For the lifestyle and a love of creativity: Australian students’ motivations for studying journalism

Folker Hanusch; Katrina Clifford; Kayt Davies; Peter A English; Janet Fulton; Mia Lindgren; Penny O'Donnell; Jenna Price; Ian Richards; Lawrie Zion

doi:10.1177/1329878X16638894

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For the lifestyle and a love of creativity: Australian students’ motivations for studying journalism

Journal article

Peer reviewed

For the lifestyle and a love of creativity: Australian students’ motivations for studying journalism

Folker Hanusch, Katrina Clifford, Kayt Davies, Peter A English, Janet Fulton, Mia Lindgren, Penny O'Donnell, Jenna Price, Ian Richards and Lawrie Zion

Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, Vol.160(1), pp.101-113

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878X16638894

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Abstract

education

journalism

motivation

student

survey

A number of studies have examined why students choose to study journalism at university, but overall, this area is still relatively underexplored. Yet, understanding why students choose journalism, and what career expectations they hold, is important not only for educators but also for wider society and public debates about the future of journalism and the value of tertiary journalism education. This article examines the motivations of 1884 Australian journalism students enrolled across 10 universities. It finds that hopes for a varied lifestyle and opportunities to express their creativity are the most dominant motivations among students. Public service ideals are somewhat less important, while financial concerns and fame are least important. These motivations also find expression in students' preferred areas of specialisation (referred to in Australia as rounds): lifestyle rounds are far more popular than politics and business rounds or science and development rounds.

Details

Title: For the lifestyle and a love of creativity: Australian students’ motivations for studying journalism
Authors: Folker Hanusch (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Katrina Clifford (Author) - University of Tasmania
Kayt Davies (Author) - Edith Cowan University
Peter A English (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Janet Fulton (Author) - University of Newcastle
Mia Lindgren (Author) - Monash University
Penny O'Donnell (Author) - University of Sydney
Jenna Price (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Ian Richards (Author) - University of South Australia
Lawrie Zion (Author) - La Trobe University
Publication details: Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy, Vol.160(1), pp.101-113
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.1177/1329878X16638894
ISSN: 1329-878X
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449178802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Communication