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Mass Communication is the study of how the information related to entities and individuals, communicates or transfers to the entire world at the same time. The information is generally disseminated using newspapers, books, magazines, websites, blogs, radio, film, and television. There is a rapid expansion in the mass communication industry in the last 10 years, with more and more news channels and media houses coming in to picture every year. Mass communication is, communicating that information that is not known to people around the globe, and thus making information available to everyone, by using the latest technological platform, in the form of blogs, websites, and television.
If writing is your hobby, and you can effectively present things, if you love to take challenges, if you have got excellent communication skills, then a career in mass communication is waiting for you. Mass communication is one of the popularly emerging career fields with more and more students opting for this as their higher career option.
When we talk about “journalism” it means a way of presenting the information by various mediums including printed articles, blogs, and television. Whereas a journalist is a person who performs all these tasks of searching for information, editing it, writing an article, and presenting it, thus we can say that journalism is an integral part of mass communication.
Mass communication course in a collective term has a series of streams like- news-reading, reporting, columnist, Anchoring, radio jockey, public relations, advertising, production, acting, web journalism, social media, etc.
The world has witnessed a phenomenal and unprecedented explosion in communication technology and media. All boundaries have been transcended, and the entire global community seems to have been brought together into one unified whole. And it is here that mass communication, as a stream of study, and as a career, becomes so important and enviable.
Mass Communication is not limited to journalism alone. To a great extent mass media is a modern reality that covers all aspects of human life. Moreover, a great change can be observed in the concept of people working in mass media. Careers in Mass Communication are not only high paying but also bring in a great deal of job satisfaction and expression of creativity.
Following are the various job profiles offered to graduates in mass communication:
Job Description
Following are the various job profiles offered to graduates in mass communication:
Desk writers
In print as well as broadcast journalism, there is a department called the “Desk” who typically writes stories on the major happenings of the day.
Reporting as Mass Communication Job Profile
Candidates in this profile are mostly assigned different beats typically to cover different genres of stories. The most common beats offered to reporters are political, law, sports, education, lifestyle, entertainment, and the likes. Apart from this reporters may be asked to cover local, national or international issues depending on their experience and knowledge.
Correspondents
People employed under such a job profile are essential experts in the sphere they are asked to report on. The job profile of a Correspondent is quite similar to that of a reporter. The only difference is that Correspondents are considered to be specialists in the field in which they report. Also, Correspondents are based out of large cities/ other countries and it is from these locations that they report major news events.
Sub-Editors
People working in this job profile are responsible to ensure that the story is presented objectively. Sub-Editors also need to ensure that the grammar, as well as presentation of the story, is apt and at the same time, they need to make sure that all the facts of the story remain intact.
Editors
People working in such a profile are responsible for planning the content of a newspaper, magazine, or TV/radio news bulletin. They have the final say on the content as well as the presentation of a story.
Video Editor
Candidates working in this job profile need to ensure that the latest information is visually aesthetically presented to audiences.
Graphic Editor
Graphic designers/artists design graphics for magazines, labels, print media, and television journalism. They are responsible for designing informative infographics or charts for viewers/readers.
Sound Mixer and Sound Recorder
Also known as production sound mixer, l location sound engineer, location sound recordist, the typical ask of a sound mixer is to record all sounds on professional audio equipment on a set during the making of a film or television show.
Radio Jockey
People working under this job profile typically conduct a radio talk show. In this show the RJ selects the topic of discussion, music to be played and at the same time may even interact with the listeners over phone, SMS, or email.
Anchor
Also known as newscasters, news anchors, or news analysts, people working under this job profile present shows/new bulletins on television. They are the face of the channel.
TV Producer
A television show producer is responsible for the conceptualization, show progress as well as completion of the entire shoot of the show. It is the topmost authority regarding the show he is producing. He/she needs to closely work with the show directors, production staff, and talent.
Radio Producer
Similar to a TV producer, a radio show producer is responsible for ensuring that the entire production work of the show goes smoothly. Apart from this, a radio show producer is also responsible for the marketing as well as distribution process of the radio show.
