Journalism refers to the process of collecting, analysing, formulating, and presenting various types of information and news stories. Journalism is an expansive field and includes reporting in magazines, newspapers, radio, T.V., and other digital media. This field can be divided into three broad categories like print (newspapers and magazines), electronic (T.V. and radio) and online journalism.
On the other hand, Mass Communication is the activity of spreading information to a large number of audiences through a variety of communication channels. Mass Communication involves the process of passing on or transmitting a message to everybody through media like radio, papers, magazines, TV, web, etc.
In India, Journalism and Mass Communication education is offered at various levels for students. There are public and private institutions to provide quality education in the field of journalism and mass communication which has a quite promising career for candidates. One of the main reasons behind choosing journalism as a career option is the wide range of opportunities related to media.
Candidates interested in this field can opt for a Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication degree which has various specializations. After 12th, students who are determined to be successful in the field of journalism should have a clear knowledge of different variants and specializations of Journalism and Mass Communication. So, here are a few specializations of 3-year BA Journalism and Mass Communication degree which open doors for students towards a promising career.
Besides BA in Journalism & Mass Communication, a career in media science can take one in several directions as it has many different facets. The programme includes the study of journalism and mass communication, advertising, public relations, media management, and marketing communication, each of which has its respective scope and opportunity for students. Apart from this, candidates from the Science stream can opt for BSc in Journalism and Mass Communication which is also a 3-year degree.
There is also an opportunity for students to pursue a Diploma Course in Journalism and Mass communication which provides the necessary skills and knowledge. Since this is such a wide field and the diploma program is shorter than a degree program, students generally specialize in a particular subject among social media, online communication, marketing and a few more. Important specialisations in journalism and mass communication include the following-
Students who want to learn and upgrade their practical skills in Journalism, Communication and related fields within a short time should opt for certificate courses. Popular certificate courses in media and communication studies include the following-
In India, there are lots of Journalism and Mass Communication institutions that provide full-time, part-time, distance-learning and online programmes. These institutions offer various degree programmes. But choosing a good college can be a tough decision for students after 12th. Some of the eminent public institutions providing Journalism and Mass Communication degrees are the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, and Lady Shri Ram College. In addition to this, there are lots of private colleges which provide quality education in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication. A few of those private institutions are Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune; Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal; Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai; Amity University, Gautam Budh Nagar.
Every year, the National Institutional Ranking Framework under the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, the Government of India publishes a ranking of all the colleges all over India. Colleges included in the NIRF India rankings offer a comprehensive conception of the different facets of the institute. Some of the top NIRF-ranked journalism and mass communication colleges in India are as follows-
Here are some of the basic eligibility criteria needed for admission. But it varies according to the selected specialization as well as the institution.
In India, there are several institutions which provide admission based on merit. But some of the colleges conduct entrance examinations for admission. After cracking the entrance examination, selected candidates have to clear the personal interview round. Some of the popular entrance examinations in India are JMI Entrance Exam, IIMC Entrance Exam, DUET Entrance Exam and a few more.
Candidates should have secured 50% marks in 10+2 examinations from any recognized board. However, the eligibility criteria for Diploma and Certificate courses vary according to the institutions as well as specializations.
The admission procedure for admission in a diploma or a certificate course differs from institution to institution. Some institutes arrange entrance examinations to provide admissions and other colleges offer a direct admission process or a merit-based admission process.
The annual fees in science colleges may vary depending on various factors like specialized courses and infrastructure provided by particular institutions. Approximately, the annual fees for undergraduate Journalism degree range anywhere in India from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 5 lakh.
To be successful in the fields of Journalism and Mass Communication, students must have acquired some essential skills. Some important abilities and skills candidates must possess to pursue journalism and mass communication courses are as follows-
Being one of the most prominent career fields in the 21st century, Journalism and Mass Communication provide several job opportunities after completing this course. The average salary of professionals ranges from 2 lakh to 10 lakh annually. Career prospects and scopes in the Journalism and Mass Communication field contain several interesting and lucrative job roles such as-