DISQUS

QiaoYang · 1 year ago

It most certainly is a significant factor. In my reporting days at a hard news, "inside Washington" publication that was proudly non-alligned with the MSM axis (this is 20 years ago), a journalism degree was the kiss of death on any resume. A masters in journalism would get you laughed out of the news room. The best reporter was an English bloke who'd never been to college. Tom Wolfe would have been OK with the place. In contrast, several years later, I visited the dean of the Masters of Journalism program at UC Berkeley just to get a glimpse of that world, pretending to be a prospective student. She told me that they tended to discourage heavily any person that had actual journalism experience from applying. I couldn't believe my ears. Tom Wolfe is an excellent novelist magnificently in touch with Reality.

erp617 · 1 year ago

So true. I like to browse new book shelves at the library and book stores, but usually reject books by authors I don't know if the book jacket reveals they are academics. Sometimes a book will be so highly recommended that I break my rule only to find the book reads as if it was written by a junior high school student -- bad usage and all.

Twn · 1 year ago

If there there's any vocation in desperate need of "de-professionalizing", it's journalism. Basically a degree in pomposity and self-importance. I would like to know what H.L. Mencken would think of the idea of a masters degree in reporting!!

Mikey NTH · 1 year ago

Journalism - can you ask questions?
Novels - can you tell a story?

Both- can you construct a coherent sentence, let alone a coherent paragraph?

They are mistaking the degree for the skill. There is carpentry, and then there is actual cabinet work. I can do the one, but not the other.