Careers in Journalism

Journalism can sometimes be put into boxes, with emphasis on sports coverage or press releases on government actions. In actuality, journalism is a wide field of study, with opportunities for personal focus on one topic or goal. Here are some of the many careers that journalism graduates can pursue.  

Newspaper Editor 

Newspaper editors work for a paper and do the planning and revising for all publications. They also assign incoming stories to different reporters and sometimes cover news stories themselves. Newspaper editors work both in the office and remotely and earn about $75,000 annually.  

Broadcast News Analyst 

Broadcast news analysts gather information and opinions. They then combine this information and use it to present a story using television, radio or podcast. They will also host panel discussions on their platform and interview guests to expand on information. Broadcast news analysts will also analyze new information as it comes. This helps them to present it to their audiences in an easy-to-understand manner. The pay for this position can range from $47,500 to $74,000 depending on the platform of broadcast.  

Music Journalist 

For writers who also possess a love of music, music journalism is a great way to combine two passions. Music journalists report on the world of music for both print and broadcast news. They often travel and review musical performances ranging from orchestral works to musical theater. They also report on the music business, write artist profiles and break any music-related news.  The average music journalist earns $60,000 a year.  

Public Relations Specialist 

Public relations specialists work for individuals or organizations and manage their public image. Their job is to make the public see that individual or organization in a positive light. They oversee creating all the media releases, manage their social media platforms and shaping the public's opinions. They will also draft speeches in order to help their client communicate more effectively with the public. The average annual wage for public relations specialists is $67,000.  

Social Media Manager 

Social media managers are responsible for managing their client’s social media platforms. Their work includes developing regular strategies to increase followers and engagement, creating and managing online campaigns, evaluating analytics and communicating with stakeholders. According to Glassdoor, social media managers typically earn a base salary of $61,000.  

Speechwriter 

Speechwriters prepare speeches for government officials, political candidates and executives of non-profits and corporations. They often work with other people, both for reviewing their own work and collaborating on a joint project. Speechwriters are most commonly known for working for government officials but are also employed at companies like Google and large banks. On average, speechwriters make around $73,000 a year.  

Copywriter 

Copywriters work with marketing and design teams to ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and persuasive. They conduct research on trends in their industry, their target audience and their competitors. Copywriters assist marketing and design teams with coming up with campaign ideas. They also write and edit for their client’s other platforms such as social media or blog articles. A copywriter typically earns about $55,000 annually.  

Freelance Writer 

Freelance writers are hired to work for different clients and complete many different types of work. Freelance writers may be hired to write books that would be authored under the client’s name. They could be hired to write up grant proposals for different institutions or to write copy for large corporations. While each job has its own unique goal, freelance writers always focus on clear communication with their clients and the best way to work with their client to accomplish the goal. The average freelance writer makes around $49,000 a year.  

Communications Manager 

Communications managers are responsible for improving the communication methods of their organization. To accomplish this, they often collaborate with other teams to solidify the voice of the brand across the organization. They will create style guides and brand voice outlines for departments such as advertising, marketing and public relations. They will also develop educational materials to help educate employees on communication practices. The average annual salary for communications managers is about $81,000 according to Glassdoor. 

Product Marketing Manager 

Product marketing managers are responsible for knowing the market for their company’s products and evaluating buyer information as well as competitor information. They will then collaborate with other departments such as marketing communications to develop ideal positioning and marketing strategies to reach their target audience. They plan releases of new products and assess the success of implemented marketing strategies. Product marketing managers typically earn about $116,000 per year.  

The journalism and public relations program at Concordia University, Nebraska prepares students to be lights of Christ in the world, by putting into practice Luther’s view of vocation: we serve God by serving other people. People need news and information that they can trust to be honest, accurate and credible. Concordia’s program teaches students to be responsible journalists and public relations professionals who follow ethical principles in providing information that others can rely on. Learn more about Concordia’s journalism program here.