ds wants to possibly go into communications....

[Holly IN]

He wanted me to ask the hive mind your thoughts about communications. Right now he is aiming for communication as his major and political communications or science as his minor. He is considering IUPUI since it is the closest to us and a very good college.

 

If you know anything about communications he wants to know what you know and how you get a good job. I am not really sure what he is really asking. He looked online and the field is pretty wide. From acting to news to journalism and so on.

 

I will get more specifics from him later today.

 

Holly

[stephanier.1765]

My eldest is working on a degree in communications but he is focusing more on the sports aspect of it. I, unfortunately, don't know a whole lot about it. But he did take an incredibly interesting communications law type class that he loved to talk to me about. I don't think I've ever seen him so excited about any class ever. It almost had him thinking of changing his major to law.

 

Anyway, I know that doesn't help you in the least but I just wanted to mention that my son is working on that degree as well. He chose a state college so he also would be close to home.

[specialmama]

Yes, it is a vast field. I took Corporate Communication in Toronto, Ontario. It prepared me to be an editor, a spin doctor, a PR person of a corporation. I am able to design from start to finish magazines, newsletters, etc. using writing, editing, photography, graphic design, typesetting, etc. Strong writing skills are essential, as is a creative bent. Where your son is leaning toward political communication, I would ensure he gets ample Debate, Government and Psychology credits. Yes, do come back with more specifics and ask him what exactly he is asking us. :D

[Food4Thought]

My degree is in Communications, with a specialization in Radio/TV/Film. I did my internship with a radio station and spent my college years making movies with friends and running a radio show.

 

The degree is so broad that I was able to land an excellent job in PR and Marketing when I graduated. Like specialmama, I can do just about any marketing related work - graphic design, writing newsletters and press releases, radio ad scripts, etc. The irony is that I learned my marketing skills *after* I got the job (and much of it was self-taught after hours). I didn't specialize in marketing in college at all.

 

The jobs of some of my friends with Communication degrees include: TV editing, celebrity assistant, published author, and speech therapist. One of my friends writes/draws Comic Books for a living. So, yes, it's a very wide field, but I think the degree is excellent to get your foot in the door somewhere.

[Holly IN]

Ok I asked him for specifics:

 

He wants to know about political communications. Is it good to get into? or is it better to get into media?

 

He is debating between political or media. Right now he has two films under his belt that we produced and put on DVD. One is a feature film and the other is a documentary where he was the media type person talking the whole time. He also acted in a film triology with his friends that is on youtube that is getting lots of hits. He loves BOTH!!

 

That is his specifics. :D lol

 

Thanks!! The replies given so far has been wonderful. He is happy about the replies and felt good about it.

 

Holly

[hillfarm]

My dh works as a broadcast and internet media specialist at a local university. He used to do high end film and video shoots and did some tv news camera. I am another here with a degree in PR.

 

Basically, the general concensus is that broadcast tv is limping along to what may well be its demise. Everything is heading toward the internet and a la carte viewing. Small, local stations are dropping like flies due to the change to digital and the fact that many analog customers can no longer get the signal. In my area of rural Ohio, most residents were forced to go with satellite tv, which does not offer any local stations. We have to choose NY, Atlanta, or Chicago for our "local" affiliates.

 

Corporate communications are growing as a way to cut travel/costs, training costs, and to directly reach consumers.

 

The film industry is still doing fairly well, but also feeling the impact of the internet. Places like Blockbuster are dropping their b/m stores like hot potatoes.

 

Sadly, news has continued the trend toward infotainment. Dh says that he often sees a press release come through in the am and by that evening, the topic has been taken up by the "news" purveyors. Although there is a significant need for concise and accurate political and world event analysis, that usually doesn't attract sponsorship by the P&G family of products, etc. so even though it is fairly cheap to produce, it is in decline.

 

I would encourage your ds to focus on where the market is going and to let that help direct his choices. Have him ponder questions like where are his friends getting their informational and entertainment media? how to stay away from related industries that are in decline? where are advertisers spending their money? People need and continue to seek information and entertainment. It is just that the technology and formats are changing so rapidly in today's world that it can be hard to find your way. IMO, the bottom line is to watch the advertisers. They go where the markets go and the media follow to facilitate access. Or more to the point, follow the money.

Edited September 16, 2010 by hillfarm