Hiring/J-degree: Galveston County Daily News

Part of a series in which professionals answer the question that students often ask me: Do you need a journalism degree to get hired in the field?

Many thanks to Heber Taylor, Editor of the Galveston County Daily News, for his answers.

When you hire a reporter or a copy editor, how important is it for an applicant to have a journalism degree?

Very. I've hired people without a journalism degree, but not many.

Why do you look for a journalism degree, or what do you look for instead of that?

I want people to be mechanically sound. Some editors have time to teach reporters the stylebook, how to write a good lead, how to handle a second-day story to emphasize fresh angles, rather than dated material. But I don’t. People who come out of good journalism programs don’t require remedial work.
Also, people who come out of good journalism programs have had some experience. Speed is important at all papers -- maybe especially important at smaller ones.

Is the picture different for entry-level applicants vs. experienced applicants?

I don't think I've hired an entry-level reporter who didn't have a journalism degree.