Key takeaways
- A photojournalism online course can help aspiring photojournalists build industry-relevant skills.
- The program combines digital photography and journalism into one field.
- 71% of students enrolled in private for-profit institutions in Fall 2021 opted for exclusively online programs.
- Students list affordability as the number one reason for choosing an online photojournalism degree.
- Other advantages of the online program include flexibility and convenience, access to high-quality education, and provision of hands-on learning opportunities.
- The lack of social communication and real-time feedback are major disadvantages of pursuing a photojournalism course online.
- If you lack self-discipline and time management skills, an online photojournalism degree is not for you.
A photographer’s lens is a great tool that is able to accomplish a lot, from capturing memories, emotions, moments, culture, and living conditions to capturing stories. We, as humans, are deeply visual people, as a significant portion of our brain is dedicated to processing visuals. A picture speaks a thousand words may sound cliche, but truer words have never been spoken. It is the power of imagery that enables photojournalism to shape the world and our opinions of the events happening all around us.
If you have a passion for photography and love telling stories, this is the field for you. What makes it even better is the availability of online programs offered by several renowned colleges. But is a photojournalism online course right for you? We can help you find that out.
What is photojournalism?
The idea of taking pictures to tell a story definitely sounds interesting, but it is not as simple as it sounds. Here, you will be covering news events as they happen trying to capture the smallest of details to paint the complete picture for the audience. Whether it is a natural disaster, the death of a celebrity, a murder investigation, an accident, or a protest, as a photojournalist, you will be at the front line trying to capture the visuals that will capture emotions, and provide context to news articles.
Regardless of whether you are working for a magazine, a newspaper, or a digital platform, taking pictures requires significant digital expertise. You should be able to shoot in all kinds of conditions, have knowledge of post-processing software, different tools, technologies, and media production best practices. You can learn all of this and more in an online photojournalism degree.
Why choose a photojournalism online course?
When you think of a photography degree, an online program is probably not the first choice that comes to mind. Given that photography is a practical field, a traditional degree might appeal to a significant number of students. However, online photography degrees have gained popularity in the past decade or so and rightfully so too.
There are significant advantages to pursuing an online program and in this guide, we discuss the complete list of pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. After all, choosing the right program and mode of learning are important for a fulfilling learning experience.
Benefits of pursuing an online photojournalism course
In fall 2021, 71% of students enrolled in private for-profit colleges exclusively pursued distance education courses, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. The United States is leading the global online education industry with the highest projected revenue at USD 99.84 billion in 2025. So, what is it that is pushing billions of students toward online learning?
Affordability – Online programs have a lower cost of attendance than on-campus programs
In a 2023 poll on reasons why students choose online learning platforms, 77% students marked program affordability as the number one reason for choosing distance learning programs. Now, if you have done your research, you probably know that the tuition for online degrees and on-campus programs is typically the same with a few exceptions of course.
However, here we are talking about the overall cost of attending a program which is much more than just tuition. Cost of attendance includes cost incurred when travelling to and from college, utilities cost, accommodation cost for out-of-city students, visa and air ticket cost for international students, and more.
Additionally, out-of-state and international students also have to pay higher tuition than in-state students when attending an on-campus program. However, the tuition for online programs is the same for all online students regardless of destination, and it is the only cost they have to bear, making online programs more affordable.
Flexibility and convenience
Whether you are lucky enough to find an asynchronous photo journalism course or are enrolled in a synchronous program, flexibility and convenience are definitely guaranteed. As an online student, you can take your classes from the comfort of your own home or from wherever you please. Asynchronous students can also decide when they want to take classes and how many they want to take at once.
Moreover, students can learn at their own pace. In a traditional classroom, you cannot ask the teacher to slow down so you can catch up, but you can do so when enrolled in an online photojournalism degree. You can rewatch the lecture as many times as needed and even speed it up or slow it down depending on your needs.
High quality education made accessible for everyone
Distance education programs have revolutionized the education industry by overcoming all limitations incurred in traditional programs, especially by removing all geographical barriers. Whether you live in Korea, Australia, India, Azerbaijan, or Europe, you can easily access high quality education from photojournalism schools online. You no longer have to worry about obtaining a visa, arranging accommodation, paying for air or train tickets, bills, rent, and other costs that come with a cross-country shift. Not to mention, the emotional stress and culture shock that comes with shifting to another country.
