1. You don't like taking tests.
I have taken six journalism classes in my three semesters at IUPUI. Of those classes, only two of them had written tests. The rest always have projects and papers due, but never any tests. Instead of memorizing endless facts, you actually get to be out in the field, learning as you go.
2. You don't like buying textbooks.
I have never had to buy a textbook for a journalism class. Our textbook is current events, and depending on what your area core is, having the AP Style Guide is always nice to have around. It’s also a great idea to invest in a DSLR camera, even if you’re not a photojournalist. They are pretty expensive, but it’s really not a bad investment when you consider all your friends are spending $500+ on textbooks that they aren’t even going to use. Plus, it’s something you’ll be able to use even after you graduate high school.
3. You like pizza.
Pizza parties are pretty common in journalism classes. I have yet to take a journalism class where the professor doesn’t bring in pizza at least once. Pizza and journalism is just works.
4. You can’t decide what you want to do “when you grow up.”
Journalism is one of those professions where you get to do a little bit of everything. Obviously, we are writers. But we get to do so much more than that, we get to photograph, we get to investigate, we get to people watch (It sounds creepy, but everybody does it at some point.) and we get to be involved with the community.
5. You're not good at math.
Journalists are notoriously bad at math, it's why we write. Numbers just don't come easily to us. Luckily, at IUPUI journalism majors are only required to take two math classes.
6. You have fresh ideas.
Let’s be honest, most people don’t want to read 1,000 word stories anymore. The industry needs people who are able to come up with new ideas in a second, something new and original. And the people need a way to be informed without feeling like they wasted their time. Creative minds aren't just wanted, they're needed.
7. You aren't in it for the money.
Obviously, we are all going to college so we can have a better future and make more money. But let’s be honest, some career paths make more than others. If you are looking for a field that allows you to pay back all of your student loans on-time, you’re in the wrong place. Journalism is a field of people who are genuinely passionate about the work that they do.
8. You are a people-person.
Notice that I didn’t say “you like working with people.” Every profession involves working with people somehow. However, in journalism, people have to like you. You have to have a face people can trust, that they can tell their stories to. That way when you walk up to them on the street asking for a quote or a picture, which you have to do for some of your classes, they will be more than willing to help rather than walk away.
Journalism is a hard field to get into, especially nowadays. You have to know the right people and have the right experience. But IUPUI and the Department of Journalism help out a lot in making sure you end up in a good place. A majority of the professors are still working in the field, and, at least, one internship is required before graduation. But after all of that, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you. And if you realized that journalism isn’t for you, then good luck with whatever you end up with. But if journalism is for you, then welcome to the family.
