what should a journalism personal statement include

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• Journalism Personal Statement Examples

Your Journalism personal statement is a crucial element of your UCAS application . It is your opportunity to showcase your passion for journalism, your relevant experiences, and your potential to succeed as a journalism student. Check our journalism personal statement examples for UCAS , which can inspire and guide you in writing your successful personal statement . 

Whether you are interested in broadcast journalism , print journalism , or digital and online journalism , these examples cover a range of topics and styles that can help you stand out to admissions tutors.

Journalism Personal Statement Example

As an A-level student in Business Studies, English Literature, and Religious Studies, I have always been passionate about education and learning. I have always been fascinated by the power of the written word and the impact that journalism can have on shaping public opinion and educating society. That is why I am so excited to pursue a career in journalism and continue to make a positive impact on society.

My interest in journalism was first sparked during work experience placements at my local newspaper, The South Wales Evening Post, and a local radio station. During my time at the newspaper, I was allowed to work with experienced journalists and editors, assisting them with research, conducting interviews, and writing articles for publication. This experience taught me the importance of accuracy, objectivity, and the need to present balanced viewpoints. Additionally, at the radio station, I learned about the power of broadcast media and how it can be used to reach a wider audience and engage with listeners on a more personal level.

As a great believer in education, I see the role of the journalist as an educating force, an incredibly important one. The media has a responsibility to inform the public about current affairs and provide accurate and unbiased reporting. Through my work experience, I have seen firsthand how the media can influence public opinion and shape perceptions of different issues. I believe that journalists have a responsibility to provide truthful and accurate reporting, whilst also highlighting important social issues and driving change.

Outside of my academic routine, I have several hobbies and interests that keep me grounded and motivated. One of my favourite pastimes is reading, particularly books that explore different cultures and perspectives. I also enjoy running, which I find helps me to clear my mind and think creatively. By engaging in these hobbies, I can maintain a balanced lifestyle and stay connected with the world around me.

Throughout my academic career, I have strived to excel in all of my studies. During my secondary school years, I was one of the best students in my class, achieving high grades in all subjects. This has given me a strong foundation and the skills necessary to succeed in a career in journalism. Additionally, I have travelled around the world and visited 56 countries so far. This has allowed me to gain a wider perspective on different cultures and societies, which I believe will be invaluable in my future career.

I am excited to continue my education and pursue a career in journalism. I believe that my passion for education, my experience in the media, and my diverse interests and hobbies make me an excellent candidate for this field. I am committed to using my skills and talents to make a positive impact on society, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Recommended for further reading:

• How to Write a Personal Statement for a Master’s
• How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD
• UCAS Personal Statement: A Writing Guide And Tips For Success
• Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for the University
• How to Write a Personal Statement That Stands Out
• Personal Statement Examples UK
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Personal Statement Example For Journalism

I am driven by my passion for the English language and the power it holds to inform, engage and inspire people. With a deep-rooted affection for the written word and its ability to capture the essence of life, I have always been fascinated by how language has evolved. As a student of English Literature, History and Media Studies, I have been able to explore this evolution in detail and develop my unique voice as a writer.

Studying English has allowed me to think critically, analyse the techniques used by both fiction and non-fiction writers and express my ideas and opinions through a portfolio of work. Through this, I have learnt how to craft compelling narratives, convey complex ideas with clarity and precision, and engage readers through powerful storytelling. My studies in History and Media Studies have complemented my understanding of English, allowing me to appreciate the importance of context, perspective, and the role of media in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

Outside of academics, I am involved in many creative pursuits that allow me to develop my skills as a communicator and storyteller. I participate in a drama group, where I am honing my skills in characterisation, improvisation and public speaking. I am also working towards my Bronze Arts Award, which involves creating and performing a piece of original drama. Additionally, I enjoy playing the piano, which requires a large amount of patience, creativity and dedication – skills that I believe are essential for a successful journalist.

I am proud to have received Young Writers Award from my Secondary School, recognising my talent and dedication as a writer. These accolades have encouraged me to pursue a career in journalism, where I can use my skills to inform, educate and entertain readers on a wide range of topics. I am excited about the prospect of being able to tell stories that matter, whether it is through investigative journalism, features or opinion pieces.

