Thursday 25 August 2016

5 Novels Every Journalism Student Should Read

“The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all pleasures fade.”
                                                   -Anthony Trollope

Journalism and Literature are two subjects that almost go hand in hand, thanks to the main idea behind them – writing. The interests of the subject matter intermingle together in a compelling way. In fact there are so many established journalists and the ones in making who have pursued literature first and journalism later to have the best of both worlds. The parallel between the two is to get hands on a few books that either tell an enchanting tale of the world at once or prepare the writer within you for storytelling!

Here are a few books that every student pursuing journalism and mass communication courses should read at least once:-

AAFT Mass Communication

1.The Art and Craft of Feature Writing – Written by William Blundell, the novelist charts how to write long, in-depth stories that keep the readers engaged. Blundell shows how they overcame the challenge of writing engaging content at Wall Street Journal.

2.Bel Ami – Beautifully written by Guy De Maupassant, the narrative talks of a former military man who somehow becomes a journalist through manipulation and other means that are unprofessional. His career graph attains new heights only because of acts such as preying on successful women.

3.In Cold Blood – This novel by Truman Capote is said to be the masterpiece in narrative journalism. The novelist expresses an account of a small town quadruple murder with masterful strokes and details that sends chills down the spine.

4.On Writing Well – William Zinsser through this book expresses the basic fundamentals of writing and how to connect with readers. He tells the value of concise and conversational sentences made of precise word. He talks about keeping the sentences simpler yet precise to connect with readers.

5.Berlin Diary – This book is the first hand account of rise of Nazi as witnessed by journalist William Shirer. Rewritten from Shirer’s CBS radio and diary, the novel conveys dilemma and reality of beginning of World War II and talks of the daunting courage of a reporter at work.

Here are the few exclusive picks that students studying in mass communication colleges in India should get their hands on and derive life lessons. 

Thursday 11 August 2016

Want to make a career in journalism?

Journalism has emerged as one of the fastest growing career fields. We all have heard of the very famous phrase, ‘’ pen is all time powerful than a sword’’. Well, it holds very true and is the basics of journalism profession. Today we get know about all happenings from across the world, be it about politics, sports, science, educational or natural events. How do we get all this information? Well, it is through journalists who investigate, analyse and report news from around the world through various mass communication channels (television, radio, newspaper and social media).  

AAFT Journalims Career

For all those who have an interest in working in this field job and career growth opportunities are many. Aspiring journalists should take the first step towards their career by taking some formal education.  There are a number of prestigious colleges that offer AAFT journalism courses in India. These courses are available at graduation as well as post-graduation level. A three year degree program at the bachelor’s level is the best and often the most preferred career path for all those students who wish to make a career in journalism. Besides this, students can also go for a diploma course in journalism, which is offered by many college and universities. After doing graduation, students can also opt for higher studies and go for a master’s degree program to broaden their knowledge about this field.

To increase chances of having a great career in journalism and mass communication, there are certain set of skills that one must have. Good command over language, excellent communication skills, alertness and perseverance are some of the key skills that aspiring journalists must have. With the right attitude, skills and a degree of journalism in hand, you can reach great heights in this field.