While it differs from an applied journalism major that focuses primarily on newspaper writing, the major in Literary Journalism is excellent preparation for students planning to enter graduate programs in journalism, as well as for those interested in the many careers requiring sophisticated writing skills.Those students with a particular interest in writing and editing for magazines would find the Literary Journalism major particularly useful. So would those who aspire to write nonfiction books.From time to time, we will post specific career opportunity information about such events as workshops and recruiter visits. Visit our Events page to learn more.

Literary Journalism AlumniRecent Literary Journalism alumni are pursuing careers in fields as varied as writing, teaching, law, and politics. Visit this page again soon to read profiles of our graduates.

A Conversation of the Future of Journalism, and Further Reading

Is there life after the literary journalism program? Will I be able to find a job? Should I go to graduate school? How can I write—and get paid for it?

Such questions are asked often by our literary journalism majors. In this section of our website, we will offer a continuous conversation about such issues, and the future of journalism. We will also regularly post links to relevant articles being published elsewhere.

None of us can see around corners, so we can’t predict with certainty what the future of journalism will hold. But we can say there most certainly will be a future—it will simply involve business models different from what supported the field in the past. There will always be a need for journalists to make sense of the world, to bring back reports, to explain, to challenge, and to communicate effectively. Graduates of the UCI Literary Journalism Program will be superbly equipped to fill these needs. Our majors learn to push beyond their known world, to make sense of the world, to explain the world—and to write about it in a compelling fashion. These skills will always be in high demand, for they are uncommon, not found even in graduates of the best law, medical and business schools. They are the hallmark, though, of our literary journalism majors.

A good number of our majors, after graduation, have been accepted in the finest graduate schools of journalism in the country. Others have found jobs in local newspapers and niche magazines that focus on such subjects as business, sports and fashion. More than a few have landed positions at web-based publications. A handful have become directors of communication or marketing for law firms and financial services companies. Others have gone to work for non-profit organizations. One produces documentaries for PBS.

The possibilities are endless for those who can write clearly about our ever-evolving world.

Further Reading

"NY Times' Abramson: 'Long-form narrative is not only alive but dancing to new music,'"  by Bill Kirtz
"Learning to Love the (Shallow, Divisive, Unreliable) New Media," by James Fallows  (The Atlantic)
"What's the Point of Journalism School, Anyway?" by David Folkenflik  (National Public Radio)
"How to Save the News," by James Fallows (The Atlantic)
"Hold the front page, I want to be on it," by Ed Caesar (The Sunday Times [UK]
Newseum Launches Series on "The Future of News" with Frank Sesno 
"The New Journalism: Goosing the Gray Lady" by Emily Nussbaum (New York Magazine)