Thanks for taking a look and glad you liked it. Thanks for the offer of linking to NCTJ and Beyond on here as well and I would certainly be keen. Once I work out a bit more about wordpress I will definitely return the favour.

I'll keep an eye out for all your new projects and posts.

This is a great blog guys, I am a regular reader and in fact have been inspired to start my own blog here after reading this and a couple of others. Keep up the good work, I hope you are all successful.

I am someone who can claim to have been through a journalim degree as well as the NCTJ preliminary exams and my first post at http://nctjandbeyond.wordpress.com/ looks at the difference between the two and their pros and cons.

Like Greg I studied at Kingston Uni but I found that the uni course to much of a broad rane of subjects without giving you enough tools to take potential employers by storm.

As the 'old lecturer' I just wanted to say that the debate here, along with the honesty and reflection, is one of the things that gives me huge confidence in where journalism is heading. Not because anyone is right or wrong but because the debate is happening. The mixture of digital understanding and passion is exactly what the journalism industry needs.

Really pleased that this blog is picking up steam, keep it up guys.

Speaking as someone about to start their second year of the aforementioned undergraduate UCLan course, I have a few points.

1. Most of the things I was taught in first year haven't really helped me. They helped streamline me a bit, and helped iron out a few queries I had, but I haven't had any great learning as such.

2. But a lot of learning has taken place outside the classroom that simply wouldn't have happened if I wasn't studying there. Student newspapers are common with all universities, and I'm involved with that. However, things like guest speakers (one of which got me work experience at the Times) and the availability of speaking to former students led me to take over editorship of Blog Preston when I got in contact with Ed Walker.

3. The fact that it is such a narrow area of study does have its pitfalls. I found I had to check myself occasionally, to make sure I wasn't just learning about 'the meedja' but that I continued to pursue my other interests which would help inform my writing, far more than knowing the latest ABCs or the structure of a news story. But then the fact it's kind of niche has its benefits as well. It means that you can meet people who have the same common goal as you, which can make collaborative projects slightly easier than if I was on an English Literature course with people who wanted to do a whole range of things when they left university.

I guess its early days. I can't say I'm not slightly disheartened by some of the comments above which scare me slightly, but I guess that's reality. I've still got two years to go, and hopefully what I've done so far and in the years to come will count for something when graduating.

Talking of postgraduate study, I have a few questions. How did you raise the money for the course? And, Jonny, what alternatives would you suggest if you feel a degree may not be the best way into the media?

@The Student I don't think either mine or JB's comments in the blog post are aimed specifically at UCLan's journalism course - more journalism degrees generally.

Think I can speak for both of us when I say that we had a whale of a time there, the content of the course - in third year particularly - was relevant and very helpful and I'm using a lot of what I learnt about social media from digital yoda Andy Dickinson in my current job.

We'd both encourage people - if they want to do a degree in journalism - to go to UCLan, we're just not sure if a degree (from any university) is the *best* path for them. Not sure that came across in your comment.

I'm glad people have responded to the post and have found it useful.

I agree entirely with ellie - taking criticism, I have found, is a vital part of being a journo (and certainly a trainee one.) You have to have think skin to be in the industry as people may not like your article, your writing style, whatever. The key is not to take it personally; if you suggest an article to you school newspaper or whilst on work experience and it's declined, then it's not right for the paper at that moment. Don't think about it too much or even sulk, just go and make it better/more relevant.

gregnewcombe - Nice to hear from someone who is currently doing a journalism course. And yes, you're right, a passion is essential; it's what gets you up in the mornings after being out the night before and what forces you to do that essay in the evening when your friends are going to the cinema. We welcome all plugs too - I've been trying to plug my blog (www.popeandswift.co.uk) at every opportunity for years!

Finally, I'm grateful for the honesty of jonnysilcock and Jonathan Bell as some people can be precious about their degree course and blindly claim that it was worth their three years. It's only by people admitting that they're course choice wasn't what they expected can others learn from it. But Jon and Jonny are obviously just two voice out of hundreds of UCLan graduates so don't take them as representative.

I chose a joint honours course at Kingston University studying english literature and journalism but dropped the english lit within two weeks as I realised that I thought I should do english rather than wanted too. Journalism is what gives me a buzz and I feel the most important thing to consider when you choose your course, whatever the subject may be, is whether you have a passion for it. I am going into my 3rd year as a full journalism student and I am beginning to look at my job prospects so thanks for writing such a great blog, I will be following it with interest. Anyone who is a football fan may be interested in reading my blog (apologies for the shameless plug) so if you are check it out...

http://gregnewcombe.wordpress.com/

Thanks again and good luck to all of you

Good blog post!

It is all about the mindset, as Sue said.

There's no one route into media - especially now it's changing - so I think it's probably best to just look at how people around you are doing it, and what editors want.

As for me, it was an arts degree at a Russell group uni - to make sure I could write, and make grammatical sense! - followed by fine-tuning and insider knowledge on a Masters at City. Importantly, both these degrees were supported by oodles of placements, the importance of which I can't emphasise enough. Write every day! And take criticism.

@Ed I'm not sure a lot of the people on my course should have been on it.

First year was all about getting them up to speed with what journalism was and how to write news stories. I'd already done months and months or work experience at my local rag, so a lot of that year was a waste of time really...

My 17 year old son sent me this as he is pondering how best to use his gap year before going off to Uni to study journalism so we all found this to be a very helpful article.

It's a balance - I suggested getting a degree ( never a load to carry and brilliant fun - late nights , hard work , great friends ) with writing his blog and doing his podcasts, developing his writng skills through articles, blogs and work experience. Doing hospital radio, working at the local paper reporting on local events and sports - to gain experience and never being afraid to ASK ASK ASK and learn from others.

Exams do open doors but it's ALL ALL ALL about mindset, belief, bravery and taking MASSIVE action and that's from Tony Robbins so that advice cost me about £5,000 !! LOL but it's true 25 A* s won't make you happier, more successful, fulfilled or wealthy but a great personality, kindness, great writing ability and getting stuck in and taking action really really will.

Sue Atkins
Author of "Raising Happy Children for Dummies"

Feel I should expand on my tweet. I wasn't knocking journalism degrees, I wanted to make it clear that it's not the be all and end all.

If you sat around for three years, think the practical element of the course gives you some god-given right to a job and then bitch and moan when people aren’t impressed by your Microsoft Word cuttings then don’t be surprised.

Put yourself about and you’ll make your own luck. Journalism is ultimately about people, and if you’re out there mixing it up with people you’ll find stories, make contacts and that will help you get a job.

I actually think journalism tutors should be harsher, I think they often take a lot of bollocks off people who aren’t really that bothered and that impacts on those who really want to get on and do something.

Thanks ChrisG for the good luck! In terms of Mr Black?

"Tried it once, doesn't work. You got five guys all fighting over who's gonna be Mr. Black, but they don't know each other, so nobody wants to back down. No way!"

Nice to see a Tarrantino fan amongst our readers; Fleet Street Blues alluded to us in such a way:

http://fleetstreetblues.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-get-job-in-journalism-five.html

All the best in your endeavours....I would just say I've tried all these routes into the mainstream, and it hasn't worked, yet...

Interestingly, as an aside, would love to know, which one of them thinks of themselves as the Mr Black of the journalism industry....

http://www.plentyonyourplate.com