To determine the impact of college and professional experiences on journalists, interviews were conducted with graduating journalism majors at three universities in the springs of 1980 through 1982. Follow-up questionnaires were mailed in the summer following graduation. In another phase of the project, questionnaires were given to 485 journalists working full-time for broadcast and print media and wire services. Findings showed that despite differences in curricula in the various sequences, sequence had no clear impact on professionalism. Internships led to lower levels of professionalism, while role playing experiences on the campus paper had no influence on professionalism. Academic minor, type of university, and social contacts similarily were unimportant in understanding level of professionalism. Students who came to journalism because it offered training in writing, because it was viewed as an exciting field, and because of its involvement in politics were more professional than those without these motives for journalism study. The data also showed that actual experience in the field of journalism could serve to decrease professionalism of the students once they left the university. Higher professionalism scores were associated with pride in one's field. (HOD)