The recent years have seen renewed interest in journalism worldwide. Over the past two decades, India’s media sector has witnessed profound and transformative change reflected in the expansion of both outlets and audiences. In 2017, the country had over 100 news channels that catered 161 million TV households, about 94,067 newspapers, as well as over 200 million Internet users.

 

The Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry is a sunrise sector for the economy and is making high growth strides. Proving its resilience to the world, the Indian M&E industry is on the cusp of a strong phase of growth, backed by rising consumer demand and improving advertising revenues. The industry has been largely driven by increasing digitization and higher internet usage over the last decade. The Internet has almost become a mainstream media for entertainment for most people.

 

The Indian advertising industry is projected to be the second fastest growing advertising market in Asia after China. At present, advertising revenue accounts for around 0.38% of India’s gross domestic product. Given this current industry scenario, it’s worthwhile to look at journalism as a career option.

 

 

What is Journalism?

 

Journalism is all about collecting information and disseminating the facts and figures to the public via print, television, and the Internet. Journalists present the news in a manner that is useful, informative and thought-provoking. The common role of a journalist is to inform, interpret, report, and educate the masses with relevant facts and information about the happenings in the society and the world.

 

There are various verticals within journalism – politics, entertainment, business, investigation, science, culture, and sports, among others. Then there are many facets of journalism – newspaper, news agency, magazine, government information services, column, feature, review writing, and online blogging & reporting.

 

Although journalism is really a good field, it requires more of practical groundwork rather than merely a theoretical study. A degree in journalism and mass communication enables the students to learn about the nitty-gritty of the field from industry experts, which provides a massive boost to their personality and augment their interpersonal skills.

 

Journalism is an excellent career path in India. It involves critical thinking, solid communication skills, and creativity. But, like any other professions in India, the field is very competitive. A career in journalism in India requires planning and passion but importantly patience. Now, we will look at mass communication and journalism careers in details.

 

Mass Communication and Journalism Careers

Career Scopes, Jobs, Top Colleges in India, Skills, Salaries, Masters & Ph.D. Studies Abroad

 

Co-authored By Parinita Gupta

 

 

Mass Communication and Journalism Career Scopes

 

There is an unpredictable growth in Mass Communications i.e. Media and Journalism stream. Due to the advancement in the technology people prefer to keep themselves updated with every small issue trending around. With the increase of broadcasting channels like television sets, radio stations, social media, news channels, had brought a targeted audience together and opened immense opportunities and options to the aspirants who are really good in public speaking, writing, and reporting. A degree in Mass Communications opens many opportunities for the people who want to make their career in Journalism, Advertisement, communications, Radio, Television and many more.

 

Mass communication is a study of spreading the information to a larger group of audience at the local, national and international level through various means of communication channels while Journalism is more about informing people about something which is meaningful and can emphasize more on sharing factual information. Mass Communication has a broader approach to sharing the information, through radio, graphics, films, television, online media, documentary, events, advertising, corporate communications etc.

 

Both Journalism and Mass communications are quite interchangeably similar fields but are slightly different in principle. Mass communication’s main motto is to convey the relevant and appropriate information to the larger masses while Journalism’s aim is to share the information about one particular issue to a larger group of audience. Both the streams have their utmost importance and opportunities in the real world.

 

Popular Job Roles in Mass Communication and Journalism

 

Reporter/ Journalist – A Reporter or a Journalist is a person who reports the news to the audience with utmost speed accuracy and clarity. A reporter is required for both print and digital media.

 

Correspondent/Special Reporter: A correspondent’s role is quite similar to that of a reporter but Correspondent or special reporter reports only special editions or the special bulletins in the newspaper, magazine, and news channels.

 

Content Writer- Content writers have separate and special demand in this industry. Both Print and digital media hire many content writers for their daily activities. There are many prospects for a content writer like Feature writer, Leader Writer, Proof Reader, Columnist etc. An editor is a key head who take cares of all the ongoing activities of the source.

 

Fashion Photographer- A professional photographer is hired to take the photographs for news – stories for the upcoming editions.

