. Your coursework may cover media campaigns, reputation management, broadcast media, news writing, speechwriting, videography, and digital communication.

Because PR and advertising operate within the broader business environment, many programs also introduce students to marketing, management, organizational communication, and strategic planning. Graduates can work for advertising agencies, public relations firms, media organizations, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Potential career paths include copywriter, public relations specialist, promotions manager, communications coordinator, and art director.

8. Media Arts

For creative students who enjoy technology as much as storytelling, media arts can provide another strong option among the best degrees for journalism. This degree combines visual communication, design, digital media, and creative production, giving you the tools to communicate ideas in ways that go beyond traditional written journalism. Media arts programs teach students how to organize and present information through visual arts, graphic design, entertainment media, digital content, and other creative formats.

Instead of simply reporting information, you learn how to transform ideas into compelling visual experiences that capture an audience’s attention. Coursework typically introduces students to media design theories, creative processes, communication techniques, and digital production tools. Depending on the program, you may specialize in areas such as logo development, advertising, website design, commercial production, interactive media, or video game design.

Practical experience is another major advantage. Many media arts programs require students to complete creative projects that can eventually become part of a digital portfolio. That portfolio can give you something tangible to show prospective employers when you begin applying for internships and entry-level positions. Career possibilities include graphic designer, interactive designer, media production specialist, digital content creator, and video game developer.

9. English

If you love reading, writing, research, and storytelling but are not certain that traditional journalism is right for you, an English degree deserves serious consideration. It is one of the best degrees for journalism for students who want to develop exceptional writing and analytical abilities while keeping their career options broad. An English program strengthens the core skills that journalists rely on every day, including grammar, composition, critical analysis, research, linguistics, and effective storytelling.

You may study the history of the English language alongside technical writing, creative writing, nonfiction, literary analysis, and advanced composition. Beyond learning how to write clearly, you will develop your own voice and learn how authors construct compelling arguments and narratives. Those skills can translate directly into journalism, publishing, content creation, communications, and other writing intensive careers.

An English degree also gives you considerable flexibility after graduation. If you decide to continue your education, possible graduate pathways include law, education, creative writing, communications, and other humanities disciplines. Some graduates pursue teaching and academic careers, while others apply their writing expertise to fundraising, grant writing, publishing, editing, and public relations.

10. Mass Communication

If you want to understand journalism as part of the larger media ecosystem, mass communication may be one of the best degrees for journalism to consider. Rather than focusing exclusively on news reporting, this degree examines how information moves through mass media and how those messages influence audiences and society. Mass communication programs explore television, radio, digital media, journalism, advertising, public relations, and other forms of communication.

Students also examine media history, communication theories, research methods, media law, audience behavior, and the social impact of media. The analytical component makes this degree particularly valuable. You will learn how to research audiences, evaluate information, analyze communication strategies, and create messages designed for large and diverse groups of people. A mass communication degree can also provide a strong foundation for further education.

Graduates may pursue master’s degrees, MBAs, law degrees, or other advanced qualifications depending on their career goals. Career opportunities extend well beyond traditional journalism. Graduates may work as journalists, editors, research analysts, freelance videographers, communications specialists, content producers, and media strategists. Others move into advertising, public relations, corporate communications, sales, or multimedia production.

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Is Journalism a Good Major?

Yes, journalism can still be an excellent major, especially for students who enjoy investigating stories, communicating ideas, asking difficult questions, and making complex information easier to understand. The profession has changed significantly as audiences have moved from traditional newspapers and television toward websites, social media, podcasts, newsletters, streaming platforms, and other digital channels.

That transformation has also expanded what you can do with a journalism education. The best degrees for journalism are not limited to traditional reporting. Depending on your interests, you could build a career in investigative reporting, digital media, content strategy, communications, public relations, research, publishing, or multimedia production.

When choosing among the best degrees for journalism, start with your strengths and career ambitions. Students who enjoy long-form storytelling may benefit from combining journalism with English, creative writing, or communications. Those who want to investigate current events and report directly to audiences may prefer a traditional journalism degree. If business interests you, journalism can still provide valuable skills in research, communication, interviewing, critical thinking, and information analysis that transfer to corporate and professional environments.

Is Journalism a Popular Major?

Journalism is not as popular as it once was, but declining enrollment does not automatically make it a poor academic choice. In fact, the changing media landscape makes strong journalism skills valuable in more places than traditional newsrooms. Students pursuing the best degrees for journalism can develop transferable abilities in research, fact checking, writing, interviewing, source evaluation, critical thinking, and storytelling.

These skills can apply across media, communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit organizations, government, and business. Several factors have contributed to journalism’s changing popularity:

• News is everywhere: Audiences can access breaking news instantly through websites, social media, newsletters, podcasts, and streaming platforms, changing how traditional journalism is produced and consumed.
• Trust remains a challenge: Concerns about misinformation, bias, and declining confidence in news organizations have made credibility and rigorous fact-checking more important than ever.
• The industry has transformed: Digital publishing and changing business models have reduced some traditional newsroom opportunities while creating new roles in digital media, multimedia storytelling, audience development, and content production.

Rather than asking whether journalism is as popular as it once was, prospective students should ask whether its skills align with their career goals. For students who value communication, investigation, and storytelling, the best degrees for journalism can provide a strong foundation for adapting to an evolving media industry.

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