Why journalism can be a hard profession to master
- NIC CHRISTENSEN
- THE AUSTRALIAN
- APRIL 18, 2012 12:00AM
Flint Duxfield, UTS postgraduate journalism student, says his postgrad study was essential to getting a job at the ABC. Picture: News Limited Source: The Australian
FLINT Duxfield is one of a record 800 people enrolled in a postgraduate journalism degree.
Four years ago, the 30-year-old quit his job to pursue journalism through the University of Technology, Sydney's postgraduate program.
"I was working in the non-profit sector and doing a number of media interviews. I realised I would rather be doing the interviewing myself," he said.
Now in the final stage of his masters degree, Duxfield said his postgraduate study was essential to getting his job with the ABC. "I definitely got a lot of technical skills. I also got a better appreciation for the way news is distributed and what is needed in terms of news values," said Duxfield, now the acting executive producer of the South Australian Country Hour.
Alan Knight, head of the Graduate School of Journalism at UTS, said the growth in postgraduate journalism studies, up by 74 per cent since 2001, was driven by many factors.
"Demand is one -- there are a lot of people who want to study journalism and are prepared to pay fees to do so," said Professor Knight.
More than 20 universities offered postgraduate journalism courses, he said. "Universities don't run for profit but every dean at every university is looking for ways to bring in more income. In the case of the humanities, journalism is a good earner."
Universities offering postgraduate courses compete for international and domestic fee-paying students, who are either working journalists seeking higher-level qualification or those with an undergraduate degree wanting to enter the profession. The cost of a masters course ranges from $12,500 to $35,000.
Jenna Price, undergraduate co-ordinator of the UTS journalism major, said she was concerned that most postgraduate programs accepted all comers, bringing the worth of the degrees into question. She said all postgraduate programs should have their admission standards reviewed.
"If you're going to make journalism degrees postgraduate, you must make them at least as selective as the undergraduate degrees," said Ms Price, pointing out that some undergraduate courses compete with fields such as law and medicine for the brightest students.
But Anne Dunn, president of the Journalism Education Association, said applying tougher entry standards could have a negative effect.
"Our market is relatively small, and you would end up with relatively small degrees if you set the bar too high," said Dr Dunn.
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