Mass Communication and Journalism: Eligibility, and Career Opportunities

14 Sep 2020

Taking a call on what stream to join after 12th Boards may be a tough one for many students. There are a plethora of opportunities available and each as attractive as the other. Mass Communication and Journalism are one of the most sought after courses nowadays. As we are all aware, Mass Communication is an all-encompassing field, comprising not only just Journalism but also Advertising, Public Relations and Event Management. The job opportunities, therefore, are of various nature and genre, demanding different types of aptitude and training.

With around 900 television channels, 820 radio FM channels (both private and Prasar Bharati owned) and over 17,500 newspapers today, apart from a huge number of online platforms and OTT channels, the media scene in India is booming today. The top television anchors and reporters, the radio jockeys and the ad filmmakers almost have a celebrity status and their own fan following. The respect that the media world commands and the glamour associated with it-- have attracted many young people to join the field.

Who can join Mass Communication and Journalism Course?

The best part of a course in Mass Communication and Journalism field is that it is open to students from all streams. Those, especially with a creative bent of mind, a flair for writing, good grip over language and communication skills, apart from willingness to slog it out, should venture to take up these courses.

Also Read:- Why study Journalism and Mass Communication

Skill-set required for A Mass Communication Career

For all these job profiles, especially in the news segment, the two basic requirements are good communication skills and creativity. Apart from these, one must be open-minded, have an analytical mind and base their stories on evidence and facts. He or she must not react emotionally or take sidesbe fair, balanced and have integrity. The students must also have a lot of patience and be persistent. Some stories can be pretty time-consuming and demand extensive research. Therefore, those keen on trying his/her hand at journalism, must also have a research bent of mind and be always ready to dig. Also, as content is the mainstay in journalism, one must be creative and devise ways to make one's product look attractive with innovative design and enriched content.

Even for those aiming to go for content development, all these traits will hold them in good stead. They need to have keep their ears to the ground and
Both in the news and non-news segments, one needs to be well-networked, cultivate sources and aggressively promote one's products on social media. If stories go trending on social media, that indeed is a thumbs up for the reporters/writers.

Mass Communication and Journalism Courses

In view of the growing demand for Mass Communication courses, there has been a spurt in the number of dedicated Mass Communication colleges and departments within the colleges and universities all over the country to cater to these aspirants. These institutions provide hands-on training to the students in the various aspects of the fields.

The students can take a call about their choice of specializationsbe it journalism (and in which medium), advertising, public relations/corporate communication, documentary and film making, media management and the like, during or after their graduation course.

List of Journalism Courses

B.A.- Journalism and Mass Communication
B.A. (Hons.) in Journalism
B.A. in Convergent Journalism
B.Sc. in Journalism
Bachelor of Journalism
M.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication
PG Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations

Specializations in Mass Communication and Journalism

After a graduation course in Journalism and Mass Commission, if one wants to go for specializations, there are ample opportunities available. A student can choose a specialization in PG after graduation.