Coming from Henry Grunwald, the Managing Editor of TIME Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Times Inc, nothing could describe journalism better!
The definition of the word ‘journalism’ would take you back to the origin of the newspaper, where the profession of ‘journaling’ daily events, happening and announcements came to be termed as Journalism. In modern times, not much has changed and journalism still refers to the investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a mass audience. Given the power of mass media in today’s world, journalism is a much venerated profession. A journalist may find a role and position in any of the following media:
Newspapers
(1.) Magazines
(2.) Television
(3.) Radio
(4.) Web-based Newspapers and Magazines
It is a profession that requires utmost levels of ethics and integrity. In news parlance, you will be tested to see if you have ‘a nose for news’, which essentially means whether you can look beyond the obvious and hunt for the truth. A journalist is also required to be an excellent writer if you are interested in print and online media. To be a successful television and radio journalist, you need to have an incredible verbal communication skills and a pleasing personality.
Journalists often develop an area of interest and make it their desired ‘beat’, or subject of reportage through their career. Most journalists at the start of their career try one or more beats to see which they enjoy more. More often than not, many news organisations assign specific beats to reporters so that they can test them better. Some of the most popular beats in the news world are the following:
(1.) Politics
(2.) Sports
(3.) Business
(4.) Defence and Strategic Affairs
(5.) Entertainment
(6.) Environment
(7.) Technology
(8.) Fashion
Have you ever seen a news channel blink? That’s because news never stops! Journalism is a demanding profession and it’s definitely not for the weak-hearted. It’s almost a round-the-clock job, where a journalist is expected to be aware and available for any news development. As a journalist you will be expected to respond quickly, think on your feet, be resourceful and most importantly be inquisitive.
In India journalism as a field of study is available as both bachelors and post graduate degree courses. At the post graduate level there are also diploma courses available in the country. Some individual institutes offer certificate short-term courses as well and there are distance learning programs as well.
For a student wanting to study journalism as an undergraduate study, you can be from any stream. Similarly, for a post graduate program, your undergraduate degree does not matter as long as you fulfil the requirements of having excellent written and verbal skills, an interest in current affairs and have a go-getter persoality!
A word of caution – Due to the overreaching existence of media today, journalism and mass communication schools are mushrooming in every corner of the country. It is advisable to do a thorogh background check of the institute. Find out about the curricula, the teachers (check if they are industry trained), guest faculty, internship and placement history, workshops and exposure; you must also look for references, find former students of the institute and see what they have to say about the school and its course.
At undergraduate level one can do
BA in Journalism
Bachleor in Media Studies
Bachelor In Mass Media
BA in Journalism and Communication
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
At Post Graduate Level one can do a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism MA in Journalism
Entrance Exams:
Most of the reputed institutes and Colleges take admissions through entrance exams. Delhi University takes entrance test for its graduate program in journalism. IP University New Delhi conducts CET for BJMC and Symbiosis conducts SET for admission to SIMC (UG). Times School of journalism also conducts an all India Level entrance exam for admissions to its Post graduate Diploma Program.
The fee for the courses vary a lot. IIMC Delhi charges Rs 55,000 for PG Diploma in Journalism , Rs 1 lakh for Radio and TV Journalism, Rs 77,000 for Advertising and Public Relations course. Fee is exempt for some seats for students from the economically weaker sections. Scholarship is available to the best performer in the entrance test for Hindi Journalism, Radio and TV Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations.
Top colleges for BA and MA Journalism Course are
Delhi University
Delhi School of Journalism offer 5 years integrated BA MA Journalism in English and Hindi with exit option after 3 years. The admission is on the basis of entrance test that will be conducted in September in 2017. The course has one foreign language and one regional language as compulsory subject. There are 60 seats in English Journalism and 60 seats in Hindi Journalism.
