Journalism (1 Viewer)

[topdeck]

Hi all,
i've just finished doing work experience at SBS and for all my efforts i couldn't drag any information out of the people there about which courses are best to do to get into journalism. Half of them said CSU and the other half said UTS. And ideas which course has the better reputation?

 

[kaylz]

Probably CSU, but I may well be biased.

 

[just_me]

hey there.

I am currently a second year journo student at CSU and im prob biased too but i would say that CSU beats UTS by a long shot. The main reason for this is the practical work you get to do and the variety of subjects. They are not all arts and literature subjects they are actually relevant some are studying the audiences your write or broadcast to and some are more drama based to help you develop your communication skills and just to simply have some fun.

In second year if you choose to do broadcast you get to as part of your assessment take part in producing and broadcasting actual news to a real audience in the local newsroom and also have the amazing opportunity at becomming a cadet journalist with the national radio newsroom whcih is located on campus. This means you work in the newsroom as a paid journalist and get 15 months of amazing training and practical experience you would just not get anywhere else.

Another reason is alot of the lecturers have worked as journalists and frequently get professional journalists to come and give guest lectures about different aspects of journlaism.

And finally CSU has the most amazing social life. If you live in a dorm then you make heaps of instant friends and pretty much have the time of your life!!

hope this helps. If you have any questions just ask and i will hopefully be able to answer them for you.

 

[karennjack]

Hey,
I'm also interested in studying journalism and I'm stuck on the whole CSU/UTS debate. I was dead set on going to UTS but I'm itching to get out of the city -- CSU looks like such an awesome opportunity.

I was wondering if you could maybe answer a few questions for me. I've heard that CSU is good for broadcasting but UTS is better for print journalism. Is this true? Or is this just some rumour. I'm not exactly sure which medium I would like to specialise in, so if CSU taught every medium than I think my mind would be made up! Also, is it true that CSU is non-UAI based? If so, how hard is it to get into the course? Do you need heaps of previous experience, or if you have an "ok" UAI can you be accepted in? I'm currently doing a Media-News Journalism TVET course and I'm apart of an e-mentoring journalism program...would that be enough experience needed to get into the course if I dont achieve the UAI I'm hoping for (94-ish)? Or should I try and get some work experience?

Thank you so much for your time!

 

[robo-andie]

CSU all the way

 

[Logain]

Hey,
I'm also interested in studying journalism and I'm stuck on the whole CSU/UTS debate. I was dead set on going to UTS but I'm itching to get out of the city -- CSU looks like such an awesome opportunity.

I was wondering if you could maybe answer a few questions for me. I've heard that CSU is good for broadcasting but UTS is better for print journalism. Is this true? Or is this just some rumour. I'm not exactly sure which medium I would like to specialise in, so if CSU taught every medium than I think my mind would be made up! Also, is it true that CSU is non-UAI based? If so, how hard is it to get into the course? Do you need heaps of previous experience, or if you have an "ok" UAI can you be accepted in? I'm currently doing a Media-News Journalism TVET course and I'm apart of an e-mentoring journalism program...would that be enough experience needed to get into the course if I dont achieve the UAI I'm hoping for (94-ish)? Or should I try and get some work experience?

Thank you so much for your time!

Regarding the whole "UTS is better for print, CSU for broadcast" thing, my lecturer Chris McGillion (the Chuck Norris of Journalism) said that students go to UTS to do journalism and end up as writers, while students at CSU end up as journalists.

Your experience sounds fine, and a 94ish UAI would be apt for the course -- it'll also help you apply for certain scholarships at the uni, which everyone loves.

Just make sure you do everything on the check-list to get in and you should make it. Bathurst actually is a terrific social scene, since around 1/3 of the population are either students or young people -- there's always something to do in the evenings. I live off campus and after feeling kind of bummed that I didnt know anyone for a while I now have a good variety of friends and stuff to do of an evening (mostly poker...)

 

[just_me]

Hey,
I'm also interested in studying journalism and I'm stuck on the whole CSU/UTS debate. I was dead set on going to UTS but I'm itching to get out of the city -- CSU looks like such an awesome opportunity.

