Become a Jayhawk Journalist » After the J-School

There aren’t jobs in journalism

waynel — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:55:46 +0000

How will I ever get a job studying journalism?

I’ve heard that question more than I can count during my two years as the KU J-School’s recruiter. Fact is, our students are getting jobs when they graduate, and in their field of study to boot!

The University of Georgia’s School of Journalism studied the KU J-School’s May 2011 graduates to see how many of them had jobs in the field within six months of graduation. Survey results showed 81 percent of our graduates had jobs in journalism or strategic communication. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (the folks who always talk about the unemployment rate) studied 2011 graduates on a national, non-major specific level. They found 43 percent of the 74.5 of employed graduates were working in a field related to their studies.

That means 2011 KU J-School graduates not only beat the overall employment rate, but they almost doubled the percentage of students working in the field they studied in college.

And people still say journalism is dying?

Not at the KU J-School! Our multifaceted curriculum, connected faculty, great career center, geographic proximity to a major metropolitan area, and awesome alumni base ensure our students land the jobs they want at a very high rate.

Wayne Larson ~ KU J-School Recruiter

April 2013

New York internship

waynel — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:43:36 +0000

I was only a sophomore when my magazine professor, Carol Holstead, told me about the American Society of Magazine Editors’ internship program. I was only eligible the summer after my junior year, and I spent the following year working toward the internship.

So when I received an email last March saying that I had gotten the internship, I was ecstatic (in fact, I burst out into tears). A few weeks later, I found out that I’d be spending my summer in New York working at ESSENCE magazine, a publication for African-American women.

Last summer was by far the most incredible experience of my life, mostly because the editors didn’t treat me like an intern. I worked in the entertainment and books departments of the magazine. I wrote book and movie reviews, did Q&As with celebrities and readers, and I attended a variety of press events and movie screenings – both with and in place of my editors.

Needless to say, I am beyond ready to return to New York. I’m planning on moving back to the city after graduation to (knock on wood) land a position at my dream job – ESSENCE magazine.

Taylor Lewis ~ Journalism senior studying news and information and Spanish

March 2013

Medicine and journalism

waynel — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:22:52 +0000

I came to KU with two passions: medicine and writing. I had dreams of going to school and becoming a doctor, but I also wanted to take classes that would improve my writing skills. At my first visit with a KU career counselor, I was pleasantly surprised to find I’d be able to follow both of my passions if I majored in journalism and followed the pre-medicine track.

I interned at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center during my senior year. As the hospital’s marketing and communications intern, I wrote news releases and articles for local news media including the Kansas City Star, helped promote special events, and collaborated with hospital departments to create informational materials.

A few of my favorite experiences were promoting SMMC’s Speaking of Women’s Health event which drew 2,000 attendees, and writing articles for SMMC’s e-newsletter Health Connection.

My internship gave me the opportunity to combine both of my interests in medicine and writing in a real-world, professional setting. I owe my preparation for this experience to the skills I learned in my journalism classes and from my outstanding journalism professors. The J-School opened new doors that allowed me to follow my dreams. Since graduating in May, I’ve followed my dreams further and I’m working on Cerner Corporation’s health care marketing team.

Lindsay Ullyot ~ 2012 graduate in journalism strategic communications and science

September 2012

Reporting live from a crime scene

waynel — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:10:42 +0000

Even with everything you learn in getting a journalism degree from KU, there are some things you can’t learn in a classroom.

It was the first day of my internship at WOWT Channel 6 in Omaha last summer and I was ecstatic to be the only news intern at the station. I knew I’d be getting hands-on experience but I didn’t know I’d be getting so much of it so quickly.

On my first day the reporter and I were called to a bank robbery in South Omaha. The suspect had fled to a house in North Omaha with the money he’d stolen, so we went to check things out.

I figured the police would just bust down the door, go arrest the suspect, and that’d be that. But when we got there, it looked as though half of the Omaha Police Department was stationed around the house, all heavily armed. It was intimidating, seeing police officers run around with guns but it was exciting to see it all up-close while helping report what was going on.

When my mom called to ask how my first day was I left quite a bit out because if you’re not a reporter yourself you don’t understand that there’s some danger that can come with being in the field. But that’s half the fun; it’s a rush, and, getting that experience was something I’ll never forget.

Laura Sather ~ Journalism senior studying news and information and English

May 2012