Journalism Courses Australia

STUDYING JOURNALISM in AUSTRALIA

The history of journalism is heavily disputed with many scholars seeing the genesis of this style of writing in many of the ages that predated modern society. With some claiming that journalism as a discipline goes back to the Roman satirists and other ancient figures.

But the modern study of journalism is seen by most academics as rising out of the industrial revolution with the need for up to date information about the movement of trade across borders.  This idea circumvents the idea that journalism arose out of purely altruistic notion of the media being the fourth estate of government propagated by the French and American revolutions.

Journalism is also one of the oldest forms of writing in Australia as well, and many Australian newspapers are as old as European broadsheets of the same style. But journalism has not always been a subject that a person was taught in a tertiary setting and traditionally speaking most journalists were trained as cadets and only went into the field because they were good at English and it seemed the logical choice for them to make as a career path. The University of Queensland offered the first Diploma of Journalism in 1921. So journalism has a disputed history, but the need for competent journalists is as important today as it ever was. And Australian universities offer some of the best undergraduate journalism courses in the world. An international student in Australia can study journalism as part of Bachelor of Art course, Communication and Media Studies course or as a Bachelor of Journalism at one of the more modern tertiary institutions throughout the country.

Most Australian journalism courses are conducted in ‘News Ltd’ style (the Rupert Murdoch Company) and it is the style most common to Australia, New Zealand and North America with almost 90% of media outlets in these parts of the world using it.

But like any field, a student can specialise in what type of journalism they want and become a professional in that type of journalism and make a career out of.
The two most common journalistic fields are print and electronic media. For those wanting to go into ‘Print Media’ then you will have to take a course of at least 8 units in an undergraduate program with a journalism major and have a genuine interest in the world around you.

It also helps if you are a bit of a scallywag and cannot take ‘NO’ for an answer. Good journalism suffers when journalists are too close to the powers that be and it is often wise for a journalism student to be a bit of an individual with the facility to formulate their own opinion, having the ability to withstand pressure from outside forces and influences.

Journalism is still a profession that has a danger element to it and is still mistrusted by many people in powerful positions who see journalists and other associated professions as a potentially dangerous and subversive force in society.


So it helps to be a bit of a free thinker!

International students wanting to get involved in ‘Electronic Media’ can do so as anchormen or women, editors, researchers and technical specialists at a television station or on an internet based website that broadcasts video. International students who want to be a part of electronic media can begin broadcasting their own material on the internet long before they finish their studies and (based on the quality of this material) can use it as part of their curriculum vitae when they apply for employment opportunities with other electronic based media outlets.

So there is a great future for an international student who wants to study journalism and make a contribution to the information industry. Australia has a mature mass media market and the country has produced many outstanding journalists and editors that work throughout the English speaking world that have made a contribution to print media, magazines, television, radio and internet journalism.

And Australia is a first-rate country to study journalism in because it has an excellent education system with qualifications that are respected throughout the world, and with accessible legal and political institutions, the opportunity for a ‘journalism major’ to develop their skills in a democratic, multicultural society like Australia is the way to go.

The other benefits of studying in Australia are that the country is safe and relatively inexpensive with a great nightlife and many community groups, festivals and excellent weather. Australia has close to 300 000 people from over 90 countries studying in Australia full time from 3 months to 6 years and beyond. And international students who have studied in Australia can testify to the fact that studying and living in Australia has been one of the most rewarding experiences of their life.

And with AA Education Service being a constant support with 24hr email communication and being number one in the field of supporting international students in Australia then you will definitely have a rewarding time during your stay here.

Australia has beautiful weather all year round and the culture of the country is relatively youthful with many wonderful opportunities to make new friends and explore all that Australia has to offer. Domestic plane travel is quite cheap and if you want to go anywhere in the country then a plane will get you there in good time, but if you want to get to the heart of the people and landscape you will have to travel by road or train and with the opportunity to do your own travel blog when you are a client with AA Education Services then you will be able to develop your journalistic skills and keep a record of where you have been and what you have learnt while you have been ‘down under’.

AA Education Services even offers potential journalism students the opportunity of doing an internship with AA Education Services as they are traveling throughout the country or completing their studies at university or vocational college. These internships offer the participants the opportunity of developing their skill as a professional writers by giving them a second (English) language to become proficient in, thereby developing their economic opportunities and understanding of the English speaking world.

So, think about journalism studies in OZ!