If you have excellent language and communication skills, and would like to put these skills to good use, you may want to consider careers in communication and media.

It is easy to be attracted to the seemingly glamorous world of communication and media, and while any role in this industry requires a lot of hard work, there is no doubt that media offers interesting and exciting options for those with the necessary skills.

For students keen to break into communications, a good course is the place to start. Watch out for courses that include an industry placement, as this is a great way to get experience and make contacts while still studying.

Public Relations (PR)

PR executives are in demand in almost any business, and while the role is likely to involve long hours and pressurised deadlines, it also offers a range of opportunities in varied working environments and industries and best suits those with strong communication skills.

Courses in PR can be either three-year degree or one- to two-year diploma courses, with both offering an introduction to PR and its purpose in business and society. Students are trained in effective communication with different groups of people, and courses in PR include among others writing and presentation skills, designing and managing press releases, company newsletters, corporate marketing materials, and social media channels. Master’s courses can further develop these skills in a chosen area of expertise and funnel students towards a specific area of PR work.

Advertising

While advertising can often be combined with PR in degree and Master’s courses, it is something of a different beast. Advertising is about attracting the attention of your target audience to specific products and services through various media such as print, broadcast and electronic media. Most courses promise students a foundation in the journey that advertisements and advertising campaigns take from blank page to completed product, introducing students to the marketing strategies employed in the industry and the best methods of pitching ideas.

Graphic design, copywriting, account management, media planning and presentation skills are all touched upon during an advertising course, with an emphasis on practical application of skills as well as academic study.

Broadcasting

Both universities and specialist academies offer good broadcasting courses for those with journalistic skills and an interest in live reporting and producing for radio, TV or digital channels. These courses can often be vocational and involve placements alongside academic study to equip students with the necessary skills for taking up a broadcasting role.

Course content often includes practical skills (such as editing, filming and producing) and a honing of writing skills, as well as an introduction to the legal and practical side of broadcast journalism and how styles vary across different medium. Students are introduced to a wide range of media including radio and television, and some of the best universities or academies will have their own equipment and studio space for students to learn skills in practice.

Journalism

Those with a flair for writing, a good grasp of language and a tenacity for seeking a story would thrive on a journalism course, which can either be a general introduction to the topic or a specific training programme (e.g. sports journalism, magazine journalism or financial journalism).

All courses will prioritise the creative skills above all, training students in the different styles necessary to media work and basic journalism skills such as interviewing skills, copy editing and page layout for magazines and newspapers. Content will often involve approaching journalism in the historical and political context of the country of study, as well as teaching students about the legal ramification and restriction of the work of journalists.