Why study Journalism and Mass Communication

Growing up, many of you may have aspired to become Arnab Goswami fearlessly bombarding Ministers with questions that made them squirm or a Barkha Dutt springing into action with her microphone in hand, be it in Kashmir in a terror-hit situation or a cyclone-ravaged Odisha. Yes, the world of media is both exciting and challenging. And with technology revolutionising the way we consume mediawhether by sifting through the morning newspaper or watching the evening television news or on the smartphone, on Twitter or other appsthe field of journalism has opened up a plethora of career opportunities

Needless to say, journalism has emerged as an extremely popular career option amongst millennials and GenZ such as you. And the common route to enter this field is often through a degree of journalism and mass communication (J&MC). This qualification not just enhances your chances of getting a ticket to the newsroom but can also be useful for other fields such as communications, marketing, education and entertainment.

What Does This Degree Equip you With?

• The degree will, first of all, develop your communication skills.
• It will help you learn the nuances of reporting, researching and investigating and writing good copy.
• It will also provide you with technical skills like layout designing, web designing, photography, radio programming and production, video production, packaging and editing and the likes.
• For those who have dreams of being an anchor on television or a jockey on radio, this course may be the perfect option. It will help you overcome shyness and develop your oratorical and communication skills.
• Industry connect through internships and short-term training sessions, a mandatory component of the course, will help in honing your skills and make you industry-ready.
• It also trains you to work under pressure and have a flexible and creative approach towards work.
• The course also teaches you the importance of teamwork.

Advantage of Studying Journalism and Mass Communication

While studying this course, there are certain skills that you will gain. These skills will help you succeed in the field and tread on the path of a successful career.

Here are the top skills that you will gain:

• Good writing skills
• Communication skills and a knack for storytelling
• Creativity and Thinking Out of the Box
• Research ability and Critical Analysis
• Flexible approach to work
• Inter-personal and Networking skills
• Commitment to work against deadlines

What You Can do With a Journalist Degree:-

Students passing out from the J&MC course have opportunities galore not just in the news media industry but in various other sectors as well. These opportunities may typically be in found such organisations/fields as

• Newspapers and magazinesboth print and online (for jobs like editing, reporting, photography, content curation, web designing, graphic designing etc)
• Radio AM and FM stations (for jockeying, production and programming)
• TV channels (reporting, editing, production, programming, guest relations, camerapersons, software and graphics etc)
• Digital media companies for Content Curationin all formats
• Advertising agencies
• Corporates (in their Communications and Marketing divisions)
• Government Media Departments
• PR agencies
• Event Management Companies
• Media Research Companies
• Legal Firms (for their documentation and research work)
• NGOs (for their communications and documentation roles)
• Think tanks (as journalists cover politics, economy, foreign affairs, many a time they get hired by such organisations for their in-depth knowledge in these fields)
• Lecturers/Professors of Media Studies
• Media advisers to Governments/Political parties
• Travel Journalism
• Freelance opportunities

As one can see, there is a huge diversity in the bouquet of opportunities that is available for a J& MC student. That is the reason why there is a growing demand for this course. Many government-owned and private Universities are offering it both at the degree and post-graduate levels. Stand-alone media, institutes mushrooming across the country and media schools set up by several television channels too have found takers for the diploma or certificate programmes that they offer.

Written By:- Ms. Mitali Mohanty, Faculty/Placements Coordinator Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, FMEH,MRIIRS