The profession of a journalist can be obtained in a huge number of universities around the world. However, its specificity is learned precisely in practice, comprehended through experience. The university choice depends on what media area the student is going to study.
There is such a job - to know about everything
Is journalism a service or a vocation? Of course, first of all, it is a profession where you need your skills. A journalist knows how to compose an essay, get an interview, write a press release.
Also, this specialty is distinguished by constant contact with people from different areas. Therefore, a true press officer is able to inspire confidence in them and receive the necessary information. This is a detective, and actor, and writer all rolled into one. Of course, such a multifaceted activity leads to the rapid expansion of horizons.
Walking notebook
A real shark pen can be recognized by a special look. A press worker eagerly looks at the world, looking around for an information guide, a source of source data for material and new social contacts. This, of course, does not mean that the famous prototype named Paparazzi from the Fellini movie is a true journalist, demonstrating tactlessness and importunity. But without agility, the media has nothing to do. Indeed, as Vladimir Pozner said in the program School of Slander, journalism is magic that is present only in the present moment.
To make good material, the observer must prepare information, compile his review and publication with correctly placed accents. Therefore, very often the press can be recognized by a notebook for recordings or a new-fangled gadget that performs the same function.
A talented media employee knows how to present the news in such a way that it is impossible not to read it. It is very important in the news work to clearly present the picture of what is happening, to examine the heterogeneity of the materials and to fix the audience’s attention on the main idea with the help of mastery of the word.
Of course, many believe that journalism is the younger sister of literature, and it has to do with art, like a painter in painting. However, very often talented writers choose this path, at the same time writing beautiful stories and novels. It is possible that it was the modern way of life that made of reclusive writers people leading a socially active life. Now the author is looking for his heroes not in the inner space, but in a crowd of onlookers. This is a brief portrait of a modern press worker.
The basics of journalism: preparing material
News - this is that magical essence obtained as a result of the work of a professional observer. The media is important information. Facts and real events make the material interesting. There is no room for speculation and reflection in the news press. Any institute of journalism hones its students the ability to separate the main from the secondary. Students train to get the basic idea, find important information during the investigation, process the data and present the material interestingly. These are the basics of journalism.
Students also study various areas that really differ from each other in methods and style of presentation. Newspaper journalism, radio and television journalism require different skills.
In addition, there are such areas as photojournalism and advertising. However, almost all of them require good command of the word. To write articles for the print media, it is important to be able to concisely state the facts, for the radio you need a virtuoso spoken language, for television activities, in addition to the above, you must be able to work in the frame.
I have a spacesuit - ready to travel
Very often, teens are tempted to master the profession of a press officer, but do not conduct their journalistic investigation into a suitable educational institution. The choice, as a rule, falls on the closest to the house or a prestigious university. However, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the department.
In Russia, almost every major city has the opportunity to receive a quality philological education. However, there are a number of universities that provide highly specialized education in an area that is interesting to applicants.
Of course, these are the journalism of Moscow State University, the faculties of journalism at MGIMO and the Massmedia Institute of the Russian State Humanitarian University.
International journalism appeared at MGIMO in 1968. As for the Massmedia Institute, the RSUH sets itself the task of teaching humanitarian education at a high level in the conditions dictated by the information age.
Moscow State University is the basis of journalism in our country, so the faculty will be considered in more detail.
All graduates of the three largest universities have the opportunity to learn how to independently create media materials, as well as freely navigate information, find it where an ordinary person is incapable. Not every faculty of journalism provides an opportunity to get extensive practice, as is the case in the largest universities in the country.
Foreign universities
The most respected faculties and universities in the world that train journalists have their own unique teaching traditions. But if earlier the vector of education was chosen based on the internal needs of the country, now, in the era of globalization, classical schools are increasingly making programs more universal. And at the same time, students are given the opportunity to get a unique experience. It is for the sake of acquiring professional skills from the media guru that students overcome unthinkable distances and language barriers.
The School of Journalism, which is considered one of the most respected, is located at Columbia University . Here, the training of pen masters is carried out in all main areas.
