As much as media studies has become popular in recent years amongst students, some academics and a lot of journalists continue to question its merits.

Of course the term ‘mickey mouse subject’ has become all too patronisingly familiar to those studying for media-orientated degrees, but is it a fair reflection on course content? Are they ‘serious’ enough and are they ‘worthwhile’ (whatever that is supposed to be)?

Media studies is one of the newest victims of courses met with derision stretching back as far as the 1800s. When University College London introduced English Literature, it was treated with the same contempt as Sociology in the 70s and 80s and media studies today.

Of course nowadays, English Literature is rightfully treated with the respect it deserves, viewed as rigorous, challenging and most importantly academic. So it would seem, with age, gravitas is earned by a subject.

Figuratively speaking, media studies is the pimply youth behind the checkout at ASDA, whilst historic subjects such as philosophy are the wizened and respected barristers, consultants and professors.

But whilst the study of the media may be a relatively new discipline, it is important to remember that the media itself is also relatively new. Given the increasing impact the media has on us both individually and as a society, surely it is worth study. In fact more than that surely it should be inspected and deconstructed. One UWIC student said ‘they don’t always carry the status they deserve and can be perceived as a waste of time, which is unfair when you consider the huge influence the media has on society’.

Perhaps the strangest thing about the criticisms is the fact that it comes from the media itself. The media seems to say of itself that it is not worth study. You may famously remember that the media claimed that David Beckham studies was now a degree option, but on closer inspection it in fact turned out to be a module studying the social importance of football for students of sociology, sports science and media studies.

Journalists may be all too aware that media students are examining what they are writing, and they probably don’t like it. With potential consumers being trained to spot lies, rhetoric and spin it may reduce the amount of readers, and ultimately the amount of profit a newspaper or magazine is able to turnover. So rather than encouraging journalists to step up their game, better to belittle those that question and study them and claim their degree is worthless.

One problem that media studies graduates do face, however, is the fact that there are far more media graduates than there are positions available in the industry. This has led to some panic as to the usefulness of the degree, with one report claiming that skilled workers from abroad were being brought in to the UK to fill the gap left by ‘British youngsters’ preference for ‘Mickey Mouse subjects’. Chris Woodhead, England’s Chief Schools Inspector also harshly claimed in 2000 that media studies is a “one way ticket to the dole queue”. Professor Drummond Bone from Universities UK disagrees however, arguing that “if our graduates are to take their place in the global economy, it is right that there should be a range of courses on offer to ensure a workforce with diverse, and some cases, very specific skills”. Surprisingly, even eccentric Tory boy and student favourite Boris Johnson has defended media studies, calling it an “excellent preparation for the real thing”.

The question is however, how many media studies graduates actually want a career in the media and how many simply study it because they are interested in it. Does everybody who studies politics want to be a politician, everybody who studies psychology want to be a psychologist? Why assume that those who study the media want to end up within it? Graduates of media go on to all kinds of sectors including advertising, sales, teaching, law, civil service, PR, the list is endless. If there are more graduates than jobs then the graduates will have to work harder, creating a job market where hard work is rewarded and the standard of work increased. Surely that is a good thing?

So should media studies be scrapped? Is it a pointless degree with little, to no job prospects? Of course not. Media studies will, given time, be rewarded with the same respect as older subjects have warranted. In fact as the media becomes more and more influential, the study of it can only go from strength to strength. Hopefully, the media itself will soon latch on to the benefits of the study of media and stop the derision. On the other hand, having to defend the decision to study the media can only be good preparation for an industry in which thick-skinned determinism is rewarded.