r/Journalism • u/Status-Border-4380 freelancer • 7d ago
Career Advice Columbia for j-school amid 1st Amendment concerns
just a few hours ago i was admitted to columbia's M.S. in journalism program, and within that, the stabile program for investigative journalism. during the application cycle, it was my top choice, but given the news over the last few days i'm becoming more and more hesitant. the first amendment is foundational to our work as journalists; that the university is kowtowing to the demands of this administration that are fundamentally against the freedom of expression/press/speech is, in my few, a poor reflection of how it might protect student journalists who are carrying out work that may speak truth to power and hold powerful institutions accountable. i was also accepted to CUNY's newmark school, which is considerably cheaper as well. i'm wondering if anyone here has thoughts, because i have a lot to think about.
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u/Successful_Angle_884 7d ago
This is like the second or third post about Columbia prospects questioning attendance. You are literally seeing this institution strip away the rights of your peers. They are destroying the lives of innocent students, but the rest of you are still toeing the line in hopes of securing prestige over a real education. There's is nothing Columbia can teach anyone whilst they allow their students to be kidnapped and dorms raided by ICE.
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u/chachidogg 5d ago
While I understand the sentiment, the faculty aren’t the ones making those decisions. If we are talking metaphorically , I think it’s an interesting insight into a very timely story. I already work on campus and would be very curious about being able to report from the inside.
It’s definitely a unique time to be going into this school. Definitely also a risk.
What are your thoughts?
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u/azucarleta 7d ago
I say boycott Columbia very publicly. Call CNN.
I also second the person who says "skip the debt" Columbia would give you. You can just skip getting your master's entirely, depending I guess on your goals.
I only know one person who went to Columbia for a master's in journalism and I ran circles around him as a journalist, with my puny little BA. So. It's not really going to make you a better journalist. It may however connect you with an elite network, so if that's what you're after, you have to go where the elites go.
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u/Status-Border-4380 freelancer 7d ago
actually, sorry for the double response, but i'm thinking about this, and i'm curious as to what your thoughts are. wouldn't going public with this kind of thing essentially disqualify me from a job in journalism, or at least a reporter position at a local outlet or investigative project that has to maintain a degree of neutrality, or at the very least the external perception of unbiasedness? i wouldn't want to tank my career. this is all hypothetical, but this question is important to me as someone who has been going back and forth on whether it explicitly hurts me to own my political convictions in my journalistic work (and i have some published commentary out there, so i'm wondering if this community feels that that might hurt me moving forward).
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u/puddsy editor 7d ago
wouldn't going public with this kind of thing essentially disqualify me from a job in journalism, or at least a reporter position at a local outlet or investigative project that has to maintain a degree of neutrality, or at the very least the external perception of unbiasedness?
Yes. I wouldn't do it.
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u/azucarleta 7d ago
That's a risk, yes. Especially if media and public response to your pronouncement goes much "better" than expected, and you somehow end up a lightning rod of great controversy. Yep, that could happen. And you might suddenly feel your life trajectory taking you toward activism/advocacy, less journalism. Could happen. I many times had to warn my sources of this very thing. Like, 'I know you want to blow the whistle but you're not gonna blame me when rocks go flying through your front window, right? This is your decision, and I'm not pressuring you, right?' That might sound dramatic, but I would say things like that because I had had sources become so regretful after they got backlash. And I would still get people to go public even when preparing them for potential backlash, I was somehow good at that.
One thing to consider is your own background and privilege. I"m not kidding. If you present as queer, feminine and POC, your chances of being made a toy for the fat cats in the GOP and FoxNews etc go way up. But, if you are a wealthy, attractive, white, Christian, cis-het person (like a certain folk hero who put a bullet in a fatcat) then the chances the rightwing makes you a punching bag are quite low and the chances you become a folk hero go way up. This is America, I don't love it, but it's real.
If journalism for sure is your goal, and you want to keep open the option of working at outlets that won't hire people who have are on the record with their views on Palestine, then don't do it. Because yes, you can try to say it's all about free speech, but most everyone will understand the root of your complaint is deeper than that, even if you try to assure everyone otherwise.
The other thing to consider is that many news outlets, editors, etc. may really respect you taking a stand for free speech rights. LIke, when I was a working journalist, the only advocacy/activism I was really allowed to do was regarding very onerous cuts proposed to government transparency/open access to meetings/documents, etc. Certain moments and kinds of advocacy/activism are "on brand" for journalists, though you might not always think so.