Journalism in law and economics should go to the University of Madrid Carlos III. Here, the basics of writing mastery are taught through the prism of the social sciences and humanities.
Scientific journalists get the necessary experience at the University of Dortmund in Germany. Here, natural and technical disciplines are taught, graduates defend scientific work on selected issues. In addition, technical press masters are trained in Germany. This is what Fachhochschule Bonn-Rein-Sieg does. Computer science, exact sciences, and automated control techniques are taught here, as well as the history of journalism or the style of the native language.
At the University of Australia, the University of Western Sydney studies business, sports, and political journalism. But media professionals who specialize in art analysis are sent to study craftsmanship at the New Zealand Institute of Technology. They also prepare musicians, photographers and designers. Thus, in New Zealand they release not just highly specialized journalists, but professionals at the junction of the two areas. A second example of blended learning is at the University of Navarra in Spain. Here, students specialize in philosophy, and after graduation they become analytical journalists.
Abroad, the internship of students in other language environments is still relevant. For example, a journalism school in France practices student trips to Italy. Italy has a different culture, a different experience for students. As a result, special journalism is taught here. Universities around the world offer their programs and requirements.
Window to Europe
Such Russian universities as MGIMO, Russian State Humanitarian University and Moscow State University send their students abroad. The Institute of Journalism provides an opportunity to gain foreign experience. The main condition for this is the presence of a seasoned language exam and several years of study at a basic university.
If an applicant independently seeks courses in journalism, then all the hardships of paperwork fall on him. In addition to these tests, you must provide an autobiography, a certificate of financial viability, a recommendation and motivation letter. It is advisable to prepare a portfolio of publications published in the media. Registration fee, payment of housing and specialized payments - all this is paid privately. At the same time, part of foreign universities assign scholarships to foreign citizens and provide a hostel.
Newsboys
Sometimes journalists are called representatives of the second ancient profession, alluding to the ability to present the news in the light in which they are ordered. However, in Russia, the press staff appeared relatively recently - in the century before last.
The name is taken from the French language and means "diary" (from journal). Moscow publicists were engaged in periodicals. Already under Tsars Mikhail Fedorovich and Aleksei Mikhailovich, the first manuscript editions “Chimes” and “Vestovye Letters” were published, mainly translations from European newspapers were published in them: German, Swedish, Polish and Dutch. The news was read to the king and close boyars. And in 1702 the first trial “Vedomosti” came out, consisting again of foreign news. Peter the Great himself found time in his schedule to select the most valuable information. In 1703, the publication began to appear regularly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Thus, newsboys appeared a long time ago, but journalism was able to develop only after the advent of the printing press and the need of the general public for fresh information. Such a need arose in the 17th century, the era of the technical boom, when manufacturers began to monitor current economic information. Merchants needed to know in which countries it is possible to purchase materials and where new machines for production appeared. In addition, prices were reported in publications, which made it possible to learn about the competitive market.
In the same period, great interest in the media appeared among government agencies. Now the press is the "horseback" of ideological, religious and political games.
The history of journalism is closely linked to the general literacy rate of the population.
A great contribution to the domestic news sphere was made by Mikhail Lomonosov. His work "Discourse on the Duties of Journalists" laid the vector for the development of the profession in the 19-20 centuries. It was on the basis of the scientist's ideas about what the domestic press should be like, the work of the almanacs "Bell", "Moscow Telegraph", "Domestic Notes", "Polar Star" was built.
The October Revolution gave birth to the New World and other print media, including Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, and Soviet Russia.
Heritage of the Fatherland
One of the largest faculties of the country that train journalists is the journalism department of Moscow State University. The faculty has 14 departments, including: the department of foreign journalism and literature, the department of the history of domestic media, literary and artistic criticism and journalism, the stylistics of the native language, television and radio broadcasting, newspaper technology, new media and communication theory, and others. Immediately training photojournalists, specialist editors, Internet authors. The Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University conducts training in various forms: full-time, evening and correspondence. However, in recent years, enrollment in correspondence courses has been suspended. On a daily basis newspaper, photo, radio, television, international, sports, business journalism are presented.
