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Topic: Going after another degree b/c journalism sucks!
| Author | Message |
| Keith | Posted – 3/4/2008 6:40:48 PM | show profile | email poster I've been looking for work in the field of journalism for the past year ever since I graduate with a bachelor's in it. I just can't find a job ANYWHERE IN JOURNALISM! I want to become a paralegal and found "New York Paralegal School" in Manhattan. They offer all the courses needed to become a paralegal. But they are not accredited by the ABA (American Bar Association), which I hear is needed to find a job in this field. Experience is needed also, and this school does offer an internship, as well as financial aid. When I ask the placement person about how to get a job without experience, she said they offer lifetime job placement. Then she said that as long as you have a Bachelor's, you don't need another degree or certificate from a ABA accredited school. Is this true? Can any paralegals tell me anything about where I should go in N.Y.C to become a paralegal, and if the school should be ABA accredited?Also, how can I get financial aid for it (I have a job that pays $11 an hour, so I need financial help!) |
| candylilacs | Posted – 3/4/2008 7:11:33 PM | show profile There are jobs in journalism, just like I told my 22-year-old, unemployed and college-grad sister-in-law this weekend. I told her there were always openings at this one paper I worked at years and years ago. I told her it was a 10,000-circulation newspaper and paid about $10/hour (which was fine for living there -- rent is $400 a month.) She said she wasn't interested. She said she wanted to work at an advertising agency creating ad campaigns. (She lives in a 90,000-person somewhat cultureless city in California.) Problem is, the nearest ad agency is 45 miles away. (And I don't think they give recent college grad accounts right away.) So, there you go. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| reporterwriter | Posted – 3/4/2008 7:53:52 PM | show profile Without going completely Simon Cowell on you, I can understand why you've had difficulty finding a journalism job. For example, you're asking questions about paralegal training and financial aid on a media discussion board. Do you even know there's something wrong with this picture? |
| Keith | Posted – 3/4/2008 8:02:49 PM | show profile I came here for help, not ridicule! and the reason I'm asking this question here is because I majored in journalism, and journalism and media go hand and hand. So If you are not a paralegal or heard of this school, or have paralegal friends, PLEASE STAY QUIET! I don't have the time for assholes who waste a posting space not saying a damn thing! |
| Gayarthurthomas | Posted – 3/4/2008 8:23:38 PM | show profile Shelby..... you're a fucking idiot. |
| wineaux | Posted – 3/4/2008 11:22:54 PM | show profile Shelby, when I first got out of J. School, I wrote for a trade magazine that was for paralegals, and everyone who I interviewed that was a paralegal came from an accredited school. My suggestion to you is to do what I should have done when I was shopping for journalism schools. Go to the school with the best possible reputation that you can get into. And, be absolutely certain that you want to be a paralegal before you make the commitment. That said, there are plenty of scholarships out there, no matter what degree you seek so again, do your homework. Good luck to you. |
| mae | Posted – 3/5/2008 2:26:17 AM | show profile I agree with wineaux (I wrote for one too! Probably the same one). The bigger, more reputable (and thus higher paying law firms) will require ABA accreditation. Corporate law pays the most, and family law pays the least. Good luck. |
| Decorama | Posted – 3/5/2008 2:33:04 PM | show profile | email poster $400 a month rent? Hot damn! Well, Candylilacs, where is this place? Please email me if you don't want to post the location of this inexpensive mecca for newshounds. I'm not too proud to pull up my tenuous Manhattan roots and head out for the boondocks. As for you, Shelby, I was touched by your other posts, where you are about to be booted from home and hearth because you can't get a job in journalism. Now you're into a whole 'nother gig. I would love to know if you have ONLY looked on mediabistro.com for a position. If so, you're missing out on lots of leads. |
| wineaux | Posted – 3/5/2008 3:05:03 PM | show profile And, on a totally different subject: Johnny Rotten: Get the hell off of these boards. Every post from you is stupid, venomous and pointless. My guess is that you are one of those ass bags that trolls on here, switches their screen name contstantly, and does nothing but spew useless tripe. When people ask for advice on a professional journalism site, they deserve a professional and mature response, or none at all, if you can't contribute constructively. Why the hell do you post here, anyways? You obviously aren't a journalist. If anything, you're some intern at Fox Snooze with nothing better to do between bouts of fetching drycleaning and lattes. |
