“Journalism is the first rough draft of history.”
– Philip. L. Graham
Newsflash: The nation wants to know what a career in mass communication and journalism looks like!
The world of media is both challenging and exciting. From reading a newspaper in the morning while sipping a cup of coffee, to watching the news on TV with family, to scrolling through the news on a smartphone, to using Twitter or another social media app, the news and media are an integral part of everyone’s lives.
Are you someone who is inquisitive to ask questions and unravel the truth with power-packed facts about a situation? If you wish to get a golden ticket to the newsroom and create the content that is being read, watched, or scrolled to, consider a career in mass communication and journalism.
What kind of careers are there in journalism and mass communication?
Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph, and the signs of horror are still in the air. Journalism implies the process of collecting, assessing, collating, and presenting news and data. It involves diffusing an array of information to a large chunk of people through various channels of communication. Whether it’s watching the latest news on TV or checking out the cricket score of an IPL match, the media has made it possible to get all kinds of information with just a click. Mass communication jobs involve disseminating information to a wide audience. It is a process of collecting and dispensing news through print and electronic media. It comprises various fields of work like writing, editing, broadcasting, photography, investigation, and analysis to report local and global events.
Scope and career prospects in journalism and mass communication
With the growing avenues in mass communication, there is immense scope in the field of journalism and mass communication. As a professional in this field, you get to work with some of the best production houses, news channels, PR firms, radio channels, publication houses, and more. Whatever be your preferred style of communication, there is something for everyone in this field.
Television
The entertainment sector has a great demand for creative producers and directors. If storytelling is your forte, you can explore careers in the television industry and explore careers like television and film directors or producers. Other excellent career opportunities to explore in the media include scriptwriting, graphic design, 3D animation, video editing, and animation creation.
Digital marketing
Today, it’s all about digital marketing. From large business houses to governments and defense forces, digital marketing plays a vital role everywhere. A degree in journalism and mass communication can equip you with skills to flourish in the digital marketing industry. This career opens avenues for a set of diverse job specializations like SEM, content writing, SEO, social media marketing, web analytics, designing, inbound marketing, email marketing, and so on.
Journalism
Journalism is one of the most popular career options after mass communication. If you possess relevant skills and knowledge related to the field and can deliver true stories effectively, journalism can be a great career path for you. You can become a stalwart of truth and justice, and act as a connecting link between people and governments. As a journalist, you are a representative of people’s voice and get to address their issues at a national level. Journalists pursue true stories, uncover the truth and bring them out for the public to gauge.
Radio broadcasting
Being a radio jockey (RJ) is gaining massive popularity and offers a plethora of career opportunities. A course in journalism and mass communication can help hone skills like communication, creative thinking ability, storytelling, witty and sarcastic humour, dissemination of information through entertainment, and more. An RJ needs to be a confident orator, be spontaneous, and possess the ability to think on their feet. Enter the field of radio broadcasting to enjoy a thrilling and satisfying career.
Public relations
Doing public relations (PR) implies disseminating information about an individual, organization, or institution to the public. Skills like excellent communication, negotiation, and managerial and interpersonal skills are crucial for this job. PR professionals maintain a strong network with journalists and media houses to help organizations and individuals create an impactful presence.
Social media management
We live in a digital world where information is spread through social media. Users spend a great amount of time scrolling on social media platforms. A social media executive spreads ideas and initiates creative campaigns including ads, charitable events and video-sharing content. If you are super creative, can conceptualize campaigns, and turn them into high-selling propositions, this is the career for you.
Content creation
A multitude of channels employ media, businesses, organizations, or agencies to curate their content. Armed with a degree in journalism and mass communication, you can be an artist or sportswriter, cover business events, develop content for movie reviews or shows, and more. Content creators work independently as well as with agencies to curate effective content for marketing campaigns. They can also work as influencers and gain lucrative collaborations and deals from brands.
Advertising
Advertising as a career is ever-expanding with a growing need to excel amid competitors. Imagination and creativity are essential tools in this field to generate fresh ideas and add spice to your work creating audio-visual forms of communication that aim to promote or sell products.
Publishing
It is the act of spreading information, music, or literature in a published or print format in newspapers and magazines for the accessibility of the general public. Despite the all-pervasive spread of digital media, print media can never lose its charm. Publishing houses are always on the lookout for fresh talent as well as experienced professionals. This is a great career opportunity for those who enjoy the magic of the written word.
Event management
Event planners and managers are in high demand today, with an enhanced public interest in hosting private and professional get-togethers with expertise. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in event management firms. As an event management professional, you can work for an event management company or start your own enterprise. It is a high-paying industry with a flexible work environment and an eventful life.
