Journalism at Texas Southern University

While the earnings figures might seem discouraging, they reflect the tough reality of breaking into a competitive media landscape, especially from a program focused on access. The Houston market is large, but dominated by established players, and entry-level roles at smaller local outlets, community newspapers, or non-profits often come with modest starting salaries. Your TSU degree will equip you with foundational skills, but it won't automatically open doors at major networks or corporations. The path for many graduates involves "paying your dues" in less glamorous, lower-paying roles to build a portfolio. Therefore, your success hinges on hustle. Your most critical task is to aggressively pursue internships throughout your time in Houston—at local TV stations, the Houston Chronicle, or even in corporate communications—to build the professional network and real-world clips that employers demand straight out of college.