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About Journalism
You'll become
Average Salaries
Journalism workers may earn between $38,000 and $78,000 per year
You’ve got a love of words and a knack for getting your ideas across. Turn that talent into an enriching new career by studying a journalism course.
Share the world’s stories, learn the art of great communication and find your own voice by studying a dynamic and rewarding journalism course.
Few professions are changing more dramatically and rapidly than journalism, and by studying a journalism course, you’ll build the essential skills and insights required to stand out in a competitive environment and build an exciting career in a global industry.
In a journalism course, you’ll build the practical skills and personal abilities needed to stand out in the competitive world of writing. You’ll learn how to research, interview, report, investigate, write and edit stories, how to engage with media technology, and how global trends and influences affect media production in Australia.
Whether you choose to work in the media, in marketing and communications, or in creative writing, a journalism course will equip you with the essential skills, expertise and versatility needed to stand out.
You may study a journalism course as a certificate or diploma course, in a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or as a post-graduate certificate or diploma course. With a journalism qualification, you may choose to seek employment in a broad range of roles, including working in newspaper or radio journalism, in the magazine industry, in editing, or in corporate communications and marketing.
As the journalism industry changes, editors and publications are seeking versatile and skilled professionals who can find unique angles, hunt down stories, and contribute knowledge, insight and critical perspective in an increasingly crowded conversation. By studying a journalism course, you’ll build in-demand professional skills the first step towards using your words and passion to support yourself.
What do journalism graduates do?
Graduates of journalism may take on a wide variety of roles in the publishing, media, advertising and creative sectors.
If you choose to work as a journalist, you may complete tasks such as:
- Researching and conducting interviews;
- Writing articles, news reports, feature articles, stories and commentaries;
- Writing and editing copy to ensure accuracy and conformity with editorial guidelines;
- Analysing, collecting and checking facts;
- Reviewing and researching other published material; and
- Critically discussing news and events for criticism, reviews and opinion columns.
If you choose to work as a copywriter or advertising writer, you may complete tasks such as:
- Consulting with clients and managers to establish and interpret creative briefs;
- Conduct market research;
- Writing advertising and marketing copy for press, radio, television, billboards, catalogues and shop displays;
- Editing and reviewing writing work; and
- Briefing graphic designers.
If you choose to work as an editor, you may complete tasks such as:
- Developing and implementing editorial guidelines;
- Editing and reviewing copy for factual accuracy, compliance with editorial guidelines and policies, tone, grammar and style;
- Briefing writers and designers;
- Writing articles, opinion pieces, stories and features; and
- Managing the publication of a newspaper, magazine or website, including managing an editorial calendar, publishing pieces, determining budgets and arranging payments.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
In a journalism course, you’ll build a diverse and transferable set of skills in writing, reporting and editing, and may choose to seek employment across a range of different roles in the publishing and media industries.
After completing a journalism course, you may choose to work as a:
Is journalism right for you?
You’ll enjoy working in journalism if you:
- Love words and communicating
- Are proactive and relentless
- Are curious about the world
- Are resilient
- Are disciplined
- Are an independent worker
- Have excellent writing and communication skills
- Have a strong grasp of grammar
- Can work well under pressure
- Have strong organisation and time management skills
- Are empathetic
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook reports that the journalism sector in Australia has been growing moderately for the past decade, and expects job opportunities in the sector to continue expanding. Currently employing approximately 27,500 people, the sector will likely expand to employ approximately 30,300 journalists by 2020.
Similarly, Job Outlook predicts that roles for professionals in the editing sector will expand by the end of the decade. Currently employing approximately 4,500 people, the profession is likely to grow significantly to employ a further 1,100 people by 2020.
Average Salaries
PayScale reports that journalists can expect to earn between $38,000 and $78,000 per year, with an average salary of approximately $53,000 per year.
PayScale reports a strong, positive relationship between experience and earning capacity, with entry-level journalists earning on average approximately $49,000 per year, and journalists with 10 to 20 years of professional experience earning approximately $67,000 per year.