Photojournalism schools online feature expert instructors renowned in their field. These experts not only bring technical knowledge but also their personal experience to the classroom. Regardless of where you live, you can learn valuable skills and expertise by learning from industry leaders, including award-winning photojournalists if you are lucky.
Carefully curated learning experience emphasizing hands-on learning opportunities
Photography is a practical field, and thus, hands-on learning opportunities are a crucial part of the online photojournalism degree. The program features a blend of theoretical classes and practical assignments, encouraging students to apply what they have learned in the classroom. Teachers then review the work and provide feedback on it, highlighting areas for improvement and applauding a job well done.
Moreover, students get to engage with students and review their work. Through the exercise they not only learn to apply their learning to the practical field, but also see how their peers performed, what techniques they used, and how they tackled the assignment. We can not only learn from our mistakes but also those of others as well as their successes.
Disadvantages of an online photojournalism degree
Pursuing a photojournalism course online seems like the dream, doesn’t it? But there are always two sides to a coin, and in this case, the other side represents the cons of pursuing a photojournalism online course.
Lack of access to campus resources
You will not be able to borrow equipment for the campus and will likely be renting camera gear, which can be quite costly. Additionally, if you end up having trouble with some gear, you cannot rely on support from on-campus staff and will have to figure it out on your own.
Can be an isolating experience
Pursuing an online photojournalism degree means you will not be engaging in much conversation with your classmates. In fact, if enrolled in an asynchronous program, you may not even know who your classmates are. The lack of interaction can be quite challenging for some students who thrive on social interactions.
Lack of real-time student-teacher communication
If you have any questions, you cannot just raise your hand and ask away. You will have to reach out to the professor via email and wait for their reply. Even though instructors reply promptly, the lack of real-time and in-person communication can prove challenging.
What to consider when choosing a photojournalism online course?
All things considered, photojournalism schools online have a lot to offer students and might actually be a better option when compared to an on-campus program for many students. However, college learning format is quite different to what students are accustomed to and an online learning format is truly unique. So before you start searching for photojournalism schools online, consider the following factors to determine if it is right for you or not.
Requires self-discipline and excellent time management
The lack of a campus schedule or fear of repercussions for not being attentive can prove quite damaging if a student lacks discipline. Yes, you will be in charge of your learning schedule but that doesn’t mean you can take all your classes right before semester-end examinations. You have to find the ideal pace of learning, be disciplined and take your classes on time, and be excellent at time management to be able to complete assignments on time.
So, if you are someone who cannot take the reins of their schedule, an online photojournalism degree is not for you.
Ability to arrange needed camera equipment
Digital photography equipment is actually quite costly. Students not only need a good quality camera, but will also require a variety of lenses and camera gear such as bounce, tripod stand, flash, mic, and so on. Distance learners will have to arrange necessary camera equipment themselves. So, if you don’t have the budget to be able to rent, borrow, or purchase needed camera gear, an online photojournalism course is not for you.
College accreditation
We have come a long way when it comes to the quality of education in photojournalism schools online, however, we still have some hurdles to overcome. There are plenty of online photo journalism courses that you can enroll in.
However, by choosing ones holding accreditations from relevant accreditation authorities, you can be assured that you will receive the highest quality of education. Moreover, accredited programs are widely recognized by employers and can significantly enhance your eligibility criteria.
Career goals and aspirations
Career aspirations often dictate our path of learning. If you want to combine the love of photography with journalism, a photojournalism degree is the ideal choice for you. However, it is a vast field and the expertise for feature news coverage is quite different from that required for the coverage of natural disasters.
Additionally, where you want to work and what job position you aspire to hold will dictate the qualifications you need. Some posts require a certificate while others may require a degree. You have to make sure you do your research before deciding between a photojournalism online course and an online photojournalism degree.
Is photojournalism the right program for you? – It’s your call!
Whether a program is ideal for you or not is a question only you can answer best. What we can do is inform you of the pros and cons of your options and show you both sides of the coin so you can make an informed decision. If you are still confused and unable to find the answer to the above-mentioned question, maybe you could benefit from digging a little deeper.
Learn all you can about a photography major, and what journalism entails. Only by expanding your knowledge base will you be able to zero in on a decision. We wish you the best of luck in your journey to finding a photojournalism online course that feels right for you!