Hi, Ive been a hiring editor a few times before and would say that a journalism degree is probably one of the last things I would take into consideration when hiring.
Much, much more important for me and my old colleagues is experience. So keep writing for the uni newspaper and try and get as much work experience as you can. It's all about getting those bylines and experiencing what an actual working magazine/newsroom is like - as it is completely different to how most people picture it.
Maybe consider doing an NCTJ course? You can do 6 month ones that will teach you what you need to know in terms of shorthand (very helpful) news writing and most importantly - media law.
To sum up, I'd stick with the law degree if you think you can. It'll make you more interesting to a potential employer if you come with that + a load a bylines than a journalism degree would.
I'm old to journalism, new to freelancing (thankfully by choice and wasn't made redundant) and new to this forum, so thought I'd make a post to say Hiya!
Getting to grips with freelancing is fun and weird, but perhaps the most difficult bit is going from high energy newsroom to home office.
So I wanted to make a thread to introduce myself, and to ask what people do to keep themselves sane when faced with hours alone at their desks?
NB: I have yet to meet a journalist (very much including myself!) who isn't a bit of an oddball, so don't hold back on suggestions! 🙂