My passion for the English language, combined with my academic pursuits and creative pursuits, have prepared me well for a career in journalism. I am eager to continue my journey as a writer and storyteller, and I believe that a degree in journalism will provide me with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to make a meaningful contribution to the world of media.

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Personal Statement: Applying for a Journalism/Media Degree

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A question I am frequently asked is what exactly you should write on your personal statement when applying for a journalism/media course. Putting together a great statement can be a pretty stressful task as it is difficult to gage what exactly universities are looking for. However, all graduates have been through it and there is no reason why you cannot secure a place on the course of your choosing. Here are some of my top tips on what exactly you should be writing:

Enthusiasm and passion

For me, I think this is the most crucial element to any application. Demonstrate just how passionate and enthused you are about the course. Perhaps pinpoint an element or a module that you are most excited about and why. Showing that you genuinely want to be studying that course always looks great and will put you in good stead with the admissions officer. Cardiff in particular has a fantastic student media department with its own newspaper, magazine, radio, and TV station. Make reference to these and emphasise how eager you are to get involved, maybe even mentioning that you aspire to be the editor-in-chief of the magazine, or a presenter on the radio station. Universities are always looking for people that want to get stuck in so convey this well.

Relevant experience

If you have done any kind of writing, editing, blogging etc. outside of school then absolutely put this in. This will show that you are not only able to use your initiative, but that you have the ability to work independently and have great time-management – all essential skills when studying at higher education. If you don’t already have a blog GET ONE. This is possibly the most simple and easy way to get journalism experience where you can write whatever you like, whenever you like, and wherever you like.

Even if you don’t directly have experiences like this, any part time jobs or qualifications you have will also be great for your statement as each will bring with them a useful set of skills for university.

A recent news story that has caught your interest

If you want to study journalism, you of course have to be up-to-date with all the latest happenings of the world. Writing a small paragraph on something in the news that has captured your attention and why will make your statement stand-out and show that you engage with the news. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion and articulate your feelings about something you feel strongly about.

Future goals

Why is it you want to study journalism/media? What do you hope to do with the degree you are applying for? Express that studying the course is a stepping stone for you to get into your dream career and that you truly believe the university will be able to support and facilitate that goal.

Finally, no human being is defined purely by work. Tell the admissions officer exactly who you are and show some personality. What is it you enjoy doing at the weekend? Do you have a hobby? No matter how common or unusual it is, put it in! If you play a sport then there is bound to be a society for that at Cardiff so let them know that you are desperate to get involved. You want to make it clear to the university that there is so much more to you than just academia, and that you will be an all-round great student to have study with them.

Thank you, this helped so much

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7 ways to improve a journalism personal statement

As a journalism student, the question I hear the most from people wanting to study the subject at university is, “ how do I improve my personal statement?” and understandably so. Aside from your grades, your personal statement is your big chance to prove (or sell) yourself to that dream university.

It’s an arduous process with every word being sweated over and making the most of the strict word count. Deciding what to include is a nightmare in itself, so hopefully the following tips will help you improve your personal statement.

1. Researching and Deciding

Knowing what you want to do can be hard, but making a decision can make things a lot easier. Your personal statement will be much easier to write if you decide on one subject to apply for. Applying for multiple subjects (Journalism, History, English, etc.) can lead to an unfocused personal statement. Researching each subject and their related courses and then deciding what is best for you can make life easier.

Why is writing my personal statement so hard? I’m applying for journalism and creative writing courses I should be good at it — Chloe Becca (@ChloeBecca_) October 20, 2015

2. Get Blogging

The internet provides a great platform to get your writing out there. Blogging sites such as WordPress, Blogger and Google Blogs allow you to publish content for free and, if you’re lucky, build a readership. Even if nobody reads your blog, its a great place to archive your work.

3. Writing with Passion

Your personal statement should scream that you are passionate about writing and dream of becoming a journalist. After all, this is what your personal statement is about: proving how much you want to study the course. Don’t be too over-dramatic, but make the administrations person reading know how much you love to write.

4. Writing for an Online Publisher

What’s an online publisher? You’re on one. Sites such as Kettle Mag offer an excellent place to get articles published to a wider audience. They also introduce you to people just like you. Make sure to follow any style guide that the online publisher may have.

