So You Want to be a Broadcast Journalism Major
This week we were able to interview Erin MacArthur who received a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Interviewer: What made you want to major in Broadcast Journalism?
Erin: I enjoy writing and mostly it just sounded interesting.
Interviewer: Where did you do your schooling? What are the educational requirements for that particular field?
Erin: I went to the University of Utah. I received a bachelor’s in mass communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. That’s the only basic requirement. With broadcast journalism though you don’t necessarily have to major in broadcast journalism. Broadcast journalists have all sorts of majors, some are even doctors and lawyers. Other majors can help you find a specific area to write about.
Interviewer: What was your favorite aspect of your academic experience?
Erin: I liked it overall, but it took me a little while to get used to it. I went to Dixie State first to get my associate’s and that was really good for me. I really liked living on my own and making new friends, meeting new people.
Interviewer: What was the hardest part of your academic experience?
Erin: Initially I struggled with motivation to go to classes that I didn’t like (such as generals). Later it was doubting my capabilities. I feel like I didn’t challenge myself as much as I could have.
Interviewer: What is the average salary available in that field?
Erin: When I started it was like $15,000 a year. Today it’s $39,950 a year.
Interviewer: What internships did you do?
Erin: I interned for a reporter at Channel 4 (ABC affiliate) and for the assignment desk at Channel 2 (CBS affiliate).
Interviewer: What was your favorite aspect of your internships?
Erin: At Channel 4 I worked with the consumer reporter and it was fun to do some of the research. At Channel 2 it was fun to go out on the actual shoots and see things as they were happening or had just happened.
Interviewer: What was the hardest part of your internships? Or the things you didn’t like as much?
Erin: At Channel 2, being at the assignment desk could be really boring sometimes. That was probably the biggest thing overall.
Interviewer: What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone who is trying to decide what to major in?
Erin: Find something that you enjoy and holds your interest. You’re never going to like your job 100% of the time, but if there is an aspect that you love and find interesting then when you are in those moments when you are struggling it can help to motivate you to keep going and stay firm.