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Is there life after a journalism course? The Coventry class of 2009

Thousands will enter university journalism courses this autumn; thousands are leaving this summer with a journalism degree. In the face of the biggest media recession for many a generation where do they go? Is there life after a journalism course?

The Coventry University Media and Communication department will graduate our first undergraduate journalism cohort of about 20 this year and any day now my students will be opening the brown envelope to find out the class of their degree. Some still have modules or elements of modules to complete before they can call themselves BA (Hons).Those who can, are out there in the very tough job market. How are the Coventry Journalism Class of 2009 faring?

As we keep telling them, journalism is a tough competitive business for a lifetime and nowhere is that truer in finding those scarce first jobs.

Jason Craig is from Northern Ireland and was a star from the off. Three years ago he arrived at Coventry with an article ready cooked for Steve Cropley, editor-in-chief of Autocar and a visiting speaker to Freshers' Week.

Last year most students struggled to find one work experience placement. Jason found five all over the UK. He edited the weekly newsletter The Buzz and set up the e-newsletter Cutoday.wordpress.com which in three short months has had 20,000+ hits.

When speakers came to do a Coventry Conversation with me, Jason invariably got an angle and filed a piece for national websites and papers out of it. His portfolio fills several files. Today he has a First Class Honours degree and a job for a magazine in Belfast. Let Jason take up the story in his own words:

"My interest is often regarded as a 'specialist' topic, as it is a minority market I am writing for, and perhaps that has helped my case for employment. I am now a staff writer for Pacenotes Rallysport Magazine," he says.

"To cut a long story short, I spent a week on work placement with the Mooney Media magazine last August, at Rally Ireland in January/February of this year, and between times have contributed various editorial pieces. All for free, and all during my studies, but I adamantly believe a book (except law, possibly) will teach you very little: it's all about doing.

"Have I been one of the lucky few? Maybe, but I can't say I haven't given 100 per cent from the first day to the last as a student, and it is an ethos I will carry with me throughout my working life. 

"I have much to learn, but I have much to offer, too, and just like my degree, it equally takes time to fulfill ambitions in the cut-and-thrust world of reporting. For now, though, the recession is still hanging around, and nothing is ever certain in the working world, journalism especially."

Others have chosen the work experience path post-degree. Greg Keane enjoyed radio and had his own show on the student station Source FM. He too chatted up a visiting Coventry Conversations speaker - Tom Reeves of Mercia FM. Today, Greg is doing two days a week work experience (unpaid) on Reeves' 'Breakfast with Andy Goulding' show. As he knows, that may or not lead to bigger and better things. In the meantime, he is also applying for internships at media houses in Australia.

His friend Liam Papworth considered doing a Masters degree in Film Studies but instead has chosen to try his luck in the New World - Canada - later this year. Before that, it's labouring in a Peterborough factory for him.

Attiq Sadiq is seeking the NCTJ route. He's been pointed towards the need for accreditation. "I applied for many entry level jobs within journalism: from Adfero news agency to WENN Entertainment. I found that many applications were not answered," he says.

"I have decided that in order to beat the bleak jobs market I'll take a course to get my NCTJ qualification - I have already gained a place at Sutton Coldfield College in Birmingham, and have an interview with Brighton College. With these courses you are required to undertake a day of work experience with a local newspaper and I hope that I will get on the jobs market by next year."

Another student, Sophie Polydorou, has used her contacts well. She's hopefully off to join a family member in the advertising department of the Independent - at least whilst that is still extant.

Some have parked themselves for a while. Dez Cutchey deputy-edited the Coventry student newspaper The Source for the last year. He is now the elected Vice President Communications for the Students Union for the next year. Sabbatical but paid. Dez is hoping that he will be re-elected to the post next academic year and then be ripe for the journalism job market in 2011 when things should look brighter and he will have a much bigger portfolio.

Others have chosen paths away from Journalism. Iain Green is an able hack. So much so that he secured a one-day-a-week paid shift at the Coventry Telegraph after doing work experience there last year. But, he sees the future in local papers as not bright and has opted to teach. He's off to Leicester University to study for a PGCE in English and Media.

Confidence is all - some have had it knocked by rejection and chosen to go out. Rachel Cook is now applying for jobs as a media officer: "I have given up on journalism for now as I need money fast and I haven't got the time to wait around for the perfect journalism job, or to find the time to write articles. I am not sure what I want to do, or what kind of journalist I want to be, which is why I haven't looked that hard into the area.

"To be honest I believe that with journalism you have to be 100 per cent interested in it to push yourself into a good job, or you have to have good contacts - otherwise you will be like the other millions of aspiring journalists. I don't think I am ruthless enough or dedicated enough at the moment."

"I do fancy doing a PGCE as I would be interested in teaching English and Media. Maybe one day I will find journalism interesting again, and after a bit of life experience I may be better at it.
"

So a small micro sample on just one course. Small but telling. Our job as journalism educators should not be just teaching the Five or Six Ws, skills  and the tools of the trade but also opening up contacts and new vistas for wannabe hacks, but also to manage their expectations realistically.

For every Jason Craig, there will be five without a journalism job. There are as many journalism courses as there are new journalism jobs in Britain. We teach them to live the dream but also to prepare for it with graft, contacts, work experience galore and a hefty portfolio. A degree is just the icing on the cake.

John Mair is a senior lecturer in broadcasting at Coventry University and regular contributor to Journalism.co.uk. He invented and runs the Coventry Conversations series.They are now available as podcasts on ItunesU as well as on the University website. Next term's Conversationalists include Jon Snow, Nick Pollard, Stephen Cole and Richard Keeble.

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