5. Work Experience

Nothing looks better on a personal statement than work experience. It provides you with experience as a journalist and also proves your interest in journalism. You can organise work experience by contacting where you want to work directly or you can get help through your school or college. Local newspapers are always a good option.

ok so i wanna go into sports journalism and ive got no experience and nothing to write about on my personal statement how stupid can i be?? — rachel (@hwatsonfan) July 21, 2015

6. School Newspapers

Busy days at school and college don’t allow for much time to be a journalist. That’s why becoming involved in a school newspaper is such a useful opportunity. It allows you to work on your writing skills, while having your work seen by other people. It’s also a handy place to start building up an archive of your work.

7. Show Your Ambition

So, you’ve said why you want to study the course and what you’ve done. But, it’s also important to say what you want to do after university. Do you want to become a columnist, a court reporter or a television reporter? There’s a long list of what a journalism course can lead to in the world of work and there is no pressure to make a firm decision at this point, but a quick mention of what you hope to achieve after university will show you have put some thought into your future and taking part in this course is something you really want to do to achieve that dream job.

For information on what journalism courses are out there check out our Journalism course search 

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• Personal Statements
• Journalism personal statement

Journalism Personal Statement Example

Sample statement.

If you want to apply to study Journalism at university then it’s almost a given that you’re good at writing but all good writers suffer from writer’s block occasionally, right?

For those of you that are struggling with a personal statement to study Journalism – here is our example to help you out:

Having developed a passion for writing at an early age my writing skills have evolved over the years and I now feel that a career in journalism is right for me. However, I am not prepared to rest on my laurels and I am always striving to further develop my writing skills.

I enjoy the challenge of conveying a story, event, or thought to a reader in an interesting, engaging, and easily understood way. I write my own blog and look forward to expanding my topic range when I reach university.

To expand my knowledge and skills in journalism I undertook a work experience placement at my local newspaper, The Waterside Herald, whilst I was at school. This gave me the chance to develop my writing skills to suit a journalistic style and to gain an in-depth insight into the daily life of a journalist.

Outside of school I enjoy travelling and hope that my love of travel will enable me to gain experience working for publications in other countries during summer breaks from university.

I am also a keen sports player and regular runner. As well as my academic goals I also hope to complete the London Marathon next year, something that I have been training towards for a number of months.

I look forward to the new challenges that life at university will bring and having the chance to learn new skills and build on my already high standards of writing and communication.

I hope that by studying journalism to degree level I will be able to gain an entry level position at a national newspaper such as The Guardian or The Times. I am also interested in pursuing television journalism as a possible career choice whilst at university.

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How to write your UCAS personal statement

For those of you used to writing 280-character tweets, a 4,000-character UCAS personal statement might seem like your idea of hell.

The UCAS personal statement word count is 47 lines or 4000 characters – and trust us, you’ll want more.

Starring at a blank page can be really difficult so just start by writing anything – for example, why you want to study this subject and your best attributes – then you just need to structure it.

Your UCAS personal statement should be broken up into three main sections.

• Why you are excited about the course you are applying for

And how did you become interested in the subject – did you read an article or go to a lecture on the topic?

Make sure you have a punchy first sentence to engage the reader.

In this section you also need to show that you really understand the course.

• Evidence to prove your interest in the course

This can be shown through work experience and outside reading.

Here, you should also mention the skills you have that make you right for the course.

• What makes you unique?

Now you can write about your interests and hobbies, try and talk about something that you do that is unique.

Personal statements are very subjective but we’ve compiled a list of dos and don’ts to keep you on the right path.

UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENTS DON’Ts

• DON’T reference a specific university

The same personal statement will be sent to every course and university you apply for so avoid being too specific.

• DON’T be negative

You shouldn’t put down the course you are applying for eg ‘I am applying to be a nurse because it takes less time than training to be a doctor.’

• DON’T waffle

Now is not the time for verbal diarrhoea – you only have 47 lines so you need to be concise.

• DON’T be arrogant

It’s good to show off your skills and experience but be careful not to cross the line into arrogance.

• DON’T use clichés

Admissions tutors read A LOT of personal statements so avoid clichés such as ‘I have wanted to become a journalist for as long as I can remember.’

• DON’T exaggerate

Be prepared to back up everything you say in your personal statement in an interview.

• DON’T try and be funny

Admissions tutors might not have the same sense of humour as you.

• DON’T leave it until the last minute

Writing a whole page about yourself is harder than you think.

• DON’T copy anyone else’s

Universities use software to check for plagiarism.

UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENTS DOs

• DO show you’ve gone the extra mile

Talk about the extracurricular activities you do outside of school – for example volunteering or clubs you belong to.

• DO proofread your personal statement

Get a parent or a friend to read it too, a fresh eye is always good.

• DO save as you are going along

UCAS times out after 35 minutes of inactivity.

Unfortunately there is no definitive formula to writing your UCAS personal statement but stick to our guidelines and you can’t go too wrong.

Whether you’re currently in the process of writing your personal statement or have already gone through the pain, share your advice below.

If you need help with the rest of the form, take a look at our filling in your UCAS application blog.

Featured image courtesy of Francisco Osorio via Flickr, with thanks

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• JournoFest 2024: How to succeed in today’s changing media landscape  12th April 2024
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• JournoFest 2024: The story behind the story… Q&A with Karl Flinders and Balvinder Gill 5th April 2024
• JournoFest 2024: Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford  5th April 2024

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Tackling the Personal Statement

Ellie Whelan

4000 characters. A page of writing. Surely, writing a personal statement takes no time at all? As anyone who has sent off a UCAS form has discovered, this couldn’t be further from the truth. From deciding on a captivating opening sentence, to selecting which books or articles to include, to abiding by the character count, the personal statement is the most difficult part of UCAS. As grades and the personal statement are the first thing universities see, it’s essential that both impress. Academic excellence and passion invite universities to pursue your application. Personal statements can make or break your chance for an interview. What do I include in a personal statement? The clue is in the name: make it personal. No, this doesn’t mean a retelling of your life story, but instead an insight into what ignited your love for your subject. There doesn’t need to be a light bulb moment as such, but instead explain what made you want to devote the next 3 or 4 years to this subject. With limited characters, avoid superfluous language, or attempting to ‘sound smart’. Instead, get down to the nitty gritty and convince the tutors that you are passionate.

As an English and French student, I analysed the impact of language and literature. Through linking and analysing several books/ articles and poems, I discussed my views on the development of literature and how this made me view the world differently. The key is to analyse different texts and give your perspective. The tutors want independent thinkers who can make links between different texts and topics. Listing is useless: provide your perspective on what you have read/ seen. In essence, a personal statement is a mosaic of your personal academic interests. How should I start? Don’t begin at the beginning. First construct the middle paragraphs. Then, return to the introduction and think of a sentence which sums up why you want to study this subject. In reality, you haven’t planned to study geography ‘since you could walk’, so forget all the cliches. This sentence doesn’t have to be ground-breaking; instead introduce your academic journey. My opening was:

“Language shapes perception. Studying English and French Literature has encouraged me to enjoy how language alters understanding.” When should I start? Ideally, as soon as possible. Drafting the personal statement over the summer holidays limits the stress of UCAS in the first term of year 13. With the Oxbridge deadline looming in October, sending in the UCAS form early enables more time to focus on the all-important A Level and entrance exams. However, there is something to be said about starting too early. Ensure you have enough time to read around your subject. There is no point starting to write if there is nothing to write about! I would recommend starting in August because this strikes the fine balance between devoting enough time to supercurriculars and not being rushed when writing. How do I read around my subject? A good place to start is by building on what you have learnt at A Level. If you have enjoyed a text or topic at ALevel, why not look into it in more detail? This could include watching online lectures, or reading books by the same author or of the same genre. Avoid the ‘must-read’ or ‘must-watch’ lists for your subject. Stand out from a sea of applicants by analysing your own interests, no matter how niche they may be. How do I structure a personal statement? After spending hours swindling down the number of texts, the issue then jumps to structuring. There is no set structure for a personal statement. In fact, the best personal statements are fluid and do not jolt between contrasting paragraphs. Although fluidity is restricted by a character count, attempt to organise your statement thematically. Group together your supercurriculars in terms of theme or topic. Discuss an issue in one text and explain how this relates or contrasts to another. Then, begin each paragraph with an opening sentence that relates back to your last paragraph. Do I need extracurriculars?’ Oxbridge applications are all about aptitude. A misconception that crosses over the Atlantic is that elite UK universities care about how many hours of volunteering or how many clubs you have done. Of course, some extracurriculars can show passion for your subject, e.g. setting up a book club or debating. However, whether you were captain of the football team will not make or break your chance of success. Keep to the 80/20 or 90/10 rule. The statement should be mostly academic and should only include a line or two at the end to express your hobbies or interests. How do I structure a personal statement when I am applying for different courses? As a joint honours student, I faced the feat of combining two subject applications into one. To do this, I had a separate paragraph for each subject. However, to ensure fluidity, I included links in the French section back to the English section and vice versa. When applying for joint honours or slightly different courses, find a middle ground. For instance, I emphasised how language shaped perceptions, which led to linking English and French literature. How do I edit a personal statement? Once the bin is overflowing with drafts and boredom is overruling sanity , it is time to tackle the next stage: editing. The word count is the hardest part of the personal statement. Reducing your academic journey to 4000 characters is easier said than done. To remove pointless characters, make your sentences shorter. Taking out connectives, adverbs, some adjectives and using acronyms (like DofE) will make your statement more concise.