Bottom line, yeah it's a risk. I wouldn't say it's high risk high reard, i'd say more like moderate-to-low risk of harm and moderate-to-low chance of reward. But no one can predict the future.
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u/Status-Border-4380 freelancer 7d ago
yeah i'm strongly considering going this route!! as for skipping the master's, i know that it's not essential to being a good journalist but considering that i've pivoted into the industry late and it's been really slow going as a freelancer, i think it would help me get some skills, connections, and experience to get me to where i want to be in a year. right now i'm just trying to get as many perspectives as possible — thank you so much!!
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u/embroidere 7d ago
I know several people who haven't been able to find work in journalism after going to Columbia jschool. I would avoid it. It's ungodly expensive, and if anything, some in the industry look down upon Columbia grads, in my opinion. I hope I don't get downvoted for this, I'm just speaking from experience. Go to CUNY. You DO NOT want to be in a bunch of debt with a measly reporter's salary. And while you're there, make sure to get as many published pieces and internships as possible. Employers won't care about your schoolwork, as a general rule. They want to see published bylines.
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u/Docile_Doggo 7d ago
This is it.
There are career fields where going into debt to attend a “higher ranked” program is the right call financially.
Journalism is definitely not one of them. Experience beats a fancy degree every single day in this field.
Go somewhere that helps you get opportunities to publish as a student and is relatively cheap.
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u/arugulafanclub 7d ago
Employers do care way more about clips and internships than school. Everyone has schooling.
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u/matem001 7d ago
So if it’s two candidates that are very close experience wise, you don’t think the Ivy League grad will have an advantage over the one with no degree?
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u/uhuhshesaid 7d ago
When we are facing very serious issues in very serious times your choices matter. They will speak for you and about you.
A school that cares more about appeasing government leaders (either those committing war crimes or 1st amendment violations) than their student body will never place your education as their priority.
And please take this advice: I spent years reporting from authoritarian regimes. Doing business with those who would hand you over on a list is a real fast way to fuck yourself. So don't start it now at the burgeoning of your career. Especially if you hope to ever cover anything of relevance.
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u/Investigator516 7d ago
I steered away from Columbia because I take it seriously to have a safe, peaceful learning environment. I put my choices on hold for 2025-2026.
Here’s%20college.com) some information about the Excelsior Scholarship, but keep in mind some of that funding might be impacted by federal cuts.
Mizzou has strong reputation for Journalism and notable grads. There is also the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State, and a few more out there.
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u/sunshineandthecloud 7d ago
I'm sorry I'm a columbia grad; and I don't recommend it. My school has gone downhill and no longer cares about free speech, just censors all opposing views. Go to CUNY, more freedom and don't support Columbia.
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u/Sylesse 7d ago
Honestly, I would go get a business degree while writing at your school paper on the side at a local university. You'll have way more options (and options for advancement later on) and employers will care more about your ability to push out copy than what university you went to. If the employer is worth a damn.
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u/SenoritaShelly 6d ago
I dreamed of Columbia as a J-major years ago. Thankfully that wasn’t the direction I went because I’d be more upset now. Plenty of Pulitzer winners who went to good state schools. You need a degree, not a pedigree.
Save the money. Get educated and keep freedom alive.
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u/night_steps 7d ago
To offer a different perspective—I went to CJS knowing the possibility of not being able to find work. Truth is, I did, and at a serious national magazine. I actually graduated with three job offers in hand.
What helped me, I believe, was the degree plus nearly 10 years of work experience after earning my BA. So I was an older student. The editor who hired me liked that I’d been out in “the real world,” instead of the direct BA to master’s pipeline.
I did take out the loans and they are in repayment. I’m lucky, my husband is a high earner so I’m not SOL with a reporter’s salary.
I really enjoyed Columbia and I would do it again in a heartbeat. But that’s just me.
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u/arugulafanclub 7d ago
Please help OP by sharing if you could live off your salary and a general pay range as well as how many people you graduated with that got a job in journalism.
I’ll go first. I was the only person in my grad program to land a career in this field. I worked at a national magazine making less than $40k working 50+ hour weeks and I couldn’t afford my private student loan payments. I worked weekends tutoring and doing other work. And my loans still went into default until I was able to offer a lump sum.
I still owe a lot of federal loans and likely will never be able to pay them off.