Photo Journalist
People working in this job profile need to properly click photographs, edit them and thereafter present these images in a way that they can communicate the story of a recent happening visually to viewers. Photojournalists can work for a local publication or for national or international publications where sometimes they even have to put themselves in regularly changing or (sometimes) dangerous situations.
Video Journalist
Similar to the job profile of a Photo Journalist, Video Journalists are expected to provide their channels with the latest footage/videos of a recent happening. This is necessary so that viewers can for themselves see and understand the ground reality. However, in the age of new media, video journalists are slowly and steadily being made to handle all the different jobs that go with producing a news story right from its start to its finish. These days Camera Professionals/Persons are also termed video journalists.
Illustrator
People opting to make a career as an Illustrator are required to produce still drawings that can be used in a story or which convey an entire story/message of their own. These illustrations are used in newspapers, books, magazines, advertisements, greetings cards, and packaging.
Cartoonist
Candidates opting for such a career profile make a comical or satirical sketch on different genres such as politics, cultural events, etc. Most newspapers/magazines have an in-house cartoonist for their publications. Cartoonists can even take up freelance projects.
Public Relations Officer
People in this profession deal with managing the reputation of a firm or an individual. A PR Officer tries to influence opinion as well as behavior towards their client to build, maintain as well as manage their client’s reputation.
Blog Writer
Candidates wanting to make a career in this profile need to write and edit stories on specific beats and topics as represented by the blog. These days many people, start their own blog and even end up earning money from it.
Director
The job profile of a director for a TV show or movie is quite similar. While a show/movie is being produced the director is responsible for supervising the usage as well as placement of professional video cameras, lighting equipment, microphones, and other props. Apart from this a director also needs to give the cue to the talent and direct the camera person for the placement as well as the movement of his equipment.
Vision Mixer
People working in such a job profile need to edit programs live, that is, as they are being transmitted or recorded. Vision mixers while broadcasting visuals need to use a variety of transition methods, like cuts, wipes, fadeout/in, and frame manipulation
Scriptwriter
People aspiring to pursue a career as a scriptwriter typically need to be skilled writers who can prepare scripts for commercials, plays, shows, and dramas that appear on television, in films, or on stage.
Top Institutes
List Of Mass Communication Courses In India
In India, there are 3 formats of Mass Communication courses. These are - Degree programs, Diploma programs, and Certificate programs. Let us see the details of the various Degree and Diploma programs in Mass Communication offered in India.
Bachelor of Journalism and Communication
BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism and Communication) is a three-year course for those candidates who want to make their career in the field of journalism and mass communication. Career opportunities for college students within the field of mass communication are very high. Candidates who complete BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism and Communication) can opt to work for news channels, newspapers, publishing houses, television, radio, internet, etc, and earn a good salary.
BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism and Communication): Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should fulfill the below-mentioned parameters to meet eligibility criteria for Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication:
Note: The parameters mentioned above might differ as per an institute’s requirement.
Bachelor of Journalism
BJ or Bachelor of Journalism is an undergraduate degree within the field of journalism and Mass Communication that candidates can pursue right after Class 12. BJ is a three years duration course and during this course, aspirants are taught about various aspects of the media industry like research, reporting, compiling, writing, editing also as a presentation of knowledge. After completing a BJ course candidates can join various mass communication-related fields like TV news channels, newspapers, radio stations, and the likes. Typically, the sector of Journalism is split into two broad categories, which are, print media and electronic media. Candidates who aspire to figure within the electronic media can join television, radio, or internet/ digital media companies whereas in print media aspirants can join newspapers, magazines, news agencies, and digests.
BJ Eligibility Criteria
Candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the BJ course if -
Bachelor of Mass Communication
Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) is an undergraduate Mass Communication program. The program is a degree course of three years duration offered by different universities and colleges in India. With the expansion of the Mass Communication industry within the past decade, and the setting up of more and more media houses and news channels, the scope of BMC as a course is increasing. In the BMC course, students typically get to study various mass mediums like radio, television, newspapers, films, online media, PR (PR), advertising, etc. The course offers an interdisciplinary foundation within the theory also as skills required to become media experts within the industry. With a degree in BMC, students can find jobs in numerous sectors like radio stations, newspapers, publishing houses, advertising agencies, PR Firms so on.
