I was a communication major in the 90’s when I attended William Paterson University. At that time I had a concentration in film. While my desire to learn film-making is not with me anymore, I still knew returning to school I wanted to continue my education in the field of communications. My love and passion for writing also developed at this time. As my time at Ashford comes to a close and I finally accomplish my goal of achieving my BA in Communication Studies, I have been reflecting on what direction I want to take my professional career in .
The following are a list of careers in communications that I have found interest in:
Public Relations Specialists
Public relations (PR) can be defined as the “management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and patience.” (PR News as cited in Cameron, 2009, pg. 5). PR Specialists perform these functions with building and maintaining positive relationships with the public in mind. These specialists use every form of media, such as TV, newspapers, radio, and the internet, to get their message across to the masses. The ability to write, network, and market are necessary to be successful in this field. Opportunities for those with experience in this field will grow, but competition for entry-level jobs will make starting in the industry difficult. The median annual wage is $51, 280, with the $30,000 on the low end and almost $100,000 on the high end (bls.gov, 2010).
News Analysts, Reporters, and Correspondents
The three positions make up a lot of what is known as journalism. “News analysts, reporters, and correspondents gather information, prepare stories, and make broadcasts” that notify the public of events (bls.gov, 2010). It is a very hectic work environment that is based around deadlines and availability to find and report stories as quick as possible. The hours worked are different depending on the particular industry; magazine, newspaper, television, radio, etc. This field has a median annual wage of $34,850, with $20,000 on the low end and nearly $78,000 on the high end (bls.gov, 2010). With in the next seven years employment is expected to decline. This is a result of many people getting their information directly from the internet.
Authors, Writers, and Editors
Communication professionals who work under these titles “produce a wide variety of written materials in an increasing number of ways” (bls.gov, 2010). With the development of technology many individuals are performing these from home using software and the internet to complete their tasks. More writers are doing their work as independent contractors or freelance writing. Authors are self-publishing and using the internet to promote their own books. Many editors begin as writers and authors and decide to use their skills helping others produce the best content. Employment in this field is expected to grow 7 to 13 percent in the next seven years. Median income is $53,070, with the low end being around $28,000 and the high end being over $106,000. (bls.gov, 2010)
Meeting and Convention Planners
Individuals that work as event planners for businesses work at bringing people together. While people with many different education backgrounds seek opportunities in this field, communication majors with a background in interpersonal experience should do well. Employment in this field is expected to grow at 14 to 19 percent in the next seven years (bls.gov, 2010). Planners of this level hold over 56,000 jobs as of 2007, with a six percent being self-employed (bls.gov, 2010). The median income is $44,260 with the low end being around $27,00 and the high end being almost $75,000.
Technical Writers
A communication professional that can take hard to understand information and make it easy to grasp will be good at technical writing. Many jobs for technical writers require college degree related to the field of commutation. Being a good writer and knowing how to describe instructions are very helpful. The median wage is $61,620, with a low end of $36,500 and a high end of $97,460. Job prospects are expected to be good in this field. (bls.gov, 2010).
After attending Ashford University I see my future in either Public Relations or Journalism. I am also looking into event planning, because I always enjoyed doing that sort of thing in my personal life.
Reference
Cameron, G. T., Reber, B. H., Shin, J., Wilcox, D. L. (2008). Public Relations Today: Managing Competition and Conflict. Boston: Pearson
BLS.gov. (2010). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010–11 Edition. Retrieved March 31, 2011 from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos319.htm
