Communication & Media Studies

Your career will likely begin at a keyboard. As an entry-level writer or editorial assistant, you’ll spend your days researching, conducting interviews over the phone or video, and drafting articles in Google Docs or a company’s content management system (CMS). As a junior editor, you’ll live inside these documents, using track changes to polish copy, check facts, and ensure everything matches a specific style guide.

After building a portfolio, you can advance to a staff writer or full editor, taking on more complex projects with greater autonomy. This is where your earnings begin to climb significantly. Many experienced communicators go freelance or specialize in a lucrative niche like technical writing or content strategy, with some eventually managing entire editorial teams or becoming postsecondary teachers, mentoring the next generation in classrooms and online labs.

AI tools are increasingly used for first drafts and basic editing, which is changing the workflow. However, this automates the groundwork, freeing you up for the tasks that require a human touch: building rapport with an interview subject, finding a unique angle for a story, and making nuanced strategic decisions. The most in-demand professionals are adapting, using AI as a powerful assistant to focus on creative and critical thinking.