Everything you need to know about mass media and journalism

The term mass communication simply signifies establishing communication with the masses. Whenever somebody hears the word mass communication, the very first thing that pops in their head are newspapers, Press releases, news channels, and radio broadcasts.  Someone who is involved in the field of mass communication deals with a larger audience through all these mediums and brings forth the intricate realities of the society.  

As a journalism and mass communication student, one should always aim to effectively communicate with the audience and know how to access, analyze, and strategize the news. Mass communication is a vast field that encompasses exhaustive career opportunities. One can go into print media, ad agencies, newspapers, magazines or radio& TV communication, or social media that are the emerging new age form of communication.

If you are somebody who has good command over language, have the ability to communicate effectively and have the ability to present stories in an engaging way then journalism and mass communication can be a great career path for you.

There are many colleges of mass communication in India that provide quality education to the students and encourage them to dig deeper into the subjects so that they can come up with great stories. Studying with great classmates and under the supervision of experienced faculty push students to go beyond their comfort zone and deliver the performance, which is actually required in this field. During the course of their graduation degree, they watch various documentaries, manage newsletters, collect stories, and maintain projects that helps them polish as a journalist.

As rightly said by Anne Morrow Lindbergh that, “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after."

A good journalist should always put efforts to surpass his/her set benchmarks to deliver best news to the audience. Over the years their performances start getting better with the experience. 

Reasons to study journalism and mass communication

Youth of today is largely attracted towards a career in journalism. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that a career in journalism has become one of the most prestigious professions these days. There are innumerable job and career opportunities in this field from writing, editing, broadcasting to reporting and photography, that one can explore. It’s not just the availability of jobs that has made this profession a preferred choice among students. High salaries and excellent remuneration is also a major reason why more and more students are taking up journalism as a career.

Studying journalism opens doors to a number of careers where students can showcase their skills and creativity. The best colleges for mass communication in India offer courses in journalism at graduation and post-graduation level. Enrolling in any of these colleges for a degree or diploma course help aspirants learn all that they need to make their mark in the world of journalism. From history of journalism to the working environment and strategies used by journalists, students get a chance to gain complete knowledge on all aspects before they take up their first job. Excellent infrastructure, comprehensive curriculum and a team of experienced teachers available at top colleges help students get the maximum from their degree course.

A degree course in journalism from a reputed institute surely opens an array of job opportunities for all those who wish to make a career in this exciting field. Though a degree course is good enough to get a decent job, students also have an option to enrol for a master’s program for career advancement. Journalism and mass communication courses are available at post-graduation level, which are best for all those who want to specialize in a specific area of journalism. Enrolling in any of these courses will further increase your chances of getting high-pay job just at the beginning of your career.

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:-

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. 

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).  

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.

Skills to become the Perfect Journalist!

If you are planning to be a journalist, there are certain skills that you need to proficient in. if you are truly passionate about the career, and then make sure you develop all those skills so that you come out successful out of the journalism colleges. Check them out!

Good grasp on language

Journalism and mass communication is all about effective communication. He should have an impeccable sense of grammar and must have a good vocabulary. The skills should not be only verbal, they should be as good in written as well because journalism is nothing without penning down of events.

Confident and courageous

Shy people do not make good journalists. If you are out there and on the go, then you are a journalist in making. You will need to interact with new people on a daily basis so being shy and introvert wouldn’t be of much use. You will need to come out of our shell and step out in the practical world! You will have to be bold as being timid would not lead you anywhere. There are controversial cases, risky events that you need to cover; you cannot back out because you are scared.

Knowledge and research skills

A wide knowledge base keeps you up-to-date and better equipped to talk and ask about a particular topic. Research skills too, must be strong as you will often require to dig out information which traces long back in time about a specific event. Follow news, read newspaper and be active on social media sites so that you are at par with the world’s happenings.

Creativity

A creative approach in writing is always appreciated. You must add a hint of creativity in whatever you ask and write. There are creative ways of framing questions in an interview, to write a report, etc. So before you apply to the best Journalism graduate schools, brush up your creativity!

Want to Make a Career in Mass Communication?

Does topics of politics, sociology, economics and law interest you?  If the answer is yes, then a career in mass communication would be a great option. Mass communication is basically a profession in which messages are sent across various communication channels by an individual or a group of people. These channels of communication include radio, television, print or social media.  Mass communication can be of different types, for example, there is advertising, journalism, politics and public relations. In public relations communication is made to influence opinion of the public for a particular product or service. If you want to make a career in mass communication, you should first do self-evaluation to see whether you have the necessary skills required to excel in this field. A creative bend of mind and excellent communication skills area must to achieve success. This is because one needs to address and explain issues to a large group of people. Apart from this, one needs to have patience as a lot of hard-work is required to reach at the top level.

