Defending the media..

I have just sat through an hour and a half long lecture titled: "Why Have I Studied the Media?" For me, the media studies part of my degree is an occupational hazard of my journalism degree. However, I am interested in my subjects and would not have understood the academic side of journalism if it hadn't been for the media studies.

Anyway, the lecture had nothing to do with me, although I did ask one question and then the lecturer referred to it about three times and kept looking at me so I had to fake interest instead of the outrage I actually felt! The entire lecture was about how to defend yourself against those cynical employers who don't think that Media Studies is a 'real' degree. Now I'm not going to go and look up the definition, but a degree to me means something that will prepare you for a better grade of job with a serious academic and theoretical base and background. I am studying Journalism and Media Studies which means each subject has equal weighting. I have final practical journalism projects this year, a dissertation on political communication alongside other academic modules and NCTJ exams which will vocationally prepare me for work in a newspaper or magazine.

Sounds quite like a degree to me, I do understand the arguments about media studies and other so-called 'soft subjects' but what annoyed me the most was that I had to have a lecture so that I can defend myself against ignorant old men who want me to work for free. I think I'll apply to places that will actually appreciate the amount of work that I have put in over the last three years and give me a job because I'm the best person for it. I don't want to have to defend my degree. I've worked hard for it and you WILL appreciate that!

P.S. I know my grammar and spelling are really rubbish in this post and it does feel a little half arsed but I've got a Media Law exam in 2 days so need to go and revise!