| Unemployed-gal | Posted – 3/5/2008 3:16:10 PM | show profile Shelby, if I may be so bold, you need to learn to not take criticism so badly. People in journalism tend to be very cynical/ harsh with regards to criticism, so maybe it wasn't the right field for you in the first place. My question is, to echo another poster, why are you posting about paralegal/ law stuff on a media board? The only people who really come here are in that field and we're not really the best people to ask. And, if I may say, it looks to me as though you're only looking to be a paralegal because you can't find anything in journalism. Ie, you're looking into paralegal work as a fallback career. Do you know anything about the field and what it entails? For example, my former roommate was a paralegal at a mid-sized law firm (right out of college, no additional degree besides a Bachelor's in English and an internship at a law firm) and she worked from 8 am to 10 pm, pretty much every single day. She quit after four months. |
| jkdscribe | Posted – 3/5/2008 9:39:21 PM | show profile One thing I learned very quickly in journalism--which is true almost everywhere--is that who you know counts, sad as that is. However, if you graduated from a journalism school, you must know people. All of your professors must have experience, and I would imagine plenty of it. Some may still contribute to local publications and could give you a number to call. Most schools have their own newspapers, magazines or both (mine did, and though it didn't pay I wouldn't be making anything now if not for that experience). That's the next thing, experience. Do whatever you have to do to get it. You don't need to see a job ad to get involved somewhere; call or write the editor and tell him/her that you are looking to get exprience and are willing to do whatever. This is of course assuming you might stick with journalism. From what I've written above I think it's clear that unless you're passionate about it, it's probably not worth pursuing. And I too would like to see a little more civility on these threads. We're not children here. |
| ferdinand | Posted – 3/5/2008 9:53:10 PM | show profile civility is good but in that vein just wanted to point out that screaming "journalism sucks" in the title of a thread on a journalism board, and then asking journalists questions that have to do with another profession entirely, may not be the best way to find what you're looking for. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 3/6/2008 3:18:28 AM | show profile My point was recent grads say they can't find jobs, but in reality it's that they can't get a job *that isn't beneath them*, meaning if it's not a job at the NY Times or weekend anchor, then it's not worth considering. Decorama -- we all pay our dues. It was an interesting year-long gig getting paid $10 an hour and a $400 apartment (and I had a washer/dryer in my apartment! I was living.) I guess your attempt at saying you would move from Manhattan was supposed to be a dig -- because no one would leave Manhattan! -- but is lost on me. I'm from California, born and bred, and I live three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in a Victorian with a palm tree in the front yard. I wouldn't trade it for the world. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| Decorama | Posted – 3/6/2008 8:57:39 AM | show profile | email poster Candylilacs, so very sorry if you thought that I was being snide. Not in the least! At this stage in the game, I need a $400 rent and a palm tree! I agree with you about the young whippersnappers who wouldn't stoop take a job unless it's with Conde Nast or the NYT. I'm not one of them. (The ed2010 board seems to have crashed, and I don't know how all the beautiful dreamers are living without it.) |
| Jerose | Posted – 3/6/2008 10:44:07 AM | show profile It always kind of blows my mind when people say right out of school that they can't find jobs. I am not trying to crass either. My undergrad college was the best resource for me--and continues to be for current J-school grads--when I was first looking. Even now when I'm mid-level in my career I still go back to my school's placement office for leads on jobs. Perhaps my school is the exception? It really IS about who you know. |
| wineaux | Posted – 3/6/2008 11:03:53 AM | show profile I agree Je. I spent the first few years after graduating taking any work I could get, and the job at the paralegal magazine was one my j. school provided for me, among others. I often wrote about some pretty mundane stuff, like pesticides, computer software, and cellphone casings. Those gigs provided the clips that got me the beefier gigs later, however. I don't need to tell most people on this board, but this is a tough industry for more than one reason. You have to be hearty and understand that respect is earned, and your clips are what get your foot in the door, and introductions from the right people are what get you to pass through a swankier, more polished door. Another thing that I think most recent graduates don't understand is that there is a huge amount of highly respected veterans of the business out there who are struggling as well, due to the brutality going on w/ the current media market, and that makes their competition even fiercer. There's nothing wrong w/ starting at a little local rag and building that clip book up and doing something else on the side. That's the way I met the connections to some of my best gigs. If you aren't passionate about getting ahead in this business and your attention gets turned quickly, it's not worth the often low pay, high stress and massive hours. I hate to sound preachy, but those of us who have been there know it's the truth. |