For all those who want to make a career in this field a mass communication degree is a must. The degree opens a number of career options for individuals, like television, journalism, radio broadcasting and public relations. With a bachelor's degree in mass communication, one is eligible to work at entry level positions. There are master degree programs as well which offer specialization in specific arenas such as TV production, international communication sports communication and cinema. There are institutes that offer short term and diploma courses in mass communication. Besides this, there are projects, field work and internships, for which you may have to pay extra. Some institutes also offer distance learning options, which allows you to work and complete your degree side by side. These courses train students in practices such as news editing, television production, field reporting and gives them the right knowledge of media laws and ethics. Compared to other degree courses, a course in mass communication is generally expensive and the annual tuition fees may range from sixty thousand to two lakhs a year.  

Nowadays, journalismand mass communication courses are also conducted online. Though a regular program is always a better option as it gives you hands-on experience, but for those who cannot attend regular college programs, distance learning and online programs are the best option. After completing the course, they can work as a television reporter, advertising manager or news broadcast analyst in any leading organization.

  

Yet Another Exciting Career - Sports Journalism

I am sure you have noticed and even read the sports column that every popular newspaper has these days. This column contains news about all important sports events happening around the world. The collection and collation of all sports related information is the work of sports journalists. The facts are then presented in a manner easily understood by the sports enthusiasts. You might have taken heed of the sports tab in the modern day news applications for phones. In fact, there are separate applications dedicated only to sports. All this requires efforts and coordination. Sport journalism is immensely popular across all countries of the world, because sports fanatics don’t like to be unaware of any piece of information about their favourite sport, sportsperson, or team/club.

Even though there are a few good institutes offering various journalism courses in India, no particular institute really specializes in sports journalism. You may be very good with words but if you are not a sports lover and follower, it would be practically impossible for you to appeal to the viewers/readers. In order to write or present a story, the sports journalists also need to be aware of the rules of the game. These journalists are often sent to watch live matches so that the information they present is absolutely credible.

Sports Journalism In India

There are various categories of journalists under sports journalism. You could be a sports reporter, columnist, editor or a sub-editor. A reporter usually reports the updates related to a sport(s). He reports facts like-who won the match, his/her ranking, difference in scores etc. A columnist, on the other hand, writes objectively on any sports related issue. The responsibilities of a sports editor/sub-editor are similar to those of other editors but these revolve solely around sports.

If you wish to be a sports journalist, you could pursue a degree in journalism from any reputed Indian institute of masscommunication. It would help you form your base and you can then go on to become a sport journalist in future.

Sports journalism is an integral part of journalism across all nations of the world. There is probably no nation devoid of sports followers/enthusiasts. Sports journalism caters to the needs of these people who love to learn more about the ongoing matches, their favourite sportsperson/club/team, and any other associated events. This genre of journalism usually consists of people who have a strong passion for sports. 

Step Up....to the (Endless) World of Journalism

The layman may have a very restricted understanding of what journalism is all about. Well, let me tell you –journalism isn’t just about news articles in the papers; it’s so much more than that. So open up eyes and step in to the wonderful and exciting world of journalism! It’s sure to give you an adrenalin-rush, if you’re looking at signing up for Journalism Courses, so hold on tight!

Like everything in life, journalism comes in varying shapes and sizes (just like all the myriad Journalism and mass communication courses in India). Look at it this way, how many things are there in the world? For just about everything that exists under the sun, there’s a journalist writing or talking about it. You have your travel journalists writing about different cities, villages, countries and all the seven seas. You have food journalists writing about all things delicious that the world has to offer. You have your fashion journalists writing about all the latest trends… The list is endless. But let’s take a little look at it, shall we?

Growing Opportunities in Journalism

While actual Journalism Courses would definitely be able to tell you better (and more), I’ll take a humble shot at it! First you have all the broad facets of journalism such as print journalism, photo journalism, multimedia journalism, and broadcast journalism. Then these pillars of journalism are broken down further into different genres. To be quite honest, there are so very many types that the letters of the alphabet aren’t enough to categorize!

So if you’re interested in Journalism Courses In India, I’d suggest you do your homework and read up further (very, very extensively), on all the different kinds of journalism. There are really no limits to what a journalist’s career might entail. But here are some of the genres within journalism that are basically different spheres of life that journalism tries to cover and present to the world in beautifully formed sentences with impeccable grammar and syntax!

From A-Z, journalism has a anchor in every alphabet. There’s Art Journalism, Business Journalism, Crime/Civic/Culture/Community/Cyber Journalism, Defense Journalism, Education/Environment Journalism, Fashion/Food/Finance Journalism… You get the point, don’t you? Journalism is as exhaustive as is life. And that’s what journalism is really all about.

Whatever be the type of journalism, what it essentially is, is a narrative of the different facets of life itself, presented to the general public. Journalism is just a really exhaustive report on life!