Higher Education and the Biz...

[Charlie Brown]

I've been thinking about eventually - maybe now, maybe five years from now - taking classes toward a MBA...largely because I don't believe one should ever stop learning and I think an MBA would serve me well in the long haul.

So a couple questions - would getting an MBA help or hurt me as I move up in the business? And if I decide to get one, which area of study should I focus in?

[Lazlo Toth]

I don't think it would hurt. It might help. Depends on your goals.

I did a night program at a local university 25 years ago toward an MBA. I didn't finish the program, but I've never regretted having the knowledge in things usch as accounting, finance, marketing and management.

If you want to be an ND and maybe a GM eventually, I'd say definitely get the MBA. It's become more and more a numbers business as opposed to a gut level biz and I think it would help you to have a background in things such as analyzing budget variances, figuring return on investment and knowing the difference between fixed and variable costs.

[Sir Dropham Pants]

MBA seems like a good move. But putting in the time and money to get a grad degree almost insures that you'll need to leave the tv biz at some point to make it a worthy investment. Having an MBA won't get you much, if any more pay as a regular newsroom grunt. It might make a difference in management, but I wouldn't count on that either.
What it really could do for you is broaden your horizon and give you a better understanding of how things in the business world work. It could certainly make you a better journalist. You just have to weigh the cost against the return.
Or you could go to law school and work at becoming a real legal reporter.

[Roy Hobbs]

"It sounds like those books...

http://media.canada.com/idl/sasp/20060517/188060-63560.jpg

...could lead to a real unhappy ending..."

HEYYYEEAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Mockingbird]

Get the MBA, get a real job.

The Mockingbird has spoken.

[Rosenblum]

Get the MBA. Don't even think about it. Go. now.

[The Mockingbird]

Well, it's official, the seventh seal has been opened.

Expect the wall of fire any minute.

[Fake Post]

Originally posted by Charlie Brown:


So a couple questions - would getting an MBA help or hurt me as I move up in the business? And if I decide to get one, which area of study should I focus in?Help...

Well, let's see...
MBA=Masters of Business Administration
I would think that BUSINESS would be a good field of study.

[Charlie Brown]

The reason I asked which specific field is because an MBA is what the degree is called...much like a doctorate is called a Ph.D, a master of science is called a M.S., and so on down the line.

I already have one master's degree - a master of arts - and I can guarantee you that when I was in graduate school, I didn't major in "arts".

[Gail sirens]

Focus on finance; good for trimming those unnecessary costs of running a station.

[AlterEgo]

You might consider management information systems, aka computers.

[Lazlo Toth]

I want to say one word to you. Just one word.

Plastic.

[The Mockingbird]

Someday I hope to Graduate to pithy movie quotes. graemlins/icon_kidra.gif

[Lazlo Toth]

Are you trying to seduce me?

[TVMattNYC]

I'm applying to business school myself. 19 years has been long enough in THIS biz.

[CuMuLo]

What kind of jobs are available to someone with MBAs? I would never want to be an accountant, but when I think of an MBA that's what I see...

Just wondering what kind of new horizons it would open for someone...

CuMuLo

[Roy Hobbs]

You can always become a security guard...they even provide flashlights and walkie-talkies!

http://www.wsihq.com/images/security_guard.gif

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by CuMuLo:
What kind of jobs are available to someone with MBAs? I would never want to be an accountant, but when I think of an MBA that's what I see...

Just wondering what kind of new horizons it would open for someone...

CuMuLoThere's an entire UNIVERSE of professions outside of broadcasting that even I'm ashamed to admit am just learning about:

-- Investment banking
-- Insurance
-- Operational Risk Management
-- Ratings
-- Trading
-- Management Consulting
-- HR
-- Government
-- Marketing
-- Advertising
-- Operations management
-- Nonprofit management
-- High-tech managaement
-- IT

And of course, MEDIA MANAGEMENT.

Does that give you a good enough start?

[Lazlo Toth]

Originally posted by Roy Hobbs:
You can always become a security guard...they even provide flashlights and walkie-talkies!

You throw in a nightstick and a taser, and you've got a deal.