This semester I am in a Business Reporting class. It is still a journalism course and therefore a liberal arts course at here at Rider, but it has taught me the value of the classes taught in the business building, particularly for those of us studying Journalism, Public Relations or another business-related field. A few of those benefits are listed below.
Learning the Language
The business world, in particular the world of the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, etc is inundated with jargon. Business has its own language. Understanding this new vocabulary can help in the job of a writer, journalist or public relations practitioner to explain it to the general public.
For example, in said the business reporting class we were treated to a night of translations, a lecture for the sole purpose of demystifying the keywords found in the finance section of a newspaper. I learned that a “junk bond, a term used frequently in the economic downturn, means a “bond with a high risk and a high reward”. Translation: An investment where the loss of money is likely, but if not a lot more money can be made.
It Makes News More Relevant
Stories about business are always in the news. The financial sector is a huge portion of the world’s business so the content knowledge necessary to understand the business section of the news online or CNN is only a benefit.
Business is Dynamic
If the idea of working in a field where there is so much change may be a horror to some, but to others it sounds like a dream job. Several factors affect business from government regulation to a company’s traditional practices to new technologies. Does a field that changes so much sound appealing?
Not for Everyone
If by the end of this piece, eyes are rolling, just remember that the rat race is not for everyone. If everyone knew how to file their own taxes, there would be thousands of unemployed accountants. However, if schedules and electives allow, to take a business course is not a bad idea.