Journalism Career: A Guide

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Journalism Career

Our freedom depends on the freedom of the press. A Journalism career educates individuals with important news and information. From working for newspapers to magazines, broadcast networking to new-age digital platforms, journalists hold the power to inspire the thinking of the citizens of a country. India is a diverse country with a population equivalent to nearly 17.71% of the total world population. In this quest to massively disseminate knowledge in the best possible way, there is a constant need for professionals in the field. This paves the way for a range of job opportunities for students aspiring to pursue various programs in Journalism. 

Course Name Journalism
Popular Course Graduate Program Postgraduate Program Doctorate Program 
Duration Graduate Program- 3-4 Years Postgraduate Program- 1-2 years Doctorate Program- 2-5 Years 
Career Prospects Journalist, Radio Jockey (RJ), Content Creator, Public Relations Professional, Publicity/Advertising Industry, Broadcasting and Production etc. 
Popular Countries USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Germany.

What is Journalism?

Journalism revolves around the concept of broadcasting information about the relevant incident through different types of mass media across the globe. It is distinctive in nature with a single source of information. An act of writing for a magazine, news website, blog, print media or to prepare news for the telecast falls under the category of Journalism.

Also Read: Mass Communication Courses After 12th

Who is a Journalist?

While considering the growth of a nation, a journalist’s contribution is a vital inclusion. At the most basic level, journalists are involved in the investigation, collection and presentation of information in newspapers, on television and radio broadcasts or online through blogs, podcasts, social networking sites and other platforms. The valuable duty of enlightening people on various social causes is laid on the shoulders of journalists. Instead of using the usual monotonous style of reporting, professionals can express views in storytelling formats such as Investigative Reports, Reviews, Breaking News, Feature Stories, Breaking News, Blogs, etc.

With each new day, comes new challenges for professionals in the media industry. It requires a lot of patience to overcome these obstacles. Good journalists are those who can effectively reach out to their audience. Below are some of the essential skills to be mastered to grow in this field:

  • Confidence
  • Objectivity
  • Precision
  • Strong Willpower 
  • Curiosity
  • Clarity
  • Expressive 
  • Ability to Accept Criticism
  • Fluent Communication
  • Capability to Distinguish the Relevant Matter

Also Read: Radio Jockey Course

Courses in Journalism

There is no absolute educational requirement for those planning to build a Journalism career. However, the right degree course can help you demonstrate your knowledge base and the practical skills to grow in print, broadcast or web-based journalism professionally.

Let’s take a look at some of the relevant Journalism courses that students can opt for:

Undergraduate Courses

  • BA (Hons) in Journalism
  • BA in Politics and Journalism 
  • BA in Journalism and Design
  • BA in Journalism and Media Studies
  • Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
  • BSc in Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
  • BCom & Bachelor of Journalism Dual Degree

Postgraduate Courses

  • Master of Journalism
  • Master of Media in Journalism and Communication
  • MA in Journalism
  • MA in News Journalism 
  • MA in Broadcast Journalism
  • MA in Magazine Journalism 
  • MA in Multimedia Journalism 
  • MA in Journalism (Arts & Culture)
  • MA in Political Journalism 
  • MA in Business and Economics Journalism 
  • MSc in Journalism
  • MSc in Investigative Journalism
  • MSc in Data Journalism 

Doctorate Courses

  • MPhil/PhD in Journalism
  • MPhil/PhD in Media, Culture and Journalism
  • PhD in Journalism and Communication Studies

Also Read: Journalism Courses after 12th

Top Institutes Offering a Journalism Career

Studying abroad in one of the prominent institutes to build a Journalism career is a great opportunity to gain a new perspective. You are not just exposed to excellent quality education but also get the chance to acquire extensive training programs and work with some of the leading companies in the media sector. In addition to the traditional forms of mass communication, graduates in Journalism are skilled in social media content creation and media production required to grow in the modern world.

Below are some of the renowned universities offering exciting courses in Journalism.

Job Opportunities in Journalism Career 

Journalism is a vast industry with professionals involved in gathering information for public consumption in a variety of media. There is a range of business sides of journalism from researching to reporting to writing newsworthy topics. The table below illustrates various job profiles in Journalism and the work associated with it:

Print Journalism CareerResponsibility
Feature WriterIndividuals involved in the core writing process
i.e., writing articles and stories in-depth on
specific topics.
ReporterProfessional who quickly apprehends and
clearly report the news story.
Special Reporter or CorrespondentThis includes special reporting of a particular field or ‘beat’ like finance, politics, sports,
health, etc.
Lead WriterThe profile comprises of putting down views on several news topics.
Proof ReaderWith great grammatical and language-
proficiency skills, one has to proofread the
news articles.
Photo JournalistA professional working in diverse conditions to get the best pictures to be incorporated
into the news story.
CriticWith comprehensive knowledge in a
particular subject, one can look for
a professional career as a critic.
Electronic and Broadcasting
Journalism Career
Responsibility
Broadcast News AnalystAn on-air personality or behind the scene
writer, reporter or producer involved in
interpreting news events and crafting them
into stories for the broadcasting purposes.
ResearcherProfessional involved in skilled research to
dig out something peculiar in the news
story.
PresenterWith excellent communication skills, news
anchor or presenter introduces a
broadcasting programme.

Also Read: Multimedia Course

FAQs

Is a career in journalism worthwhile?

A career in journalism can be rewarding, but there are obstacles to overcome. Although it’s a fantastic career, you must be really interested in news, current events, and the media in order to succeed.

Is journalism a lucrative profession?

A journalist typically makes between INR 3.06 LPA and 5 LPA. Journalists with 5 to 7 years of significant experience may expect to make an average income of INR 6 LPA to INR 8.50 LPA. With an average salary of INR 10.20 LPA, news anchors, critics, and editors are the highest-paid journalists.

Which field is best for journalism?

Here is a list of some best fields for journalism
Photojournalism.
Radio, TV and Digital Broadcasting.
Publishing.
Communication and Media Studies
Public Relations and Advertising
Media Arts
English.
Mass Communication.

We hope that you are now familiar with various aspects of a Journalism career. You can also reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu, who can guide you in choosing the right institute that can help you build a solid foundation in the journalism field.

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