Tiffinbox

Inspiring Photographers

Going Back To (J) School?

by

For those of you considering school again – why wouldn't you in this soft economy when interest rates for school loans have been the lowest in history? – think about Columbia University's School of Journalism. Now, I am an alumnus of Indiana University, but my friend Prof. Sreenath Srinivasan has been instrumental in designing and sculpting the new media program at Columbia's j-school and he is doing some very exciting things there and I urge you to check the program out.

Should I ever find an opportunity to go back to school and retool, Columbia would be my top choice. Plus, the new dean is thinking of revamping the course structure all together making it a two-year program. I always thought a one-year Masters program was plain wonky. By the time you got your feet on the ground, especially in Gotham city, it would be time to pack your bags and leave. Two years seems like just enough time to get things done and actually learn something.

Imagine that – two years to sink your teeth into things like online reporting, designing websites, creating interactive multimedia presentations. If it runs right, it could be down right empowering.

Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Seshu is an Avon, Connecticut based headshot photographer and family portrait photographer. He edits and publishes Tiffinbox and produces Tiffincast for photographers like you!

Comments

  1. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy says

    Hi,

    Iam a graduate student at Kansas State university. Iam about to graduate. At present Iam doing thesis about ethics of digital manipulations of photographs.
    I dont have prior experience in the media. I did economics and management from BITS-pilani and decided to do mass communications. But jobs here seems to be asking not more than bachelors sometimes even high school degree for entry level positions. Whats happens to a Masters student who wants to get some experience? International students come here to do Masters degree. I want to do a Phd after gaining some experience.
    My interest is to work in television production.
    What do you think?
    Thanks
    Maha

  2. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy says

    Hi,

    Iam a graduate student at Kansas State university. Iam about to graduate. At present Iam doing thesis about ethics of digital manipulations of photographs.
    I dont have prior experience in the media. I did economics and management from BITS-pilani and decided to do mass communications. But jobs here seems to be asking not more than bachelors sometimes even high school degree for entry level positions. Whats happens to a Masters student who wants to get some experience? International students come here to do Masters degree. I want to do a Phd after gaining some experience.
    My interest is to work in television production.
    What do you think?
    Thanks
    Maha

  3. Seshu says

    Maha

    If I am not mistaken, regardless of your academic status of being an undergraduate or a graduate student, if you are interested in broadcast work the channels to the top are the same – you start from the very bottom (if you have no experience at all). Graduate students also go through internship programs. Look to the South Asian Journalists Association (http://www.saja.org) for leads to fellowships and internships in broadcast journalism.

    I am not certain if, after all the school work you have done, you will want to start afresh, but some people do.

    Perhaps it might help me craft a better response if I knew what your motivations were to work for a while and then pursue a PhD. program. I have not come across too many people in the television world who have PhD.’s. So, it would help to know what it is that you will be getting your doctorate in.

  4. Seshu says

    Maha

    If I am not mistaken, regardless of your academic status of being an undergraduate or a graduate student, if you are interested in broadcast work the channels to the top are the same – you start from the very bottom (if you have no experience at all). Graduate students also go through internship programs. Look to the South Asian Journalists Association (http://www.saja.org) for leads to fellowships and internships in broadcast journalism.

    I am not certain if, after all the school work you have done, you will want to start afresh, but some people do.

    Perhaps it might help me craft a better response if I knew what your motivations were to work for a while and then pursue a PhD. program. I have not come across too many people in the television world who have PhD.’s. So, it would help to know what it is that you will be getting your doctorate in.

  7. Jenny Blair says

    Maha
    I don’t think you have any chances of making it in the industry. You’ve spread yourself too thin and thus aren’t really qualified for either of the things you’re interested in. I’d say, be prepared to start at the bottom. I’m sorry I speak so frankly, but you should have tried to manage your career more efficiently.
    Also you really need to work on your writing skills!

  8. Jenny Blair says

    Maha
    I don’t think you have any chances of making it in the industry. You’ve spread yourself too thin and thus aren’t really qualified for either of the things you’re interested in. I’d say, be prepared to start at the bottom. I’m sorry I speak so frankly, but you should have tried to manage your career more efficiently.
    Also you really need to work on your writing skills!

Comments are closed. This is an archived copy of the site.