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Career Paths in Media Studies
While for a long time the focus was primarily on the content - the “what?” of the message - a trend emerged toward the end of the 20th century to increasingly turn one’s attention to the “how?” of the message.
Even in “art and culture,” the focus on the “how” - on style and technique - is indispensable. However, with the ever-increasing proliferation of technical possibilities for the production and dissemination of messages, it soon became clear that a distinct field of study should address this.
Career Opportunities with a Bachelor’s Degree
Interestingly, for media studies graduates, a career start is already possible at the bachelor’s level, provided their primary focus is truly on “anything related to media.”
It is helpful to have acquired additional technical, creative, and content-related qualifications during one’s studies - a path that the university itself, the department, as well as student organizations and projects, support very well. As you progress in your career, the focus will likely shift increasingly toward advanced professional development and training, including internships and apprenticeships.
However, a master’s degree or a doctorate may also be expected. It is therefore best to research the specific requirements of the Career Paths you are interested in early on:
- Research and Teaching
- Communications
- Education
- Consulting
- Management
- Organization and Administration
- Services, Publishing, Distribution
Art, Culture, Media
Art, Culture, Media: three areas of production and dissemination of enduring interpersonal communication - of messages.
Which medium for which message to which target audience with what hoped-for or expected effect? The very way messages are created and disseminated - the “how” - is a message in itself, carrying its own “what” within it!
Due to rapid technological and digital development, not only media consumption but also media production has become radically widespread. Today, literally anyone can conceive, design, and disseminate their own message. Media is a social phenomenon.
Media studies is (also) a social science
People interested in media studies, who may obtain a degree in media studies in the foreseeable future, can therefore draw additional inspiration from both the Career Paths of arts and cultural studies and the social sciences. But it is a distinct discipline, a world of its own - a distinct “professional field.”
Graduates of media studies have two specific career development opportunities open to them sooner and more readily than most other graduates in the cultural and social sciences. These are the two so-called “domains”: “Research and Development” and “Publishing and Distribution.”
- Since the rapid technological and digital evolution of the media is far from over, someone will continue to need to systematically address the question of what was created, when, where, and why; how, where, and by whom it is used for what purposes; and what needs to be done to ensure that this development continues. This is something that is primarily referred to as “Research and Development” in technical and scientific fields. And yes, in publishing houses, media companies, and (public) media organizations, it is not uncommon to find departments or other structures tasked with “development.”
- “Publishing and distribution” have become an almost industrially organized, rapidly expanding “business.” Bright, modern, and innovative minds are in high demand here; people from the field of media studies are almost always welcome.
This information is based on BERUFENET from the Federal Employment Agency. We thank Edgar Losse from the Marburg Employment Agency for the suggestion and support.