 

Other Backend roles include-

 

• Producer
• Sub Editor and Senior Editor
• Designer
• Scriptwriter
• Art Director
• Radio Jockey (RJ)
• Event Manager
• Sound Mixer
• Public Relations (PR) Specialist

 

Required Education and Qualifications

 

To become a journalist or make a career in Media, Aspirant should prefer opting a Bachelor’s course i.e BA in journalism and mass communications. This course is recognized in the market which will take you and land up in entry-level positions in the industry. Opting for BA in Journalism and Mass communication is quite helpful for the students who really want to grow in this field as this course will teach the students regarding each and every topic like

 

• Mass Communication
• Journalism
• Investigative journalism
• Advertisement
• Laws relating to media
• Writing skills
• Communication skills etc. are essential to perform day to day tasks.

 

There are many other specialized courses especially in some areas of journalism like sports, television, photo, press law etc. which are also considered becoming a qualified journalist.

 

Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism

 

Masters are Must if you really want to grow as a journalist. Masters can really help you to get into a good company and get hired for the best positions. It helps you to know, understand and help you to implement various techniques to excel in this field.

 

Top Mass Communication and Journalism Colleges in India

 

• Saraswati Music College
• AJK Mass Communication Research Centre
• Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre of Media Studies
• Department of Media Studies, Christ University, Bangalore
• Flame University
• National Institute for Media Studies (NIMS)
• National Institutes of advertising, New Delhi
• Amity School of Journalism & Communication
• Asian Academy of Film & Television
• Wigan & Leigh College, New Delhi
• Sardar Patel College of Communication & Management, New Delhi
• Times School of Journalism
• University of Delhi
• Academy 18 networks Ltd
• EMPI Institute of Advertising & Communication
• Indira Gandhi National Open University
• Kamla Nehru College, DU
• YMCA Centre for Mass Media
• South Delhi Polytechnic for Women
• Sir Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication
• The Advertising Academy
• International Institute Of Mass Media
• Institute of Mass Communication, Manipal
• Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication
• Asian College of Journalism
• Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication
• Xavier Institute of Communication (XIC)
• Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media

 

Required Skills:

 

• Excellent Writing Skills
• Confidence
• Enthusiasm
• Open to Traveling
• Interest in various general topics, religion, political and economic aspects of the world and the country
• Strong People skills
• Knowledge of various languages (Bilingual or multilingual) can be really helpful
• Good Presentation skills
• Basic Tech Skills and Analytics

 

Top companies in India which hire Mass Communication and Journalism Graduates

 

• Hindustan Times Group of Publication
• NDTV Network
• Zee TV Network
• Times of India Group
• Viacom

 

How to find Jobs and Internships in Mass Communications and Journalism

 

To get a job or to get placed in a better position in top Mass communication companies, one should have a proper plan and find out various ways to improve the skills and get enough knowledge about the industry.

 

• Joining in Internship – joining as an intern in Media Company will fetch a lot of practical experience. You can find these internship details in various job and internship portals like Internshala, Indeed, Monster, Placement India, Naukri.com, Timesjob.com, Fresherworld.com and many more.
• Can find jobs through direct recruitment process in various Media channels.
• Networking via offline and online platforms (e.g. LinkedIn)

 

Different Fields in Mass Communications and Journalism

 

• AIR – All India Radio
• Journals
• News Agencies
• Press Information Bureau
• Photography Companies
• TV Channels
• Radio Telecasting Companies
• Websites Periodicals and Magazines
• Newspapers
• Advertising Agencies
• Books and Novels
• Blogs
• Broadcasting Corporations

 

Media and Journalism Salaries

 

News and entertainment, both are such fields which do not have any kind of death but provides many opportunities for trained professionals. The pay scale in this field completely depends on the experience you have. For an entry-level position with 0 experience and excellent skills, the average salary will be of 2 Lakhs to 2.5 Lakhs per annum.

 

Salary differs from one job role to other job roles

 

For a Reporter, Average salary will start from 150,000 to 200,000 per annum and mid and senior level positions are between INR 800,000 to INR 1,500,000 per annum.

 

Editors, Content writers, Photographers will have different payscale which will be completely based on the skills and experience but the average will be in the range of 150,000 to 200,000 per annum.

 

 

Salaries in the US

 

According to BLS, the median annual wage for media and communication occupations was $56,340 in May 2017, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $37,690.

