Do your family members, relatives and friends often get pissed off, sick and tired of your nature of asking too many questions, on anything and everything? If yes, then you can turn this often annoying quality into a positive attribute -by raising the right question at the right moment. Journalism would be the profession to do this.

 

If you hate to do same thing over and over again, journalism would give you the opportunity to meet up with new people, interact with them, come across and be part of new events and developments.

 

Also if you love being matter of dactyl and at times love to put across your arguments and opinions then you would certainly like situations where a large number of people would form their opinions on the basis of your observations and opinions. Journalism as a career would give you that opportunity!!

 

The journey in journalism is a never-ending route where you learn a lesson or two, everyday. However, in addition to a lot of excitement, inspiration and a “full-of-life” feeling, the career also involves a lot of grueling hard work, working late and under pressure, deadline pressures, validation and authenticity of information, and team work.

 

Educational Qualification

One can do a bachelor degree in journalism. Eligibility for enrolment is 10+2 a recognised board. To get admission to a post graduate program, a bachelor degree in journalism or other subjects is required. Certificate courses in journalism and Diplomas in Journalism & Mass Communication are also available in some institutions and where eligibility for enrolment is also 10+2 from a recognised board.

 

Specialisations can be done in sports, television, photo, press law etc. Courses will prepare students in the technical aspects. In order to be a good professional one must be diplomatic, confident and have a sense for news in addition to an ability to produce news reports and articles in correct, succinct and interesting manner. Ability to arrange thoughts and articulate those written and oral forms along with sorting out apposite facts from the unrelated ones is also very critical to journalists.

 

Colleges to study Journalism in India

Saraswati Music College

Indian Institute Of Journalism And New Media, Bangalore

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

International Institute Of Mass Media

Institute of Mass Communication, Manipal

Jamia Millia Islamia University

National Institute for Media Studies (NIMS)

National Institutes of advertising, New Delhi

NiA Campus

Amity School of Journalism & Communication

Asian Academy of Film & Television

AJK Mass Communication Research Centre

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

Sir Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication

Symbiosis Institute Of Media And Communication, Pune

Christ College, Bangalore

School Of Communication, Manipal

Delhi College Of Arts And Commerce

Indraprastha College For Women, New Delhi

Kishinchand Chellaram College

Madras Christian College

 

Job roles

Journalism can be broadly segregated into Print and Electronic media. Print media jobs are in newspapers, journals, magazines, digests and news agencies, while electronic media offers jobs in television, radio and now the digital world. However, the online media has now emerged as a very powerful form of journalism as well.

 

Jobs print media

Reporter

Feature Writer

Leader Writer

Proof Reader

Editor

Columnist

Critic

Photo Journalist

Cartoonist

 

Jobs in electronic media

Researchers

Broadcast Reporters

Presenters

 

Jobs in web media

The internet has emerged as a popular and dominating medium for today’s readers. Providing trending news content constantly at no cost is its biggest advantage. In digital journalism one has to make the content intelligent and interesting and be careful to make arresting captions. Also, editing and presentation of the news extremely critical in the digital media world as there are innumerable platforms and readers can easily switch from one to another. Web content or web journalism is the buzz word now and this has created new job roles like content developer, web designers, editors and consultants for media websites.

 

Make a writer’s profile

Writing positions often demand previously written work. So start writing blogs, guest articles as early as possible to get an added advantage. A good profile with lists of published artices will definitely be of great boost.

For starters, today there are free platforms, dedicated to aspiring writers keen to build their online presence and showcase their writing acumen while getting a hang of SEO writing.

 

Salary

For beginners who are taken on board as trainee the salary can be in the range of 8000 to 10000 rupees per month. However, the growth potential in journalism is tremendous. Once you are promoted to as a reporter, the package will go up to 12000 -18000 rupees per month. Senior journalists and editors draw handsome salaries in the range of Rs.60,000-Rs.90,000 in addition to perks like travelling allowances.

 

Final words

So if you are some kind of a cross between the curious cat and the importunate enquirer, and coupled with this is your indomitable instinct of asking questions, often uncomfortable – go ahead and make your career in journalism. If investigating truth is what drives you and scribbling down the thoughts is what calms you down- journalism will be the right career path for you, helping you satiate the quest for truth and the creative energy of a wordsmith.

 

With the digital connect, the opportunity to know, verify and write stories, has become delightfully convenient. Stories from the high streets to the forbidden allies are clamouring to be told, written, or captured. Be there at the scene and deliver!!