Public Relations vs Journalism Degree: How to Choose
A public relations degree prepares graduates to represent an organization's interests to the public and the press, while a journalism degree trains reporters to gather and verify information independent of any one organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median wage of $74,750 for public relations specialists and $62,200 for news analysts, reporters and journalists, and projects 2% growth for PR against a 6% decline for reporting through 2035.
What is the difference between a PR degree and a journalism degree?
A public relations degree teaches students to advocate for an organization with honesty, while a journalism degree teaches students to report and verify information independent of the organizations they cover. The two programs share writing, research and deadline skills but rest on different ethics codes.
The Society of Professional Journalists' code names four principles: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable and transparent. The Public Relations Society of America's code lists six values: advocacy, honesty, expertise, independence, loyalty and fairness. Advocacy appears in the PRSA values but not among SPJ's four principles, and the SPJ code asks journalists to label advocacy and commentary.
Seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, be accountable and transparent
BLS median wage, May 2025
$74,750
$62,200
BLS projected change, 2025 to 2035
2% growth
6% decline
BLS jobs in 2025
About 314,500
About 47,100
BLS yearly openings
About 23,000
About 3,400
Which pays more, public relations or journalism?
Public relations pays more at the national median: the BLS reported $74,750 for public relations specialists and $62,200 for news analysts, reporters and journalists in May 2025, a gap of $12,550. Reporter pay varies by medium. The BLS median was $64,150 at television stations, $50,290 at radio stations and $49,220 at newspaper publishers.
A national median blends many markets and employers, so a reader comparing specific jobs should check pay for the city and employer type. Everything-PR's PR salary map breaks PR pay down further.
Which field has better job prospects?
Public relations has the stronger outlook: the BLS projects employment of public relations specialists to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3% average for all occupations, while it projects employment of news analysts, reporters and journalists to fall 6%. The BLS counted about 314,500 public relations specialists and about 47,100 news analysts, reporters and journalists in 2025.
Both fields still hire. The BLS projects about 23,000 yearly openings for public relations specialists and about 3,400 for reporters, nearly all from workers who transfer to other occupations or retire.
A journalism graduate can work in public relations, because the BLS accepts a bachelor's degree in public relations or another communications field, social science or business, and notes that internships at PR firms or in company PR departments can help. Several journalism schools run a PR track inside the same college, including the Missouri School of Journalism, Oklahoma's Gaylord College and Syracuse's Newhouse School.
It depends on the work you want. Public relations has the higher national median wage ($74,750 against $62,200 in May 2025) and the stronger projected growth (2% against a 6% decline for 2025 to 2035), according to the BLS. Journalism suits students who want to report independent of any one organization.
Do you need a PR degree to work in PR?
No. The BLS says public relations specialists need a bachelor's degree in public relations or another communications field, social science or business. Internships at PR firms or company PR departments can help a candidate get hired.
Is journalism a shrinking career?
The BLS projects employment of news analysts, reporters and journalists to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035. It counted about 47,100 jobs in 2025 and reported a median wage of $62,200 in May 2025.
What ethics codes govern PR and journalism?
Journalists follow the Society of Professional Journalists' code, built on four principles. Public relations professionals follow the Public Relations Society of America's code, built on six values that include advocacy and honesty. Related on Everything-PR: Best Journalism Schools in 2026 · Best PR and Communications Schools in 2026 · Best Public Relations Degrees · Best Journalism Graduate Programs · Missouri School of Journalism
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
