Journalism as a Career Option

Universities in India Offering Journalism

Journalism as a Career Option or vocation has experienced radical changes over the years and have gained immense popularity and importance. Both the visual and print medium has developed exponentially that has resulted in huge demand for talented and skilled professionals. Journalism not only involves reporting of news but also searching out new information, stories or updates that might affect the society at large. A major role is played by the journalists in shaping up perceptions and opinions of people on key issues concerning the society and its people. Therefore journalists in a way perform a special and of course a significant role.

If you are in love with reading and writing, then journalism is perhaps the perfect career option for you! You can use your natural talent and use them in the best possible way. Several streams are there within journalism, whereby one can specialize according to one’s preferences. The specializations might range from sports, science, investigative to film etc. The fact that everyday we get updated news on everything happening in different corners of the globe is made possible by this large number of journalists together with reporters, camera persons, commentators, stringers, critics and many more. Stories collected by these numerous personnel are brought to us via the newspapers, periodicals, magazines, television and radio.

Career Prospects

Apart from being a very highly paid career, journalism also happens to be a very prestigious profession. A major role is played by the Journalists in developing and shaping a nation. It is because of them that we are aware of the daily happenings within our society. Journalism serves the purpose of informing, interpreting, educating and enlightening the people.

Journalism as a career option offers immense scope and opportunities because as they say “the pen (and the camera) is mightier than the sword”. The present world scenario demands that everybody is aware of what is actually taking place around them. It is through media that we receive all the information, be it electronic media like television, Internet or Audio, Visual Media or radio or the print media such as newspapers, periodicals, magazines etc. Further the information that is offered to us by the media is actually collected by the ‘journalists’. You leave it or take it, the fact remains the journalists have immense power and capacity to influence the large number of people with information and thereby shape their perception.

Print Journalism

Newspapers can never really become out of fashion or fade away for that matter. Even in this digitalized age, the print media makes it a point to see that newspapers and magazines keep on shaping opinions on the global platform.  The various career options that are available are Editor, Associate Editor, Sub Editor, Proof Reader, and Photo Journalist. You can also join as Reporter, Special Reporter, Correspondent, Critic, Columnist or Cartoonist.

Electronic Journalism

A very popular medium, the electronic media is perhaps the sought after medium that we often take recourse to. TV and Radio helps us in keeping touch with all kinds of news and information throughout the day that is 24/7. Speed and accuracy are the most important factors that characterize the electronic media and also make it popular among the people. Electronic journalism therefore provides with large number of career options such as Researchers, Floor Managers, Production Workers and Reporters. One can also work as Transmission Executives, Sound Technicians, Presenters, and Camera Workers etc.

Web Journalism

Internet, over the years has fast emerged as a very influential, strong and of course and affordable medium that offers us updated news on almost everything. Readers landing on the web pages don’t stay on a particular page for long. So in order to ensure that the readers keep visiting your website and continue reading your pages, you need to present your news content in a very interesting, crisp and sharp way. Editing, attractive captions and titles, enticing writing coupled with correct facts and relevant information, presentations are thus very necessary. Web Journalism offers a lot when it comes to job prospects, some important one being, web writers, technical writers, content developers, web developers and many more.

Eligibility

If you are thinking of enrolling yourself into a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, then you need to qualify your 12th standard while in case of post graduate degrees in journalism, you need to have a graduation degree from a recognized university.

Skills and Attributes Needed!

A highly responsible task, journalism also seems to be an interesting career to pursue. Are you looking for a career in journalism? If yes, then upgrade and enhance yourself with the basic skill and attributes required to pursue a high flying career in journalism. Besides writing and presenting ideas and facts concisely and accurately, if you are confident about yourself and your presentable personality, then nothing can stop you from having a successful career in journalism. Further, you should have a curious bent of mind, good communication and writing skills, the capability to distinguish fiction and fact, intelligence, general knowledge and interest in current affairs. You must be able to tackle the unforeseen situations competently.

Here are the skills at a glance for you:

  • Command over language
  • Flair for writing
  • Open mindedness
  • Ability to express ideas with clarity and conciseness
  • Unbiased approach
  • Wide-ranging interests
  • Curiosity to know
  • Sensibility
  • Ability to entice people
  • Ability to summarize
  • Resourcefulness
  • Ability to separate relevant facts from irrelevant ones
  • Resilience
  • Stamina and courage
  • Willingness and zeal to work hard, especially during holidays and at irregular hours
  • Dedication and passion

Journalism- Courses and Institutes

Senate House, 87 College Street,
Calcutta 700073
Courses – B.A. with Journalism, M.A. in Journalism

  • Ravi Shankar University

Raipur 492010
Courses – Bachelor in Journalism

  • Rabindra Bharati University

6/4 Dwarkanath Tagore Lane, Calcutta 700007
Courses – M.A. in Mass Communication

Varanasi 221005
Courses – B.A. in Journalism, M.A in Journalism

  • Kurukshetra University

Kurukshetra 132119
Courses – M.A. Journalism

Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025
Courses – M.A. in Mass Communication

  • Kashi Vidyapeeth

Varanasi 221002
Courses – Bachelor in Journalism, M.A. Journalism and Mass Communication

Delhi 110 007
Courses- Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor in Journalism and Mass   Communication in Hindi

M.G. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400032
Courses -B.A. with Mass Media Communication as a component group subject, B.A. in script writing and Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication, B.A. in Journalism (BJ), MCJ

Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007
Courses- Bachelor of Journalism, Diploma in Journalism, Master of Communication Studies (MCMs)

Centenary Building, Chepauk, Chennai 600005
Courses- M.A. in Communication and Journalism and Certificate course in effective communication

  • Mudra Institute of Communication

Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Courses- Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism

  • Asian college of Journalism

Taramani, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
Courses- Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism

  • AJ Kidwai Mass Comm Research centre

Jamia City, Central Delhi
Courses- Masters in Journalism, Mass Communication

  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

South Delhi
Courses- Bachelors in Journalism

  • Xavier Institute of Communication

Mumbai, Maharashtra
Courses- Masters in Journalism

  • Film and Television Institute of India

Pune, Maharashtra
Courses- Bachelors Degree (Acting, Audiography, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Screen writing, Television and Directions)

  • Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication

Pune, Maharashtra
Courses- Bachelors in Journalism

  • Indian Institute of Journalism and new Media

316, 5th A Cross, HRBR Layout, 3rd Block, Kalyananagar Post, Bangalore
Courses- Bachelors and Masters in Journalism

  • Master’s College

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Courses- Bachelors in Journalism, Mass Communication, Reporting & News Writing

  • Times School of Journalism

Central Delhi
Courses- Masters in Journalism

  • Alagappa University

Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
Courses- Bachelors in Journalism

  • Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Courses- Bachelors in Journalism

  • Andhra University

Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Courses- Bachelors Acting, Others

  • Bhavan’s College of Communication & Management

Munshi Sadan, 5-9-1105, Bashirbagh, King-Kothi Road, Post Box No. 1088 Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Courses- Bachelors and Masters in Journalism