| MDSAL | Posted – 3/6/2008 11:23:36 AM | show profile I think it's a little unfair to castigate Shelby. So many of us are getting out of the profession and/or are being pushed out. Unless you are very well connected, it's very difficult to sustain a career in journalism. Many of my friends and colleagues have been laid off time after time, despite their talent and commitment. Be real, people. I do think many of the posters here like to ram it up and down. What's up with that? Shelby, there are many legal staffing agencies that will help you find a gig, which will help you decide if you like the profession. Also, NYU has a very good paralegal program. If you decide to pursue a paralegal career, you might want to use your journalism/legal skills to freelance for publications like American Lawyer (www.americanlawyer.com). |
| mkelly | Posted – 3/6/2008 12:58:32 PM | show profile "My point was recent grads say they can't find jobs, but in reality it's that they can't get a job *that isn't beneath them*, meaning if it's not a job at the NY Times or weekend anchor, then it's not worth considering." Exactly right, Candy. And Shelby, the only reason I encourage you to leave journalism is because if you have a J degree, spent a year looking for work, and still can't find any-- you clearly don't know where to look, and knowing where to find information is a journalist's lifeblood. If you can't do that, you shouldn't be in this industry anyway. |
| mae | Posted – 3/6/2008 2:25:25 PM | show profile wineaux I have a nagging feeling we probably worked at the same place. |
| wineaux | Posted – 3/6/2008 4:01:24 PM | show profile mae, I don't suppose there are too many mags dedicated to paralegals. |
| mae | Posted – 3/6/2008 4:12:22 PM | show profile Was it in Costa Mesa? |
| Bree | Posted – 3/6/2008 5:02:28 PM | show profile Learn how to help one another PLEASE! Okay, in regards to posting non-media related issues on this board and all, I see ALOT of postings dealing with car dealers, accounting software, etc. that have nothing to do with media/journalism. So why is most of you coming down on Shelby for posting this thread here? Also, I get the feeling that most journalists just don't want to acknowledge the opinion that journalism "sucks" (her words, not mine). but just remember that it is Shelby's opinion. And journalism is a REALLY HARD FIELD TO BREAK INTO! I have a degree in journalism also, and relate to her furstration. But you just have to keep applying to jobs to gain experience, even if they are unpaid internships. Use those internships to smooze and get a job eventually. In terms to becoming a paralegal, call some law firms up and ask their qualifications on hiring paralegals. ALL YOU NEED IS A BACHELOR'S TO BECOME A PARALEGAL! No certificate is necessary. However, you will have to have a high GPA and other restrictions like that do apply. Now can we all stop cursing and disagreeing with one another and TRY to help others out :) journalism is very difficult to obtain a job in, and anyone out that with advice should supply it here at beginner's forum every chance they get. |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 3/6/2008 5:14:43 PM | show profile Eva, I'd say the car dealer post was equally out of place. But accounting software isn't- freelancers need that to keep track of invoices, etc. And people were just pointing out we wouldn't be in the best place to help her on this board- most journalists, freelance or otherwise, don't have expertise with paralegal skills and schools. |
| wineaux | Posted – 3/6/2008 5:17:27 PM | show profile one and the same, mae. I wonder if we know each other, or know some of the same people? I had a few people I graduated with who worked there, and there was an editor I liked very much. I only freelanced there, and did so sporadically for only about a year or so after graduation. |
| Decorama | Posted – 3/6/2008 5:37:45 PM | show profile Why in heaven's name I doubt very much that Shelby will now be able to land a job as a paralegal right now if she's up against people with training and experience. I'm looking for a position myself now, and I keep stumbling across possible Shelbyjobs. I find myself wondering if she even knows about certain job sites, for starters. We oldtimers could probably find her a swell position in a few weeks. (That is, if there's any "there there". ) But we don't have much to go on, other than bare need. |