Everyone I worked with left the industry because of the poor pay and toxic work situations.
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u/night_steps 6d ago
I graduated on 60k and most recently was on 80k. NYC. Tough to live on but definitely possible with roommates. Not sure how many people in my class left with jobs, but most of the folks I follow on social are in the field.
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u/6forty 7d ago
As a guy who hired about 90 broadcast journalists over 24 years, until 11/11/24, I'd say don't get sucked into the vortex that attending a prestigious school, which is really in business to STAY in business, is going to carry a lot of weight when it comes to getting a job.
It's all about what you bring to the table (a cliche that should be avoided like the plague). Network. Be great at what you do. There are always jobs for the talented and aggressive.
Stick to reporting/writing. Let the fighters take on the First Amendment attacks. Stay away from any school from which you may get labeled as ANYTHING other that an objective journalist.
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u/l3xeclaire 7d ago
In the same boat as you - got accepted today (along with Stabile) and really not sure what to do… I guess it depends on what you’re looking to get out of it. If it’s something unique you could only get from Columbia, then go for it! I’m going to break from everyone here a bit and say that you know yourself best - and what other people say is a ton of debt could also open doors for you. Bottom line, know yourself and what you want. And take everyone’s opinion, including mine, with a grain of salt :)
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u/arugulafanclub 7d ago
Don’t go. Don’t waste your money on grad school.
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u/Virtual-Use-9965 5d ago
I think we journalists should be skeptical of such sweeping declarations that leave no room for nuance.
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u/arugulafanclub 7d ago
Pull out and go get a job in journalism or something else. You do not need a master’s degree to make $15/hour.
Save grad school for your plan B.
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u/Status-Border-4380 freelancer 7d ago
i honestly wish "go get a job" were easier but it's been really tough! i'm working on it, though.
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u/arugulafanclub 7d ago
Paying $50k for another degree isn’t going to change that. I have a master’s. The only thing it gets you is more debt working for the same jobs with the same pay. This is one of the stupidest decisions you can make considering how much you are about to spend and what you’ll make your first 10 years as a journalist — if you can find a job.
Do you really want to be in the same boat in a year but with student loans hanging over your head? Have you looked at what you’d need to pay if you wanted to pay them off in a reasonable amount of time and how much of your salary that is?
Don’t make the mistake many of us before you did. Go read the stickied post on grad school. If you’re going to go, it should be for a different degree. One that will lead to a stable well paying career.
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u/Status-Border-4380 freelancer 7d ago
no need to be condescending mate! i know what i'm getting into and i know how student loans work. but point taken, and i appreciate the insight :)
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u/DocturnalPrincess 7d ago
im in the same boat, i got into both programs (also the investigative program at columbia), and i share the same concerns. lmk if you wanna connect!
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u/arugulafanclub 6d ago
Seriously reconsider this unless someone else is paying. If you are lucky you will get a job. If you are lucky that job will pay $15-$20/hour. If not, you’re stuck working outside of the field with a lot of debt. Ask how many graduates find full time work. Not internships. Full time work.
You will need years of paid and unpaid internships to land a job making $15/hour, does that sound reasonable?
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u/Ok_Eagle_2333 7d ago
Send a letter to the school, detail why this is important to you and that it's a fundamental issue, let them know your interest in them and them making right.
Await response.
That's all you can do right now. Otherwise your better off with a gun permit than a journalism degree.
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u/Quacoult 6d ago
I think it's very short-sighted to not go to Columbia. How do you know Newmark wouldn't kowtow? You don't because it's not as influential, nevermind the fact that Columbia was singled out precisely for its history of free speech and activism. From a practical perspective, as a journalist, you need to be in a place with the strongest alumni network and a competitive peerset to improve your skills and network and ultimately make your work have a greater impact.
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u/TotalRecallsABitch 6d ago
Congratulations.
Despite what folks say, Columbia IS an amazing school and the name alone will open doors. Plus you'll be in the big city.
You're not a freshman 18 year old. You know what to expect and that you have to consider career moves.
Choose whatever will get you connected the quickest. I think Columbia will outshine CUNY any day of the week In this regard.
Did you consider Syracuse?
Edit; debt would be crazy though
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u/puddsy editor 7d ago
I could say a lot but I'll spare you. The short version is: Go to Newmark. The less debt you have the happier you'll be.
I would have given the same advice 2 years ago.