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Marketing & Communications

Journalist / Content Creator

Researches and tells stories through writing, video, audio and social media.

What this career is

Journalists and content creators investigate topics, interview people and publish stories for news outlets, brands or their own channels.

What professionals do

  • Research and verify facts
  • Interview sources
  • Write, film or record stories
  • Grow and engage an audience

Outlook: Competitive; a portfolio and digital skills (video, data) make the difference.

Official occupation data

Tasks, skills, US pay and job growth from O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Key skills

Writing & argument

communication

Essays, research reports, policy memos and scholarship applications all depend on strong writing.

Start with

  • · Write a one-page memo each week
  • · Enter an essay competition
Purdue Online Writing Lab (opens in a new tab)

Research methods

analytical

Needed for academic research, policy analysis and evidence-driven roles in any sector.

Start with

  • · Learn qualitative and quantitative designs
  • · Replicate a published study with open data
Understanding Research Methods (opens in a new tab)

Public speaking

communication

Interviews, pitches, Model UN and leadership roles all reward clear spoken communication.

Start with

  • · Join a debate or Model UN club
  • · Present a project in under five minutes
Toastmasters International (opens in a new tab)

Data visualization

analytical

Analysts are judged on how clearly they communicate findings, not just on the analysis itself.

Start with

  • · Learn when to use bar, line and scatter charts
  • · Build a one-page dashboard
Data Visualization (opens in a new tab)

Education paths

  1. 1Bachelor's in journalism, media or any subject plus a strong portfolio
  2. 2Student newspaper, radio or YouTube channel
  3. 3Master's in journalism for specialist routes

Universities strong in Media & Communications

QS #12Government / grant places

Computer Science · Data Science & AI · Business

Tuition
Est. S$18,000–S$40,000 per year (lower with the MOE Tuition Grant)
Deadline
Typically between January and March

Fudan University

Shanghai, China

QS #26Government / grant places

Economics · Journalism · International Politics

Tuition
Est. RMB 25,000–40,000 per year
Deadline
Varies by programme — confirm on the official admissions site

Yonsei University

Seoul, South Korea

QS #42Merit scholarships

Underwood International College · Economics · International Studies

Tuition
Est. ₩5–8 million per semester at UIC
Deadline
Varies by programme — confirm on the official admissions site

Typical entry-level roles

ReporterContent WriterSocial Media Producer

Build your profile

Recommended extracurriculars

  • · Student media
  • · Essay and writing competitions
  • · Personal blog or channel

Recommended competitions

Scholarships & fellowships

Conference

One Young World Summit

One Young World

Funding variesIn person
Location
Host city changes annually
Deadline
Scholarship calls typically earlier in the year

Conference

HPAIR Conferences

Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations

Funding variesIn person
Location
Harvard and an Asia-Pacific host city
Deadline
Multiple rounds before each conference

Courses & resources

Related university majors