For many people a career in journalism is one of the best UK jobs around. Journalists are able to use their creativity to inform and even give pleasure to others and no two days are ever the same.
There are several areas that journalists can work in – some prefer to work with print for newspapers and magazines, while others prefer television or radio or the internet.
People with a particular interest can specialise in a particular field such as sports, fashion, environmental, business or even celebrity journalism amongst others.
Although it is possible for school leavers to break into journalism without formal qualifications, it is a very competitive field and many budding journalists choose to do a degree in journalism. Many do a dual degree together with their other area of specialisation such as journalism and law or journalism and business.
If you are thinking of becoming a journalist though, beware that many on-line or distance courses offered on the internet do not lead to a recognised qualification. They might well benefit you by improving your journalism skills but they may not open any doors for you.
A further source of information is the National Council for the Training of Journalists, a charity which offers helpful advice in this field. If you wish to become a journalist you will need perseverance as well as skill but it is a very rewarding career.