BA in Mass Media and Mass Communication ( Offered by IP college for Women) and BA Hons English Journalism and BA Hindi Patrakarita course. The Journalism course is offered at following colleges Lady Shri Ram college for women, BA Hons English Journalism is offered by Delhi College of Art and Commerce ( 40 seats), , Kalindi College, Kamala Nehru College, Maharaj Agarsen College, Ram Lal Anand college and PGDAV college. IP College for women takes a 2 tier entrance exam for 3 year self financed BA Hons Multi media and Mass communication.
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi Offers Journalism Courses at PG Level.
Also has campus in Amravati, Aizawl, Jammu, Kottayam.
Some of the most reputed journalism courses in India are offered by IIMC. The institute offers PG Diploma In journalism ( English) ( Hindi), P G Diploma in Radio and TV Journalism, PG Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations. There are almost 60 seats in every course.
Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi Offers MA in Mass Communication, P G Diploma in Still Photography and Visual Communication, MA in Convergent Journalism, P G Diploma in Broadcast Technology.
Guru Gobind Singh IP University, Delhi Offers Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication at affiliated colleges.
Panjab University Chandigarh offer MA Journalism and Mass Communication ( 40 seats) and PG Diploma in Advertising and PR ( 15 seats) , PG Diploma in Hindi Journalism ( 15 seats), PG Diploma in Panjabi Journalism (15 seats). Admission is on the basis of entrance test.
Mumbai University Various colleges affiliated to Mumbai University like Ramnarain Ruia College, SIES College of Arts, Science & Commerce, HR College, KC College of Arts, Science & Commerce, St Andrews College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Jai Hind College . Offer Bachelor In Mass Media Course and in third year the students can specialize in Journalism.
St Xaviers College Mumbai also offers Bachelors course in mass media ( BMM)
Fergussan College Pune ( NAAC A grade) offers vocational course Media and Communication ( 50 seats).
Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai Offers Post Graduate Advanced Diploma in Journalism
Sri Guru Gobind Singh college of commerce, Pitampura New Delhi University offers PG Diploma in Business Journalism and corporate communications and admissions are on the basis of entrance test, GD and interview.
Osmania University, Hyderabad offers masters in Communication and Journalism ( Through entrance )
St. Francis College for women, Hyderabad offers Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism
Times School of Journalism, Daryaganj, New Delhi Offers 1 year Post graduate Diploma in Journalism (English and Hindi).
LAKSHMIBAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION GWALIOR offers 1 year P G Diploma course in Sports Journalism. There are 20 seats and admission is on the basis of fitness test and written test followed by Interview.
St Joseph’s College (Autonomous) Bangalore offers BA English Literature and Journalism Creative writing and MA Mass Communication and Journalism . Admission through entrance test.
Christ University Bangalore offers BA Hons Journalism / BA Media Studies, economics and political Science.
Garden City University Bangalore offers BA Journalism, Psychology and English / BA Journalism Hons / MA Journalism and Mass Communication.
Madras Christian College, Chennai Affiliated to University of Madras offers BA Journalism. There is no entrance test for admission.
Pune University, Offers BA journalism.
BHU, Varanasi offers MA in Journalism, PG Diploma In Journalism.
Gujarat University offers 2 year full time Master of mass communication and journalism.
St Xaviers College, Goa ( NAAC A Grade ) Offers BA Journalism and BA Mass Communication and Videography
Goa Salesian Society’s Don Bosco College, Goa offers BA Mass Media
Top Colleges in Kerala BA Journalism / BA Mass Communication
ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), DEVAGIRI KOZHIKODE, KERALA, INDIA Re-accredited with A++ Grade by NAAC. Offers BA Mass Communication with courses in creative writing. Also offer MA English with optional papers on writing for media / film studies / Indian English Fiction
Sacred Heart College, Kochi, affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala ( A Grade ) Offers BA English Copy Editor / MA Communication and Journalism / MA Cinema and Television
Top International Colleges offering BA Journalism / BA Mass Communication
University of Hongkong University offers a undergraduate course in Journalism. The admission is through an application and interview.
