What is Journalism?
Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the “news of the day” and that inform society to at least some degree.
The word, a noun, applies to the occupation, the methods of gathering information, and the organizing literary styles.
How Long Does It Take To study Journalism In South Africa?
Four years
Schools That Offer Journalism Courses In South Africa
Department of Journalism Stellenbosch University.
School of Journalism and Media Studies Rhodes University.
Department of the Journalism Tshwane University of Technology.
School of Literature Language and the Media University of The Witwatersrand.
How To Become A Journalist In South Africa?
Below are steps to Become A Journalist In South Africa
Step 1: Prepare in High School
Whatever medium you choose to work in, you will need a strong background in writing. Courses in English, language arts, humanities, and social studies will push you to develop your skills in this area. Writing for the school newspaper, yearbook, or literary magazine is helpful as well.
Volunteering to work for your school’s TV or radio station, if it has either or both, could help you prepare for a place in broadcast journalism.
Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism
A bachelor’s degree is the typical education requirement for journalism positions, and many prospective journalists choose to pursue a degree in journalism. A bachelor’s in journalism teaches you how to write for different distribution media.
It also provides you with an understanding of journalistic ethics and fundamental methods of investigation – how to cultivate sources, conduct personal interviews and search news databases.
Step 3: Pursue an Internship
Many journalism programs include an internship course through which you can gain experience in a professional newsroom.
Schools that offer journalism bachelor’s degrees often maintain relationships with local media outlets to facilitate your access to them. In addition to experience, you can build a portfolio and make contacts that may help you obtain a job after you graduate.
Step 4: Find Employment
You can find work for newspapers, magazines, TV stations, radio stations, colleges, and universities, as well as a wide assortment of Internet portals. Data from the S.A.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that the majority of journalists worked for newspapers and magazines. A smaller but significant share worked for TV and radio stations. The job outlook for journalists isn’t promising.