Remember that the statement can form the basis of an interview. Only include what you can speak about. Yes, including the ‘greats’ like Milton is impressive, but can you hold a challenging conversation on their works? In summary, if the personal statement evidences wider reading, is unique to you and is concise; you really can’t go wrong!

Featured image courtesy of Christin Hume via Unsplash . Image license may be found here . No changes were made to this image.

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Journalism Personal Essays

Cultural reporting and criticism.

The Cultural Reporting and Criticism (CRC) program in Journalism requires applicants to submit a personal essay that will be judged both as a piece of writing and as an indication of whether your aspirations, abilities, interests, and experience are suited to CRC.

The essay should be specific and detailed enough to give the admissions committee a concrete sense of who you are as a potential cultural reporter and critic. It should address the following questions: What do you expect to get from CRC? What do you think you can contribute to it? What aspects of your background and experience are most relevant to your interest in the program? What kind of writing have you done and what do you aspire to do? Which cultural issues and phenomena most engage you? What publications do you read regularly and why? Which cultural journalists do you admire, which do you dislike, and which have influenced you? Feel free to include any other ideas you consider relevant to your application.

CRC places most emphasis on letters of recommendation from professors or editors with whom you have worked directly and who can assess your intellectual abilities and the quality of your writing.

Please append to your essay a brief statement of your plans for financing your graduate work. This statement must be included, whether or not you are applying for financial aid. 

Global and Joint Programs

Africana studies | east asian studies | european and mediterranean studies | french studies | international relations | latin american and caribbean studies | near eastern studies | russian and slavic studies.

Journalism requires applicants to write a personal essay. The essay is an extremely important part of the application, so treat it accordingly. The essay should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. In addition, all applicants must submit at least three samples of their work, whether published or not.

The goal of the essay is to give the Admissions Committee a concrete sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career as a professional journalist, writing and reporting for print, online or broadcast media. It should address the following questions: What do you expect to get from the program? What aspects of your experience are most relevant to your interest in journalism? Tell us about your background--your academic degree, intellectual interests, work experience, life experience, and other sources of inspiration--and explain how this background informs what you want to do as a journalist.

Applicants should also describe their existing "body of work" as a journalist, critic or just someone who writes. We are mostly interested in published work, but if you have yet to break into print, then tell us what kind of writing you have done. What have been your major themes? What issues and phenomena most engage you? What publications do you read regularly and why? Which journalists do you admire, which do you dislike, and which have influenced you?

In addition, for the non-Journalism field of study  (Africana Studies, East Asian Studies, French Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Near Eastern Studies, or Russian and Slavic Studies), please briefly describe your past and present work as it relates to your intended field of study, and your reasons for choosing your field of study.

In addition, for International Relations : the program in International Relations (IR) trains individuals who wish to make a difference on international affairs either through continued academic study or via the actual practice of international affairs in government, the non-governmental or private sectors. Please explain, in a brief and concise manner, how your past studies and work experience relate to a course of study at the graduate level in international relations at NYU. You should include how your educational objectives will help you to achieve your future career goals, and should briefly outline where you see yourself 10 years after graduating from NYU. Please also explain why you chose to apply to study in the IR Program at NYU and how NYU specifically will help you to advance your personal and professional objectives.

European and Mediterranean Studies  does not not require an additional statement. Only the Journalism personal essay is required.

Please append to your essay a brief statement of your plans for financing your graduate work. This statement must be included, whether or not you are applying for financial aid.

