04/08/2025
Are you considering a career in media? A communications degree or journalism degree can prepare you for careers in media, public relations, or strategic communication. Both fields connect people with information, but they approach the process from different angles. As you explore education options, it can help to understand the differences between the two paths, look at coursework and skill development that may be available to you in each program, and consider how each path might align with your interests and aspirations.
Understanding the Fields of Communications and Journalism
The field of communications may offer a broad foundation in the theories and various forms of communication across personal, organizational, and mass media contexts. This field typically examines how information flows through channels, including journalism, public relations, advertising, and media production, and how messages influence target audiences. A communications degree may provide a versatility, helping you consider your interests could align with opportunities in a variety of industries.
The field of journalism usually focuses specifically on gathering, verifying, and presenting information as news across various media channels. As a targeted application of communication, journalism often concentrates on keeping the public informed through accurate, timely reporting of current events and issues of public interest.
Communication vs Journalism: Skills and Qualifications
Both communications and journalism professionals may benefit from a strong understanding of media and current events, depending on their specific role. Most jobs in these fields may also require strong writing and speaking skills, as well as a broader understanding of how to communicate ideas.
Communication Skills
Communications professionals often need strong writing, public speaking, and interpersonal communication skills. A job in this field may involve:
- Strategic message creation and delivery
- Audience analysis and targeting
- Persuasive writing and speaking
- Team collaboration and project management
- Crisis communication management
- Social media strategy and content planning
- Research methods for understanding mass communication patterns
Journalism Skills
Many journalists benefit from strong writing and speaking skills, which are often emphasized in journalism education and practice. In addition, a job in this field may require strong research and interviewing skills, as well as the ability to work under deadline. If you are interested in journalism, you may need to gain experience in:
- Fact-finding and verification techniques
- Interviewing and source development
- Objective, concise writing
- News judgment and ethical reporting
- Multimedia storytelling
- Investigative research methods
- Deadline management under pressure
- Feature writing and long-form content
Communications Degree vs. Journalism Degree: Key Educational Differences
While communications and journalism share some of the same skills, they typically have different goals and approaches to education. Specific degree programs, requirements, and coursework may vary.
- A communications degree may include studies in communication theory, mass communication research methods, media effects, and communication campaigns.
- A journalism degree typically includes news writing, media ethics, reporting, media law, and journalism principles.
Other key differences between the two degrees may include:
- Educational Approach: Communications programs may emphasize theoretical knowledge and strategic approaches, while journalism typically focuses on practical, hands-on reporting experience.
- Writing Style: Communication degrees often teach persuasive writing to shape perceptions, while journalism degrees usually emphasize objective, fact-based reporting with journalistic integrity.
- Career Flexibility: The field of communications may open the door to a wider range of opportunities depending on your interests and skills, while journalism may help students prepare to consider roles that align with news-focused interests.
- Audience Approach: Communications roles often examine segments of the population and may be geared toward specific audiences, while journalism typically focuses on serving the general public's information needs.
Communications vs Journalism Degree: Areas of Study
Both communications and journalism programs may offer specialized focus areas that can help you to develop knowledge aligned with your interests and career aspirations. Understanding these specializations can help you choose the program that best matches your aspirations and helps you develop specific skills you may need in a future career.
Specific focus areas differ across programs and courses, but here are some things you can expect in each field of study.
Communications Education
The broad scope of a communications degree may provide transferable skills that could apply to different career paths. A typical educational path may include:
Undergraduate Degree
An associate degree in communications or bachelor's degree in communications typically aims to provide a strong foundation in areas like public relations, media studies, and interpersonal communication. Associate's degrees often focus on interpersonal and group communication skills, and may help you prepare for a bachelor's degree program. Bachelor's degree programs typically dig deeper into communication concepts, critical analysis, and others. Specific coursework and requirements will vary based on the program.
