Should I get a Masters from Mizzou or Harvard or Nebraska online to move up

[SURFCAV]

OK, I just retired from the military and have a few years experience at newspapers including my college one. I'm a Sports Editor at a small daily in West Texas now and love my job. Is a Master's from Missouri online or Harvard worth it to move up in the business, IE management or to protect me from future layoffs in the biz? I ALSO HAVE A PASSION FOR MILITARY HISTORY AND WAS THINKING ABOUT A MASTERS IN THAT. I have a year of my GI Bill left so the govt is pretty much paying for it. Any thoughts from newspaper execs? Hope this isn't a dumb question from a newbie just thinking bout my future. And working on a Masters online while doin football at night isn't a small task. ;D

 

[LongTimeListener]

No.

 

[SURFCAV]

LOng Time Listener, Can you elaborate on NO? Not much info in that. The Missouri Masters in Journalism and the Nebraska and harvard extension ones all say they are the best if you want to move up in journalism. Is higher ed really worthless? I don't want to teach journalism, I want to be the beat writer for a MLB or NFL team.

 

[LongTimeListener]

If those are your career goals, another degree is the absolute last thing you need. They won't mean anything to any hiring manager. Better to get your foot in the door writing somewhere (and realizing that the goal of being a beat writer is probably a long way off of that, measured in five-year increments at least).

 

[Captain Obvious]

An online master's degree won't help. If you really want a better job, you need to network. How can you network in an online program?

Another tip. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, but if you are seeking a master's, you will need to improve your writing skills based upon your posts here.

 

[SURFCAV]

Thanks for the sarcasm Capt Obvious. I just worked an 18 hour day at my paper and didn't think I would have a copy editor here. rest assured, I'm a heck of a writer of the last 10 years in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sports is a diversion from war and death And getting a Masters in journalism isn't my first choice. I'm a military man that has spent 8 out of the last 10 years deployed fighting as an Infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan. Being a sports writer is a passion but a pleasant diversion. If i didn't still have shrapnel in my back from my last mission I would probably go back as a war correspondent.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Use those preference points to get a high-paying federal job. Seriously. I've seen a few journalist positions with the Department of Defense in Hawaii and Germany in the past month.

I am not being sarcastic regarding online degrees. What is the placement history of those online programs? If you can't get a list without pulling teeth, it's an easy call.

 

[SURFCAV]

Thanks for the sarcasm once again. I don't know where you work and i don't disparage it.The only reason why I point out my military time is because I'm a little late on the power curve on getting good newspaper gigs. But, thanks to my experience, I do have one now. Don't hate, it doesn't become you. I won't be insulted by a random person on the internet who hasn't walked a day in my boots. CAPECE? I joined this site because a colleague with many years recommended it. I want good advice not insults. I don't throw any your way, don't throw any my way.

 

[DanOregon]

By "worth" it, will it pay for itself staying in journalism? Probably not. I realize it's a GI Bill thing, but better to get a masters in another area that will broaden your skill set, that would be useful to have in journalism, but could also be used to transition to another field if the need arises. But yeah, you should use your benefits for something, you've earned it (thanks for the service btw). Might want to talk to a career counselor at a local community college and see what they think, research the future job market forecasts.

 

[Captain Obvious]

You wanted advice, right? Use those preference points. Or try for an on-campus program. Do not enroll in an online program.

 

[SURFCAV]

OK thanks. But Mizzou has a great program from what I've read on their website. Harvard has an online program too that you can do online. If Ya'll think a Masters in Journalism is worthless then perhaps I will pursue my passion of military history. I can always get a job as a His Proff when I get burned out from newspapers i guess.

 

[DanOregon]

There are a lot of solid online colleges, and there are online colleges that are mainly interested in getting you into a federal loan and if you stick with the program or not, they don't care. Like anything, shop around. Talk to students who are in the program and have graduated. Know the time commitments etc.
http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2012/02/20/25-online-colleges/