BMC: Eligibility Criteria
To pursue a Bachelor of Mass Communication, candidates should complete their Class XII in any stream from a recognized educational board with a minimum of 45-60% aggregate marks.
Note: The minimum percentage required to be eligible for the course might change looking at the university/ college within which a candidate is applying.
Bachelor of Mass media
BMM or Bachelor of Mass media is one of the most sought-after courses for class 12th students. BMM is an undergraduate level three-year duration course that features the study of various channels of communication like newspapers, television, radio, and the internet. In today's scenario, media stands as a beautiful career choice for the Indian youth, and a degree in BMM offer a large range of job opportunities to candidates. BMM teaches students all the technical skills required to be successful within the field of media. The course also imparts other essential skills like research aptitude and verbal and presentation skills.
BMM: Eligibility Criteria
All candidates who have cleared Class 12th in any stream from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% - 60% marks fulfill the eligibility criteria for the BMM course. It must be noted that the eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary as per the policy of the college/ university to which a candidate is applying.
BA in Mass Media and Mass Communication
In modern times, mass media has become a strong tool to speak about important events to an oversized audience. Internet, television, radio, newspaper, and magazine are some of the leading sources of media. Mass media plays a big role in today's modern times and thus, it has become a lucrative career option for students. An undergraduate degree in mass media and mass communication gives opportunities within the fields of journalism, advertising, PR, event management, etc. However, to induce a stronger hold on the career and for better employment opportunities, candidates are advised to get a master's degree in mass communication also.
BMMMC: Eligibility Criteria
All candidates who have cleared standard 12th in any stream from a recognized board fulfill the eligibility criteria for the BMMMC course. It may be noted that candidates have to score a minimum of 50% - 60% aggregate marks in class 12th to be eligible for the course.
Note: BMMMC eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary according to the policies of the college/ university to which a candidate is applying.
Master of Journalism
The ongoing expansion and increasing competition among media players within the industry have created considerable scope for journalism as a career in India. Students can prefer to pursue a course in journalism both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Master of Journalism (MJ) is a postgraduate level course of two years duration offered by different institutes and universities in India. The course focuses on different aspects of journalism like writing, reporting, and editing. The course also emphasizes the study of recent media. With an MJ degree in hand, students can work at different places like news channels, magazines, and newspapers. They can also opt to work as correspondents, writers, reporters, editors, etc.
MJ: Eligibility Criteria
The basic eligibility criteria that candidates have to fulfill to secure admission in MJ courses offered at different colleges and universities are mentioned below:
Master of Journalism & Mass Communication
MJMC (Master of Journalism & Mass Communication) is a postgraduate mass communication course of two years duration. The course involves the study of various types of mass media including newspapers, radio, television, films, etc to convey information to an oversized audience. The course helps students provide advanced theoretical also as practical knowledge in various media professions like journalism, advertising, event management, public relations, and so on. The course also acts as a foundation for candidates who wish to make their career within the field of research.
MJMC: Eligibility Criteria
The basic eligibility criteria to pursue Master of Journalism & Mass Communication course is as mentioned below:
Note: MJMC eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary as per the college/ university to which a candidate is applying.
Master of Mass Communication
MMC (Master of Mass Communication) is a two-year duration postgraduate Mass Communication course offered at different universities and institutes in India. The course focuses on refining candidates' skills associated with different aspects of mass media including newspapers, radio, film, television, and also the internet. During the course, students are provided conceptual tools to critically examine how society is mediated by the planet of media. The course enables students to require up to different roles within the mass communication industry including film directors, television producers, advertising creative heads, public relations officers, and so on.
MMC: Eligibility Criteria
All candidates who have completed their graduation from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% - 60% aggregate marks fulfill eligibility criteria for the MMC course. Candidates should also not be over 30 – 35 years in age the year of admission.
Note: MMC eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary as per the policy of a university or college to which a candidate is applying.
Mass communication is the study of spreading information to a large audience through various means of communication. Journalism is the activity of writing about recent developments for newspapers, magazines, etc. It has enveloped reporting done through radio and television. We all are connected through a web of different means of communication. Whether it’s the latest scores of Cricket matches or news on natural calamities, we get to know about them, thanks to technology and the mass media. Mass communication is nothing but dispersing information to a huge number of people, i.e., the whole country or the world.
