Motivation and Expectations for Studying Journalism at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb

This paper explores students’ motivation to study journalism, the expectations that students had regarding the study, and the fulfillment of those expectations. The survey was conducted on a convenience sample of journalism students at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb (academic year 2010-2011), which included: 1st and 3rd year students of undergraduate study and 2nd year students of graduate study. Since the selected questions were open-ended, the obtained responses were widely dispersed, and were later classified into defined categories after the survey. The results show that the most common reason among students to study journalism is a wish to enroll in that specific study and the desire to work in the media. The expectations that students have mainly refer to good and adequate training. In their senior year of study (3rd year of undergraduate and 2nd year of graduate study), there are many disappointed students as a result of unfulfilled expectations (mainly because of the lack of practice and practical subjects).