Journalism and Religion

Journalism requires applicants to write a personal essay. The essay is an extremely important part of the application, so treat it accordingly. The essay should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. In addition, applicants must submit at least two samples of their work, whether published or not.

As part of your personal essay, please include a discussion that provides the Admissions Committee with a sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career in journalism, writing and reporting about important matters in the news and analysis of religious issues.

Two different writing samples are required. One should be an example of your strongest academic writing, preferably a paper written for an undergraduate course that demonstrates your ability to construct a coherent argument. It should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages. The second should represent your aptitude for journalism. A clip from your college newspaper, a personal essay, and an academic research paper are all acceptable.

Literary Reportage

Literary Reportage requires applicants to answer the following questions. We will judge both the style and content of your writing.

• Describe the project you want to pursue. Tell us about the stories you want to write, in as much detail as possible. Big ideas, themes and questions are essential, but just as essential are specific stories—real names, real places—through which you explore them. We expect your work to evolve while at NYU, so you are not committing to your agenda now.
• Who/what have you read and been inspired by? What, to your mind, are the similarities and differences between creative writing and creative nonfiction? How can "literary technique" be applied to the practice of long-form journalism? What do reporters do? What do you envision “Literary Reportage” to be?
• Tell us about your academic degree(s), intellectual interests, work/life experiences, and explain how they inform your project. Describe your "body of work" as a journalist, blogger, or just someone who writes. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer? What do you expect to get from Literary Reportage?
• Describe how you plan to use the city and the university’s vast resources. We welcome projects of national or international scope, but only if they can be reported effectively from the city and its environs (with the usual extensions of email and telephone) during the school term.
• You may answer the above questions separately, or in a single essay.

News and Documentary

The News and Documentary Program in Journalism requires applicants to write a personal essay. The essay is an extremely important part of the application, so treat it accordingly. The essay should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. In addition, all applicants must submit at least three samples of their work. This can be print or video clips or scripts.

The goal of the essay is to give the Admissions Committee a sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career as a professional journalist/documentary filmmaker. It should address the following questions: What aspects of your experience are most relevant to your interest in journalism? Tell us about your background—your academic degree, intellectual interests, work experience, life experience, and other sources of inspiration—and explain how this background informs what you want to do as a journalist. What do you expect to get from the program?

Applicants should also describe their existing "body of work." This can be print, video, radio or documentary work you’ve already done. Video experience is not a prerequisite at all so if this is the case, your body of work might be volunteering somewhere, working with an NGO, teaching etc. We’d also like to know what publications you read and news or documentary programming you like, and why. Which journalists do you admire, and which have influenced you?

Please also address what motivates you to pursue the documentary long form in particular. In your third semester, you will be creating a capstone piece of journalism--a half-hour documentary. What might this project be about and how would you approach it? Although experience in documentary is not required, your ideas are.

Podcasting and Audio Reportage

Your personal essay is an opportunity for you to reveal more about who you are and for you to connect your goals for attending this program with your background and qualifications. The Admissions Committee will be looking for your voice in your writing style, as well as paying close attention to the evidence you provide in the case you are making for why you should be selected. While many students aim for 1,000-1500 words in length, writing for audio requires efficiency and clarity, therefore shorter essays may also be effective. In addition, applicants are asked to submit 3 work samples, which can be links to audio or multimedia work. Work samples do not need to be published work, but we suggest choosing work which demonstrates your journalism, narrative storytelling or audio production skills. 

In your essay, please address the following questions:

• Why are you applying to this program and what do you hope to gain from your graduate studies?
• Why audio? What is it about this medium and what in your background or experience has motivated you to pursue this field of study? What is your experience with audio production? What experience do you have in journalism?
• Audio Journalism is a medium that values voice. Whose voices have you been inspired by and whose voices do you imagine we would hear in your work?
• Tell us about your interests and background. What life experiences, intellectual pursuits, educational or creative pursuits or other sources of inspiration inform your desire to create audio journalism?    

Please append to your essay a statement of your plans for financing your graduate work. This statement must be included, regardless of any request for financial assistance.

All Other Programs

American journalism | magazine and digital storytelling | reporting new york | reporting the nation | business and economic reporting | science, health and environmental reporting .

