Do we train too many journalists?

Do we train too many journalists?
Yes, if we expect them all to get jobs as journalists. No, if we think a communications degree might be something more/other than vocational training for a job as a journalist.
 There's a story in The Oz today by Nic Christensen that explores whether journalism schools churn out too many graduates, as less than one in three get jobs as journalists.
 I'm surprised it's actually that many, and even more surprised that others might expect a higher strike rate.
Whenever I talk to comms students (as a tutor, guest speaker and work experience supervisor) I try to scare them off, or at least strongly suggest that they do a double degree. If they insist on straight comms, I tell them to multiskill like there is no tomorrow (because there is no tomorrow for the journalist as writer alone). How quaint that we used to think it right that others took pictures and video and audio, and others again put it all together. And I tell them to be prepared to go anywhere and do anything. And to get writing. Show me what they can do.
And the stars among them do get jobs. But I suspect they would have anyway, without their comms degrees, if such a thing were allowed. (Although  we are seeing a bit of a rethink there, a return to the bad old days when journalists were chosen from the ranks of the non-tertiary educated. Social media nous is the new sought-after skill.)
That's not to say that a comms degree isn't worth the paper it's written on, or that journalism educators are wasting their time. Some of the nicest people I know are journalism educators. Why, I used to be one myself.
They are up against it, and they do need to be honest with their students. I suspect many are.
But what are they to do in age of the university as corporation? Turn away paying customers?
I would hope that they, as I do, expect a comms degree might do more than provide vocational training as a journalist.  You can learn shorthand at TAFE. Studying comms is not like studying medicine, or teaching, where you learn the skills and (hopefully, almost always) get a job. Comms, like arts and law, asks its students to look beyond the doing to the thinking.
 I don't have a comms degree (even though I have taught in the degree) but I do have a law degree. Gained externally over eight years while working as a journalist and starting a family. I've never practised law. And I don't mind a bit.
What that degree taught me was how to think. How to reason. How to interpret behaviour, and meaning. How to see both sides. How to present both sides. What it means to insist on fairness and justice. How the world doesn't always deliver those things. What it means to have integrity.
Not unlike a comms degree.
Many comms students will end up working in PR, or advertising or other dark arts. I'm not talking about them.Or to them.
But those who want to be journalists need to be realistic, and as teachers and journalists we do them no favours by pretending otherwise. Multiskill. Pack your bags. Lower  your expectations and your standards. And have a back-up degree in your back pocket.