Sheffield Hallam University, UK offers MA in Sports Journalism and also offers scholarship for the course through its GREAT campaign.
Columbia University, offers Masters in Investigative Journalism / Business Journalism.
New York University Offers Graduate program in Business and Economic Reporting.
The starting salary for cub reporter / trainee could be anywhere between Rs1.2 lakhs– Rs 3 lakhs per month. For a mid-level employee the salaries range from Rs 8 – 12 lakhs per annum. For senior editors, salaries range from Rs.20 – 40 lakhs per annum
Journalism is a career where almost every fresher begins as a cub reporter or trainee. Generally a beat is assigned and you are expected to deliver quality news stories with great efficiency. Once you have established your forte in a chosen field of reporting, you can qualify to be a Correspondent / Special Reporter, one who has the ability to interpret, analyse and present news with a totalitarian view. The next step would be that of a Sub Editor, one who sorts the content to be published; rewrites news stories and correct grammatical errors. A sub editor also checks news articles for their innovative headlines and therefore must be someone with a deep sense of news, language and imagination. In a news channel, this person is typically part of the input desk that fine tunes the stories that are to be aired. Next up is an Associate Editor who assigns stories to reporters, ensures they come in on time, plans parts of the paper, designs the layout, writes and readies news, reviews and critical analysis pieces. In the electronic medium, this person is part of assignment/ output desk; he assigns stories, brings various inputs, arranges for footage from remote locations, and is overall responsible for the news that is produced on a daily basis. Editor is the one who heads the ship. It’s a position that comes with years of experience and demonstrated career of great news reportage. An editor gives a news organisation a vision. Typically he/she is the one who decides the voice of the paper / magazine / channel. As the most definitive face of the organisation, the editor is a position of great power and greater responsibility.
Journalism at one time was the domain of whosoever wrote written content or reported on a news story. The person who got the visuals and photographs were often called cameraperson / photographer. Today, however much of that has changed. Photographers have transformed into photo-journalists with their active involvement in bringing newsworthy pictures. Similarly, video journalism is a dynamic process in the electronic news gathering process.
Benjamin Franklin: Little do people know that the founding father of The United States was a journalist. He published The Pennnsylvania Gazette in 1730’s which he used as a propaganda tool to influence the populace leading up to the American Revolution.
Arnab Goswami, the famous news anchor on TV, started his career with NDTV as newscaster. Currently he is the editor-in-chief of Times Now English News Channel. He did his class XII from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jabalpur and his graduation in Sociology from Delhi University.
Vinod Dua, who shot to limelight with his current affairs Parakh for Doordarshan, is known for his cutting edge election and political analysis in NDTV’s Hindi channel.
Shekhar Gupta: Editor in chief of The Indian Express, his long career in Indian Journalism began as a reporter, he covered some of the most courageous news stories like North ease insurgency and US terrorist attack and many more.
The typical news gathering process involves an edit meeting at the start of the day that sets the agenda for the entire day’s coverage. In terms of publications (depending on the time of publication), edit meetings are held in the evenings to plan the news coverage for the next day. News in monitored constantly through news wires to stay updated on breaking news and developing stories. Reporters in a newspaper typically cover one-two news events in a day. They return to their desks at the end of their events, and write their stories themselves. The news articles then reach the sub-editors who prune the copies to make them publish-worthy.
News Channels conduct edit meetings in the mornings, where they assign stories to reporters who track events, news conferences. Reporters spend much of the day on the field, covering news, from one location to another. Outdoor Broadcast Vans facilitate the news gathering process by helping news reporters file stories from remote locations. Technology has helped journalists who email / message news to the news desk while on-the-go. The news desk puts together the visuals, writes the script with inputs from the reporters, edits the stories and puts them in the bulletins to be aired.
News is an extremely dynamic industry. The job of a journalist never ends. It is a profession for someone who understands the pulse of news and enjoys living with it round-the-clock!
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