Some programs may allow specialization in areas that align with your career goals, such as:
- Interpersonal Communication: Studying face-to-face exchanges and psychology of effective communication
- Organizational Communication: Examining information flow within companies and institutions
- Mass Communication: Analyzing how messages reach large audiences and their societal effects
- Public Relations: Shaping public perception through strategic messaging and campaigns
- Media Studies: Analyzing how various media channels influence culture, politics, and social interactions
Advanced Education and Professional Development
More advanced roles may require additional education or experience, which may include:
- Master's degrees in Communications, Public Relations, or an MBA
- Professional certifications like Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)
- Social media or digital marketing certifications
- Project management credentials for certain leadership roles
Journalism Focus Areas
While traditional journalism channels and techniques are changing as technology alters the way people consume news, the core skills of reporting and storytelling will likely remain valuable across evolving media platforms. Pursuing an interest in journalism may involve:
Bachelor's Degree
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism typically focuses on reporting, writing, and media production. Most journalism education may emphasize creating professional-quality work early in the program, and courses may include news writing, media law, ethics, and specialized reporting. Specific coursework will vary according to the requirements and structure of the program, but programs often cover.
- News Writing and Reporting: Identifying stories, gathering facts, and structuring compelling articles
- Investigative Journalism: Using methodical research techniques to uncover complex stories
- Broadcast Journalism: On-camera presenting, production, and broadcast-specific storytelling
- Digital Journalism: Multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and social media content
- Specialized Reporting: Areas like sports journalism, business, science, or political coverage
Portfolio Building
The journalism industry often places high value on experience which may be demonstrated by:
- Building a collection of published work samples ("clips")
- Hands-on experience with campus newspapers, radio, or TV stations
- Internships with news organizations, from local outlets to national publications
- Developing multimedia skills across various platforms
Advanced Education and Professional Development
While many journalists may enter the field with a bachelor's degree, may advanced roles may require additional training such as:
- Master's degrees in specialized reporting areas
- Mid-career fellowships for experienced journalists
- Engagement with professional organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists
- Continuing education in emerging technologies and platforms
The skills typically studies in either program—strong writing, critical thinking, and media literacy—may serve benefit you in many aspects of communication and journalism.
What Can You Do With a Communications Degree or Journalism Degree?
Both communications and journalism degrees may open doors for a variety of career paths based on your location, experience, skills, and other factors. Let's look at some common jobs in each field:
Communications
Communications majors may pursue careers in public relations, corporate communications, event planning, media production, and more. While geographic area, market conditions, and other factors will impact job outlook, potential roles may include:
- Public Relations Specialist
- Corporate Communications Manager
- Marketing Communications Specialist
- Social Media Management
- Event Planning
- Internal Communications
- Media Relations
- Speechwriting
- Content Strategy
- Community Management
Journalism
Journalism majors may choose to consider possible roles in reporting, editing, news production, and multimedia journalism. Specific roles and opportunities will vary based on the job market, location, and individual circumstances. Potential job opportunities may include:
- News reporter
- Editor
- Broadcast journalist
- Data Journalism
- Investigative Reporting
- Sports Journalism
- Photojournalism
- Podcast Production
- Documentary Filmmaking
- Technical Writing
- Content Creation for brands
Job availability and career paths vary based on individual qualifications, experience, industry demand, and other external factors.
How to Decide Between a Communications Degree and a Journalism Degree
As you evaluate communications and journalism programs, consider these key factors to align your education with your goals and preferences:
- Your Interests and Strengths - If you enjoy writing and reporting, journalism may be a good field of study for you. If you prefer a broader range of communication fields, a communications may provide more flexibility.
- Your Career Aspirations - Consider what you aspire to do and evaluate which program can help you develop skills that may be needed for those kinds of roles.
- Your Skills - Each educational path shares some of the same skills, while also focusing on distinct areas. A journalism degree may help you develop skills in reporting, research, and storytelling, while a communications degree can help you explore broader skills that may apply across many industries.
Next Steps: Finding the Right Degree Program for You
Earning a communications degree online may offer flexibility while helping you develop skills for various career paths. Explore degree options in our guide, "Can You Get a Communications Degree Online?" to learn more about your next steps.