 

 

Related Posts:

 

Advertising and Public Relations (PR) Careers and Jobs in India

PR and Media Communications Jobs in India and Abroad

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a decrease of 8% for reporters and correspondents, leading to a moderate decline in employment for 2014-2024. Since many media outlets have transitioned to online publication, competition for jobs is high, with many jobs going to those who have new media skills.

 

Higher Studies (MA, M.Phil. and Ph.D.) Abroad

 

Media and journalism is a great area for pursuing higher studies abroad. The field has got great scopes all over the world. In fact, countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK has also got niche areas within the skills shortage categories. However, the overall sector is pretty competitive. Having a Masters or Ph.D. degree from a top university abroad will help to get an edge in the global job market and when you return to India after Masters or PhD.

 

 

To understand more why a PhD in Journalism is a good idea in today’s digital age, read this article on Journalistic Roles and Everyday Life. Now, we will move on to the top universities for Masters and PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism. We have segregated the list by geography, so it’s easy for you to refer to for further research.

 

Top Foreign Universities for Masters in Media, Mass Communication and Journalism

 

USA: University of Southern California, Stanford University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Michigan State University, NYU, UT Austin.

 

Europe: University of Amsterdam, London School of Economics, University of Zurich, Cardiff Univesity, Aarhus University, University of Helsinki, University of Navarra, University of Westminster.

 

Asia-Pacific: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Queensland University of Technology, University of Tokyo, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, City University of Hong Kong, University of Sydney.

 

Top Foreign Universities for M.Phil. and PhD in Media, Mass Communication and Journalism

 

Australia

 

• RMIT
• University of Melbourne
• Monash University

 

Canada

 

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• York University
• McMaster University
• University of Alberta
• Simon Fraser University
• Ryerson University

 

Ireland

 

• University of Limerick
• Trinity College Dublin
• Maynooth University
• Film School – National University of Ireland Galway

 

New Zealand

 

• University of Auckland
• University of Otago

 

Singapore

 

• National University of Singapore
• Nanyang Technological University

 

United Kingdom (UK)

 

• Goldsmiths University of London
• University of Warwick
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Southampton
• Birkbeck University of London
• University College London
• King’s College London
• SOAS University of London

 

United States of America (USA)

 

• Harvard University
• University of Chicago
• New York University
• UC Berkeley
• UC Irvine
• UC Los Angeles
• University of Pittsburgh
• Northwestern University

 

How to get an admission for a PhD Abroad

 

Ideally, you will need an excellent track record throughout your Bachelor and Master studies. It is also possible to get a fully funded PhD position in the US, Canada or Singapore if you have done a 4-year Undergraduate degree, provided you have got an outstanding academic record in your Bachelors along with strong co-curricular activities, and strong recommendations. Additionally, you will also need very good scores in GRE and TOEFL (or IELTS).

 

Reaching out to the Professors and Senior Researchers (Faculty Members)

 

One of the most effective ways of finding a PhD position abroad is sending open applications to the Professors or Asst. Professors directly.

 

Basically, you start with browsing through the research profiles of professors and shortlist the ones you find interesting to work with.

 

Then you send the Professor short email containing your brief profile and research interest along with your CV as an attachment.

 

In this case, it will be critical to shortlist only those faculty members who are working in the area where you already have some idea and you are really passionate about. There is no point of contacting a Professor working in Sociology or Literature when your area of interest is visual arts or film studies.

 

This approach could be very effective if you work strategically. There is no point of sending the same CV and email to 10-20 professors in a single day.

 

The idea is that you should try to stimulate the Professors with your ideas. A mere expression of interest in doing a PhD is not going to take you a long way. After all, PhD is all about working on your own (and new) ideas under the supervision of an expert in the field.

 

Being clear about what you want and impressing the Professor with a concise and nice CV will help you to get 1-2 replies after sending 10 emails. It is all about contacting the right person at the right time. So, you will need a good strategy.

 

Do you still need personalized guidance and application tips?

 

Sign up for a 1:1 counselling session.

 

 

Future for Journalism Careers: The e-paper

 

The online market is in Boom these days. According to the latest statistics, there will be more than 50% of growth in online market i.e through e-paper. Journalists have to adopt new techniques of online market and create their own e- presence by publishing the news on websites and posting them in various social media platforms. Social Media and web content will surely take over other means of communication as it attracts various masses irrespective to the location and within minimal costs. Learn more about online journalism as a career.

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.