Media and Communication Studies
Career prospects for graduates
A degree in Media and Communication Studies qualifies you for starting a career in the media industry, for example, in cultural institutions, publishing houses, radio stations, or the film and television industry. You can enter a profession in multiple fields, such as media production, public relations, social media, journalism, media and opinion analysis, or marketing. Career-oriented seminars throughout the program provide you with insights into the work of media companies and cultural institutions. Ideally, you also obtain practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, etc.
Public relations
All tasks in public relations are focused on creating and maintaining a positive identity for an organization and its work. These may be companies, cultural institutions, public authorities, parties, or non-profit organizations.
Those working in public relations develop communication strategies and concepts to represent the institution. In larger organizations, internal communication is important as well.Today, digital channels are the most important venues for communication, which led to the creation of fields of work such as social media management or community management. Like traditional communication jobs, those jobs also require a high level of text, language, and media competency.
Job titles:
- Media spokesperson
- Public relations manager
- Public relations advisor
- Communication manager
- Content manager
- Social media manager
- Community manager
- Campaign manager
- Web editor
- Cross media manager
Example for the field of work: Public relations manager
Public relations managers are responsible for maintaining the image of organizations, companies, and public authorities. They develop communication concepts and strategies. They are also a first point of contact for those working in media and communications. If you are interested, you can apply in agencies or communications departments.Radio/
film/television The film, radio, and television industries also offer a wide range of job opportunities. Understanding the differences between organizational and creative media professions can help you find your career path. Executive producers or production managers are responsible for organizing and planning features, while scriptwriters, directors, presenters, or editors have more creative tasks. In addition, media companies also need employees in cross-functional areas such as public relations and marketing.
Students of Media and Communication Studies can take hands-on media seminars to sharpen their profile. Internships and assistant jobs also provide them with insights into the different production processes of media companies.Job titles:
- Assistant director
- Director
- Production manager
- Executive producer
- Presenter
- Film editor
- TV editor
- Photo editor
Example for the field of work: Assistant director
Assistant directors carry out organizational, artistic, and technical tasks. They accompany film and TV productions, prepare shootings, and organize workflows on set. Assistant directors are the link between the organizational requirements of a film production and the creative ideas of the director.Journalism/
editorial offices A journalist’s task is to provide the public with factual information. This includes not only writing but also researching, evaluating, and compiling the information collected. Then journalists edit the contents for their audience and share them with the public. They may publish texts, images, video, and audio contributions. Careers in journalism often start with a traineeship (Volontariat). Journalists-to-be can complete these one- or two-year traineeships at publishers, broadcasting corporations, companies, and other institutions. For starting a career in journalism, it is indispensable to start gaining practical experiences in journalism or editorial departments early on.
Job titles:
- Journalist
- Editor
- Author
- Reporter
- International correspondent
- Web editor
- Online editor
- Video editor
- Blogger
- Social media manager
- Cross media manager
Example for the field of work: Cross-media editor
Cross-media editors create journalistic content. They use different media channels to publish pieces of content that are linked together. Cross-media editors do not exclusively work in print, radio, or television but in all these media at once. Their goal is to create an added value for the audience.Media and opinion analysis
Some areas you can work in as a media and opinion analyst include audience and reach research, target group analysis, opinion and media content research. Large companies and media companies often have specific departments for this, but also market research institutes offer positions for opinion analysts.
You should be able to analyze complex contexts and have good presentation skills. To start a career as a media and opinion analyst, you also need to have methodological knowledge.
Job titles:
- Opinion analyst
- Market research manager
- Online market researcher
- Interviewer
- Market researcher
- Survey analyst
- Data analyst
Example for the field of work: Media analyst
Media analysts investigate consumer behavior, conduct market-media analyses, or collect market data in order to place media in the specific target groups. They are involved in every step of the process: from designing, organizing, evaluating, and analyzing market research to creating results presentations. Companies, particularly media companies, use market research results to design and develop products or marketing strategies.
Academia
The program in Media and Communication Studies also prepares students for an academic career in the field. The master’s program in Media and Communication Studies is the perfect choice if you plan to continue your academic training with a doctoral program in order to pursue a career in science and research.