The goal of the essay is to give the Admissions Committee a concrete sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career as a professional journalist, writing and reporting for print, online or broadcast media. It should address the following questions: What do you expect to get from the program and the specific concentration to which you are applying? What aspects of your experience are most relevant to your interest in journalism? Tell us about your background--your academic degree, intellectual interests, work experience, life experience, and other sources of inspiration--and explain how this background informs what you want to do as a journalist.

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Writing the Personal Statement

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The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

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Journalism personal statement example 2.

The media's the most powerful entity on earth. An interesting quote from Malcolm X, who also claimed, Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world. I wish to combine these two passions and follow my ambition to become a journalist by continuing my studies into Higher Education. It is well known that power attracts and I, like many others, have become enchanted by the power of the written and spoken word. This fascination has created a deep interest in writing, and Journalism provides the perfect outlet to develop my skills.

Ive heard enough about the media industry to realise that experience is everything, and as Sixth Form Reporter on the College committee, I gain regular experience of journalistic writing and meeting deadlines. I have written for the official college Network, which is sent home to parents, and the Student Newspaper.

When selecting my A Level subjects, I seemed drawn to essay based courses. I enjoy writing and the courses undoubtedly helped my writing skills. However, I was required to make the opening of a film in Media, which was an experience to say the least! It increased my interest in Broadcast Journalism. Until that moment, I only had eyes for Print. Creative writing has always been one of my favourite aspects of English, and the coursework gave me the chance to write in whichever style I chose, one piece was a newspaper feature on Chelsea Football Club. I have always been interested in Sports Writing and I'm considering specialising in it at a later date.

I have chosen to continue four of my five AS Levels onto A2, even though it was not necessary. I have always found Psychology quite challenging as it involves deep levels of critical analysis, so I decided to carry on as I find it extremely intriguing. The different theories as to why humans do the things they do, attract me because I am interested in how people act, though one could hardly call me an anthropologist! My main priorities are English, Media and Sociology as I feel they will aid me most in my ambition, although I still find Psychology a fascinating subject.

I have often said that nothing is impossible, yet asking me to name my favourite book is asking too much. Some much-loved literature includes The Hobbit, Gone With The Wind, and Jane Eyre. In my opinion a good novel should evoke a variety of emotions from beginning to end. Music may not be my first love, but it is definitely one of my passions; I have high passes in grade 3 flute, singing, and grade 5 piano. Like my literary tastes, my choice of music is eclectic; I like anything from hip-hop to classical, soul to rock, and past to present.

I also love Black history, musicals, and icons of film and music, such as Audrey Hepburn, John Lennon, and Sinatra. Lennon once said, We all want to change the world, I empathise with this view and seek to achieve it using my chosen profession and the power of the media.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Related Personal Statements

I found this interesting, a.

Fri, 16/09/2005 - 00:00

I found this interesting, a little disjointed. And full of opinion. They wouldn't want that much opinion, it's slightly too colloquial and chatty.

I prefer the other one.

Just a note:-

Sat, 17/09/2005 - 00:00

The author of this personal statement was awarded offers from all 6 Universities they applied to and is reading Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth - obviously it was good enough for those Universities.

Sun, 20/08/2006 - 00:00

hey, they got into university didn't they?

probably on grades though as

Mon, 04/09/2006 - 00:00

probably on grades though as opose to the statement

i thought this is a brilliant

Mon, 18/09/2006 - 00:00

i thought this is a brilliant p.s. & the fact that he got 6 out of 6 offers, the universities obviously liked it too.

ironically i have done the exact same A levels as this person, this personal statement will be incredibly valuable for inspiration when writing my own.

Wed, 08/11/2006 - 22:15

what did the person get for his AS grades?

oh and also A2, his final A

Wed, 08/11/2006 - 22:17

oh and also A2, his final A-level grades, where you one of the early ones to apply?

Sun, 11/02/2007 - 15:13

Advise i have read on writing persomal statments says you shouldn't use famous quotes, and this person did in their first sentance!

I found the other statement

Sat, 01/09/2007 - 19:00

I found the other statement to busy and it was just as chatty as this one. They have not really been of much help to me, but it was nice to have had a glimpse of the personalities of other's who share the same career aims as me, as most of my friends either want to be doctors, lawyers or textile designers. They weren't too bad I would say!