It is said that journalism is the first draft of history. If mass communication is the activity of dispersing news, journalism is concerned with the collection and dissemination of news through print media as well as electronic media. This involves various areas of works like reporting, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting, or cable casting news items. Journalism includes investigating, analyzing, and reporting local as well as world events, trends, current affairs, and so on.
Unlike engineering or medical streams, there are no preparation strategies or set formulae for making a career in mass communication. A graduate degree in the field is good to start with but a post-graduate degree or diploma is almost essential to be considered for responsible positions in any organisation. Meanwhile, you need to start blogging or work as a freelance contributor to newspapers and a host of online publishing sites to develop your communication skills. Maturity, objectivity, and a sensible train of thought are essential.
Not long ago, people with good communication skills and a degree in literature were considered fit for journalism and other areas of mass communication. However, with technology playing a greater role in our lives, all professions related to mass communication now require skilled professionals who work fast and efficiently to send across the message to a whole range of audiences. Even though with the proliferation of blogs, it is commonly claimed that ‘anyone’ can become a journalist, a closer inspection of reality proves that only those with professional training make the grade.
A professional course in mass communication opens doors for a career in films & TV, publishing, public relations, journalism, editing, direction, filmmaking, scriptwriting, production, etc. In nutshell, Mass Communication widens up the horizon of career options for a person. Depending upon personal interest and inclination a mass communication professional can choose a job. Attractive and high-paying jobs as journalist, actor, director, editor, screenwriter, RJ, producer, VJ are available to talented and trained individuals. You need to have creativity—a way with words and excellent communication skills as you will be required to explain and inform, about the most complex of issues, in the simplest of terms—to a large number of people. Moreover, you require a great deal of patience, because, in this field, it takes a lot of hard work, and quite some time, to make it to the top.
After completing the course, there is a huge demand from the news channels, TV shows, magazines, and various publishing firms and online news portals. The candidate can even work as a freelancer and work for many companies. The job profile in this field may depend upon the company in which you are working and your overall experience. If you have good writing skills and excellent command of the language, if you can play with the words, then this career can get you to a great height. Looking at the current scenario of the media industry in India it is expanding at a rapid rate, more than five news channels are coming up every year so there is a good opportunity for a fresher, to be a part of them and reach a good post in a quick span of time. The top recruiters in this field include:
The major job profiles in this sector include:
These are some of the coveted designations in mass communication, besides these an individual can work as a Cameraman, assistant director, producer, screenwriter, video jockey, etc.
Salary
The salary in this profession may depend on your skills and experience; you can start your career as a correspondent or news reporter, the salary in this period could be Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. After some experience, you could be working as an editor or an anchor, the salary in this profile could be around Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000 per month. If you have got enough experience and expertise in a particular field then you can easily make a six-figure income.
1. Good Communication Skills
You must communicate well to be successful in this field. Hence, BA in mass communication teaches you how to be good in oral and written communication. It gives students the confidence and the platform to speak on several topics in an articulate manner. The added advantage to this is your improvement in public speaking, which is an important part of journalism. This will help you articulately convey your message or story to the audience.
2. Writing
Writing isn’t just about good grammar- it is also about how you put your point across. The way you write has to resonate with the audience. They should understand your point of view which should be concise and to the point. Keeping that in mind, BA in mass communication teaches about the various writing guidelines that will help you communicate your thoughts well.
3. Reporting
As a journalist, you will be sent to various places to cover major events. These events can be pre-planned or be on the spot. Either way, you have to be prepared to report it. Since you are the source of information to your viewers, you have to make sure to get your facts right while being concise in your flow of speech. BA in mass communication conducts various workshops to teach students how to report a certain event.
4. Production
In this course, you will learn about print production and radio production a.k.a behind-the-scenes. You will learn about how the delivery of newspapers is monitored and organized, as well as how radio producers handle a show live on air.
5. Problem-solving and decision making
BA in mass communication will teach you to be resourceful and creative in solving problems. It will also help with your decision-making, by learning how to effectively make the right decisions while under pressure. In a field like journalism where there is constant pressure to deliver news as fast as possible, those skills come in very handy.
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