Advantages of careers in journalism and mass communication
Career options after journalism and mass communication school can help create a successful career pathway. With the growing presence of media in our everyday life, there are increasingly more job opportunities after completing your mass communication education. With growing job opportunities in the field, you can look forward to name, fame, and money, and also fulfill your quest for wanderlust. Some other advantages of choosing a career in journalism are:
broaden your social network
- enjoy enhanced social prestige associated with many career options after mass communications
- travel and gain new experiences
- tickle your creative mind
- expand your network
How to pursue careers in journalism
There is no restriction on the choice of stream to pursue a career in journalism and mass communication. There are many short- and long-term diplomas, certificate courses, undergraduate degrees, and postgraduate degrees that are offered either online and offline.
Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication is the first step to enter this field. The admissions criteria involves both merits as well as entrance based examinations such as CAT, LPUNEST, UGC NET, etc. The fee structure for mass communication courses ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5,00,000, on average.
Courses in journalism and mass communication after grade 12
To be eligible for courses in journalism and mass communication after grade 12, students are required to clear grade 12 examinations with an aggregate score of 50%. The field of mass media and communication is a dynamic one that connects almost every aspect of human life like television, the internet, news, and fashion. Students can explore jobs in this career path in different fields like public relations, radio jockeying, reporting, journalism, and more.
Some courses that students can pursue in this field are:
- B. A. in journalism and mass communication
- Certificate course in anchoring
- Certificate course in radio jockey
- P. G. D. M. in media and communication
- P. G. D. in journalism and mass communication
- M. A. in journalism and mass communication
- Executive program in digital transformation
- Certificate course in advertising and public relations
- B. Des. in visual communication
- B. Sc. in hotel and hospitality management
- M.A. in public relations
- P. G. D. in mass communication and media laws
- PhD in journalism and mass communication
- PhD in media studies
One can pursue certificate and diploma courses right after completing 10+2 in any stream with an aggregate score of 55-60%. Masters, advanced courses, or a postgraduate diploma can be pursued only after graduating from any stream. For a PhD in mass communication, it is mandatory to complete a master’s degree in any stream with a moderate percentile.
The admission process for undergraduate, postgraduate, postgraduate diploma and PhD courses demands one to go through the official website of the college or campus the student wants to join. It is wise to be well-informed about each university/college’s style of teaching, campus, faculty, query resolution, and more. After selecting the college, you can prepare for the entrance examinations like NEST, CAT, CMAT, etc conducted at both state and national levels.
Skills required for a career in journalism and mass communication
To pursue a career in mass communication and journalism, one needs to have a certain skill set. Keep reading to find out if you already possess these skills!
Storytelling
It’s imperative to show the significance of an event and answer all the relevant questions related to why something happened and when. Storytelling grabs the attention of an audience and evokes a relatability factor among readers. The story should be compelling, engaging, and descriptive. You should possess strong narration skills to give readers a clear perspective and to help them visualize the story.
Strong communication skills
To enter the media industry, strong communication skills are crucial. Both verbal and written communication is important to lay a strong influence on other individuals or a target audience.
Knowledge of current affairs
A media industry enthusiast should be well-informed and well-aware of what is happening around the world. To specialize in a particular sector, one should know everything about that sector as well as politics, business, crime, sports, and more.
Critical thinking and researching skills
It is important to possess critical thinking skills, problem-solving ability, logical reasoning, decision-making skills, and fact-checking ability to be great as a communications professional. Effective research is important for investigative journalism as well as in deducing relevant data.
FAQs
What subjects does one study in a bachelors course in journalism and mass communication?
Journalism and mass communication is an extensive career field that touches every human aspect. It comprises a lot of crucial subjects that expand the knowledge and skill set of individuals. The subjects that are studied under bachelors degree course include:
- Introduction to journalism
- Writing for print media
- Social economic and political scenario
- Event management
- Public relations
- Photography, media and society
- Intercultural communication
- Basics of design and multimedia
What kind of job opportunities are available after completing a course in journalism and mass communication?
The best part about this career pathway is that it doesn’t confine one to a specific domain, rather it opens up avenues in multiple fields. You can work as a journalist, reporter, news reader, creative producer, publisher, content writer, editor, copywriter, event planner, and more. Emerging fields like media consultancy, advertising, and public relations are also options to choose from. Reputed organizations like BBC, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Times of India, Indian Express, Press Trust of India, and various media houses look out for folks trained in journalism and mass communication.
With an abundance of career options, choosing the right career pathway for a successful future may appear to be a daunting task. Let LaunchMyCareer be a buddy in your career journey to help you choose careers based on what you are good at. Get access to expert guidance from career counsellors who can empower you to make confident career decisions and help you create a golden future. Explore career opportunities based on your interests, skills and talent and make your way to career success.
