In defense of journalism (and other ‘useless’ majors)

Why pursuing so-called useless degrees—among them journalism and English—can lead to a fulfilling career.

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I just so happen to be a journalism graduate—and a proud one at that. I graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Go Tigers!) with a magazine journalism degree in 2004. And although I can’t speak to any of the other majors on the list, I adamantly disagree that journalism is useless.

Why a journalism degree still matters

The publishing industry has experienced what can only be described as an upheaval. From the explosion of online media sources to the steady disappearance of classified ads, there’s no denying that print media is nowhere near what it once was—and will continue to diminish as more users opt for digital, mobile content sources.

I’ve witnessed the change firsthand. I’ve built my career in Kansas City, having worked for the Kansas City Star and later as a regional magazine editor—a job from which I was laid off as a result of declining revenue. I tried valiantly to make a go of it as a freelance writer and author, and although the work was (somewhat) steady, there wasn’t enough of it.

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