Career Considerations in Journalism among Female Mass Communication Students of Redeemers University

Abstract

From the inception of Journalism as an area of specialization in Mass Communication studies among Nigerian universities in the 1960s, enrolments have been largely populated by female students. Studies have found that only few of these female students opt for a career in journalism upon graduation. This study sought find out the perception of female students of Mass Communication on the career opportunities for the female journalist in Nigeria, if these students would consider a career in journalism, the specific career options they would consider, and the factor(s) that inform their decision. It is an important area study, as the findings provide significant information of relevance to the development of journalism in Nigeria. Adopting the survey research methodology, a sample size of 100 female students was randomly selected from a population of 163 female students across the four levels (100 – 400) from Redeemers University (RUN). The findings reveal that the students are not oblivious of the fact that career development for female journalists in Nigeria is challenged by the fact that they do not enjoy the same career opportunities as their male counterpart, and the family responsibility of a woman also makes it difficult to adequately fulfil the career expectations required in journalism. However, majority (63%) of them perceive Journalism to be a good profession for women, and 58% would positively consider a career in journalism, especially in the area of photojournalism. Majority (52%) of these students are interested in journalism because it would afford them the opportunity to gain diversified knowledge.

Keywords: Journalism, Mass Communication, Career Opportunities and Options, Photojournalism