As one of the nation’s oldest, wealthiest, and most densely-populated states, New Jersey is rich in both history and opportunities. The service-based economy is particularly strong, which has led to expansion in the advertising and public relations field; the state’s employment department forecasts that communications majors entering careers in advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales will see jobs grow 5.7% between 2008 and 2018. The Garden State are eager to enter the workforce in t is also the site of exciting new experiments in hyperlocal journalism, as well as some of the nation’s most successful educational publishers.
Undergraduate Degrees in Communications – Choosing to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree with a major in communications will give you the qualifications you need to start a career in mass media and digital communications. Whether you’re interested in journalism and independent filmmaking, or marketing and public relations, the know-how needed to reach people with a targeted message starts with a degree in communications.
Master’s Degrees in Communications – No matter your professional background or undergraduate major, you could earn a master’s in communications to prepare for a career in any number of diverse areas that include journalism, public relations, marketing, digital media and more.
Journalism
New Jersey boasts both historic newspapers (the New Jersey Herald was established in 1829) and a growing number of hyperlocal sites offering neighborhood news. Some media analysts speculate that New Jersey is a particularly fertile breeding ground for hyperlocal outlets because the traditional media tend to focus on news from Philadelphia and New York, leaving New Jersey residents hungry for local information. But the traditional newspapers aren’t dead: many have come up with inventive ways to battle the recession and declining print revenues by pooling their resources and sharing bureaus in the state capitol of Trenton. For journalists who love feet-on-the-ground local reporting, New Jersey can be a great place to work.
Local Newspapers and Guides:
- The Record
- The Star-Ledger
- Asbury Park Press
- Times of Trenton
- Jersey City Independent
- New Jersey Herald
- PatersonPress.com
Journalism Associations
- Society of Professional Journalists – New Jersey Chapter
- Garden State Journalists Association
- New Jersey Collegiate Press Association
- New Jersey Press Association
- New Jersey Hyperlocal News Association
TV and Radio Broadcasting
Commercial radio has long been an important part of keeping New Jersey residents interconnected; the slogan for popular station New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW) is “Not New York. Not Philadelphia. Proud to be New Jersey!” The state also has its own public television station, New Jersey TV, and a network of public radio stations in the northern part of the state.
Resources and Professional Associations for TV and Radio Broadcasting
- New Jersey Broadcasters Association
- New Jersey Public Radio
- New Jersey TV
- New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission
Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
New Jersey’s thriving retail, financial, health, and education sectors have left the advertising and public relations industries particularly healthy. The state’s employment department projects a 15% growth in Public Relations Specialist jobs between 2008 and 2018.
Professional Associations for Advertising and Public Relations
- The New Jersey Advertising Club
- New Jersey Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association
- Public Relations Society of America – New Jersey
- The Association for Women in Communications, New Jersey Chapter
Book Publishers
New Jersey is best known for its educational publishers, which include Wiley, one of the most high-profile informational publishers in America. Pearson Education, another highly successful educational publisher, is headquartered in Upper Saddle River.
Publishing Companies:
- Wiley
- Behrman House
- Pearson Education
- Prentice-Hall
- Plexus Publishing
- Transaction Publishers
- Down the Shore Publishing
Book Publishing Association