Life After Media School: Choosing Your Career Path

Common Fields: Advertising, Journalism, and Communication
Best Place to Work: California and New York (BLS)
Highest Earning Career: Public Relations Specialists (BLS)

  • American Advertising Federation
  • American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
  • The American Communication Association

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    Perhaps you love marketing, have always dreamed of becoming a journalist, or simply want to become a better communicator.  A degree in media can bring you one step closer to all of these and more.  Media majors have a wide variety of career options.  These opportunities typically fall into one of three categories – advertising, journalism, and communications.  Here is just a sampling of what you can do with a degree in media.

    Career Overview

    Career Paths

    Advertising managers coordinate promotional campaigns.  They are responsible for the direction of advertising through radio, TV, and print publications. They may work for advertising agencies or other organizations and usually oversee other staff.  Workweeks over 40 hours are common, and travel is essential to the job.  Advertising managers should have a solid background in communication methods, visual arts, and photography – all common elements of a media degree.  Advertising managers can expect to make about $44,000 per year, according to the BLS.

    News analysts examine the news and then report it on television, through print, or online.  They perform interviews, take photos, and record video.  Some reporters choose to specialize according to topic or region.  News analysts must be able to work efficiently and avoid distractions.  They are sometimes called to report on the spot and must be quick thinking and professional at all times.  Many people are drawn to journalism, so competition is high.  Salary varies according to location and employer, but median earnings are in the $34,000 range, according to the BLS.

    Public relations specialists help organizations build relationships with the general public.  They write press releases, prepare speeches, and offer advice.  PR Specialists usually work 40 hours per week, but schedules can become complicated if an emergency or special event arises.  Public relations specialists seeking the best job opportunities may choose to become certified through the Universal Accreditation Board.  While employment growth is expected to be high, competition will also be strong.  The BLS reports the median salary for PR Specialists as $51,280.

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