I was wondering if you could maybe answer a few questions for me. I've heard that CSU is good for broadcasting but UTS is better for print journalism. Is this true? Or is this just some rumour. I'm not exactly sure which medium I would like to specialise in, so if CSU taught every medium than I think my mind would be made up! Also, is it true that CSU is non-UAI based? If so, how hard is it to get into the course? Do you need heaps of previous experience, or if you have an "ok" UAI can you be accepted in? I'm currently doing a Media-News Journalism TVET course and I'm apart of an e-mentoring journalism program...would that be enough experience needed to get into the course if I dont achieve the UAI I'm hoping for (94-ish)? Or should I try and get some work experience?

Thank you so much for your time!

Hi Karen,

Sorry it took me so long to get bak to you. I didnt see your post.

As others have said, CSU is a really good option if you are serious about Journalism. When I first started my degree in 2005 I was a bit hesitant about moving from Sydney to the country. But I have not looked back once!

As fpr UTS/CSU. I honestly think the Sydney Unis try to use their Sydney Status to boost their course. I am not doubting that they are a good option but as Loagin said, CSU is very focused on producing functional and efficent JOURNALISTS not talented and creative writers.

I am a third year Broadcast Student so cant speak to much for Print, but I will say there is nothing stopping you doing both the print and broadcast strands. It is becomng a very popular option.

As for Broadcast, there is one thing that I would say out does ANY other University in Australia. National Radio News is the Australian Community Broadcasting Association's News Bulletin Service and Broadcasts hourly news Bulletins to 92 Community Stations with about 1 million listeners a week. At CSU Second year Broadcast Journalism Students have the option to apply for a cadetship position with the service (which yes is paid). I have been working with NRN for a year now and the amount of experience and expertise I have gained is absolutely priceless. Now where else are you going to be able to study, finishing your degree with 15 months industry experience, and contacts within the industry and a general knowledge and talent base that no one else can match.

We also have a fully functioning Television Studio with a control room and studio cameras. This allows students to film, edit, and produce industry length news bulletins for TV which is something alo of other unis just dont have access to.

Any experience and previous study you have to your credit will definitely work in your favour, so I just recommend you do as much as possible.

I hope this helps and sorry again for taking so long. Ask me anything you like, Ill be happy to help.

Cheers.

 

[slm86]

Hey,

I am currently a 3rd year CSU print journalism student and a full-time journalist.
Having been offered a full-time job prior to finishing my course, I am completing the last few weeks of my degree via distance.

The last 3 people in my job were also early CSU grads, and my editor thinks very highly of the university and the journalists it produces.

CSU is also the only university in Australia that has been invited to have students present at the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association annual conference in Melbourne next Monday. This is the first time this has happened anywhere in the world, having journalism students speak to 400 newspaper editors.

And with an entire semester to go in our degree, 4 print students have already accepted full-time jobs in the industry.

Our course co-ordinator, the infamous Chris McGillion, is on leave this semester, heading to the US after the PANPA conference, so he isn't around to respond to emails from potential journo students, (only current ones, and even then, only ones he likes!) but that's probably not a bad thing. He might scare you off!


If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at
smarch05@postoffice.csu.edu.au

 

[Matt Samson]

I am not doing Journalism (yet anyway), but CSU is probably the best. As the other students have said, the practical experience you get at CSU is worth more than the subjects you may study.

The first thing an employer will ask you at a job interview is what experience you have had. Having a degree simply doesn't cut it.

CSU Bathurst even has a working newsroom. Not a mock newsroom, it is a real one that broadcasts to around 100 radio stations around Australia. Not a bad thing to add to your resume if you ever get to work there.

So when you go to the interview, you can actually answer honestly, that you have got experience, as well as the education.

Experience ranks higher than a degree.

And just a point of reference (and I am not saying TEN NEWS is the be all and end all), but just take a look at the News Presenters page of TEN NEWS: http://ten.com.au/ten/ten-news-presenters.html

What university dominates it? I did not see mention of UTS anywhere, but saw a lot of mention of Charles Sturt University.

A lot of CSU Graduates work for the ABC and SBS, as well as Sky News, Channel 9 and Channel 7.

Do a little bit of investigation and you'll see CSU Journalism graduates in high positions within the industry.

As the old saying goes (well it isn't a saying, but it is what lecturers keep telling us), we look after our own. CSU Students will be looked after by CSU students (and alumni)

 

[champ_sammy_19]

CSU all the way

agreed robo

 

[AlleyCat]

Erm, well my course at RMIT is also good, and seems like a mix of both the practical side of CSU and the intellectual side of UTS.

...so yeah.

 

[Matt Samson]

Finally got my course transfer approved.

So ill be a 4th year, but 1st year (with some credit) Journo student