Fri, 19/10/2007 - 12:58

we found this very enlightnening the malcolm x quote was wicked.

love az uk x

I suppose the thing that the

Mon, 29/10/2007 - 14:37

I suppose the thing that the other reviewers find puts them off might be that because this ps is full of opinions, other people's quotes and is very personal, it sounds a bit like a dreamer wrote it, and this makes it seem a bit unprofessional. But since a ps is the only route to express yourself, I think it works because I found I quite liked the friendly, confident attitude behind the words, and found this very helpful.

Lacks Creativity

Tue, 30/10/2007 - 19:37

First of all, well done with your PS! It has taken me 3 days to finally sit in front of the computer and actually start writing mine, but that's because I'm too perfectionist! ANYWAY, your ps is too obvious! The structure is too basic and you should have chosen a different style as you are applying for journalism! What i mean is that you have to stand out, make your life sound interesting and not only list facts events and quotes :)! But hey, come on, the ps is pretty good :)! Good luck dude :)

lacks creativity

Fri, 02/11/2007 - 21:08

are we journalists or creative writers?

I wouldn't criticise the

Mon, 05/11/2007 - 21:03

I wouldn't criticise the Personal Statements too much, seeing as you actually came to this site because you are inexperienced and need help to write your own. Just be aware that the makers of this website only publish successful personal statements.

re last comment

Wed, 07/11/2007 - 14:34

couldnt of said it better myself

"probably on grades though as

Sat, 10/11/2007 - 11:34

"probably on grades though as opose to the statement" - If you read any personal statement advice, you will clearly see that grades, although being a good indicator of a hard worker, only form part of the opinion when being chosen for a place. If it was based on high grades, then there would be no need for a statement. But I can bet that if the personal statement was that bad, whatever grades they got would not have guaranteed them a place in the university.

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 09:48

You having a laugh mate, you having a laugh?

You having a laugh mate? You

Wed, 28/11/2007 - 10:03

You having a laugh mate? You having a laugh!

Mon, 07/01/2008 - 17:25

Well obviously you and your

Tue, 09/09/2008 - 18:49

Well obviously you and your 'mates' are cpmlete idiots, what if the expirement went wrong and you got rejected huh?

Your trying to act clever, although you sound like a complete idiot.

Thu, 25/09/2008 - 15:29

too many quotes, no one cares

Thu, 16/10/2008 - 14:51

everyone needS to calm down , ur probably jus hating cos he got accepted. the guy done well and seems very intelligent which is probably why he got accepted his personal statement shows he is dedicated and has a passion for media.So i dno y some of u people are sayin bad things. dont HATE,CONGRATULATE.

the malcolm x quote was

Tue, 11/11/2008 - 14:35

the malcolm x quote was terrible, and how did they apply for 6 uni's?

Wow, there's alot of 'haters'

Tue, 27/10/2009 - 14:33

Wow, there's alot of 'haters' on this personal statement. I think it's extreamly well written, and although it goes against alot of personal statement writing tips, it's brilliant, in my opinion and obviously others seen as this person got offers from all the universities they applied for. Why would anyone want to read through the same stereotypical personal statements over and over again, this provides an entertaining read and is informative about the person. i like it.

LOL, i just typed in 'media

Fri, 30/10/2009 - 13:26

LOL, i just typed in 'media quotes' into google and tht malcolm X quote you've used on your 1st line was the 1st result that popped up! Didn't research hard for that :P

No thankyou.

Tue, 16/03/2010 - 18:25

I thought this was delightfully erotic. Reading it, I come over all giddy and weak at the knees as if he's trying to lure me into bed. I bet he has a long nose, spazzy hair, and a lisp.

wow! u people are so creul

Thu, 27/05/2010 - 13:07

wow! u people are so creul and it seems awfully jelous of this persons success. i totally agree that had u had the intellect to devise ur own personal statements without any help then u wouldnt be looking through google for inspiration. so dont hate, appreciate. and plz stop being a bunch of sour grapes. also i dont no how u can come up with a 'erotic' twist to this. alongside jelousy it seems you people are freaky and wierd!

This statement is very

Fri, 14/01/2011 - 01:14

This statement is very contradictory; its pretty much half good and half bad! You do a good job of talking about the work you've done in relation to journalism, yet you show no real committment or enthusiasm to it as you talk to generally and equally about your other passions, almost as though you'd be just as happy to do study music or literature. - Just my opinion, good on you for recieving six offers! :)

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