Major specialties, such as newspaper, television, radio journalism, as well as editorial and public relations, can also be studied in the evening department.
All students master socio-political, philological and specialized disciplines. Particular attention is paid to the study of technology and methods of creative activity, the preparation of materials for television and radio programs, the organization of the work of the editorial team, the acquisition of skills in publishing, the creation and promotion of network media, converged media content.
On the basis of the faculty there is a huge scientific and educational platform presented by the Ibero-American Center for the Study of Journalism and Culture, the Free Russian-German Institute of Journalism, the Center for the Study of Media in Scandinavia and Finland, Franco-Russian, Russian-Japanese, Italo-Russian, Russian-Indian, Russian -Chinese centers. Students can perfectly master foreign languages, study media systems and principles of different states, participate in foreign exchange programs provided by the Faculty of Journalism. The training program is constantly being improved.
60 year history
Over 60 years, more than 20,000 people graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. Among them are the notorious Vladislav Listyev and Anna Politkovskaya. Among modern media stars it is worth recalling Marianna Maksimovskaya, Ernest Matskevichus and Alexey Pivovarov from the entertainment media - these are Evelina Khromchenko, Ksenia Strizh, Dana Borisova, Tutta Larson, Andrey Malakhov. The famous writer Dmitry Bykov and the poetess Vera Polozkova studied right there.
Impressive not only graduates, but also the composition of teachers. So, MSU journalism is represented by more than 165 professors. Among the scientific staff there are 97 associate professors, candidates of sciences and 32 professors. Many graduates who graduated from the faculty of journalism continue to teach here. Among them - radio host Svetlana Sorokina, music critic Artemy Troitsky, editor-in-chief of the Echo of Moscow program Alexei Venediktov. For all these people, journalism is more than a profession, it is a vocation, therefore, learning from them means not only learning the basics of mastery, but also revealing one’s own talent.
The epicenter of the student universe
It is believed that the monument to Lomonosov is not only the history of journalism, but also the place of power of writers and writers. Young students, recent graduates come here, here is the place of parties of zhurfakovtsev.
All studies at the university are saturated with a special atmosphere, because students spend a lot of time together. They release the optional journalist, prepare internal programs and programs themselves, and are actively developing media outlets.
Mugs of journalism are primarily creative workshops and studios. Here the guys learn to defend their opinions, listen to other points of view and give comments to each other at the high quality feedback level.
Surrender to become your own
In order to study at Moscow State University, the university, like any other journalism university, offers applicants to pass the entrance test. Today they include the Unified State Exam in Russian and Literature. In addition, it is also necessary to pass foreign languages, among which, in addition to English and German, they take an exam in French and Spanish.
Literature is considered a core subject, and the results of a creative competition are also taken into account.
The receipt itself is carried out in two stages. At the first, the best creative compositions are selected, and at the second, the choice is made in favor of those applicants who have adequately passed the interview.
For bachelors, they have the opportunity to enroll in a magistracy (duration of study - 2 years). It’s enough to pass an interview and provide a diploma of higher education.
The duration of training of specialists in the second higher education is 3 years. The tests here are the same as when enrolling in a magistracy. Training takes place on a paid basis, but everyone can attend professorship lectures and master classes by leading professionals, including practical journalists from leading media resources.
Young journalist
For students in grades 9 and 10 who want to prepare for the entrance tests, journalism courses are held. In order to take part in training according to the course program, you need to pass a test task. Also, applicants can attend another institution - "School of a young journalist." For classes in the school-studio you need to write an essay and pass the interview. Journalism courses last 9 months. At the school-studio, the duration of training is 1 or 2 years. Journalism is a vocation, and it is better to understand it at a young age.
They say that they are not born a journalist, writer, or critic, but they become. However, if from childhood you noticed a love for pen and paper, the ability to compose and communicate this to others, express your opinion and listen to someone else's, then you are definitely on the way with sharks of the pen.