Types of Journalism - Which is Right for You?
If you are an aspiring journalist, then you need to know how many types of journalism are there and which one is right for you. The following article highlights the types of Journalism courses and specializations offered at various institutes and universities in India.
Journalism is a job that entails gathering information about a certain topic and then communicating findings and conclusions to a larger audience. The basic goal of Journalism is to investigate and report on events that have an impact on people's lives and society in various ways such as through newspapers, electronic media, social media, and digital mediums.
Our way of reading news may be different, but one thing is common and that is our eagerness to know about the latest happenings in the country and abroad. This eagerness of ours makes the profession of Journalism special and that is why the competition to make a career in this field has also increased. If you are also an aspiring journalist, then know about the different types of Journalism before making any decision.
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Types of Journalism
There are many types of Journalism, based on the medium of distribution hard news and soft news. Different types of Journalism cover different aspects of life. The purpose of Journalism is to bring to the fore such incidents, which affect people's lives and society in different ways. There are also different requirements for reporting facts fairly. You can choose the right Journalism for you based on your interest and talent. Some types of Journalism based on the medium of distribution are given below:
Print Journalism
Print media is the most traditional type of Journalism. It involves reporting news and related material through newspapers and magazines. There are many types of newspapers, such as daily, weekly, evening newspapers etc. Before independence, newspapers were the most powerful medium to raise voice on the issues prevailing in the society and they remained the medium of news for a long time. In Print Journalism you can work as a reporter, columnist, copy editor, news editor, designer, etc. With the spread of the Internet, newspapers also launched their digital editions, due to which people can read e-papers anywhere through their mobile phones or laptops.
Broadcast Journalism
Broadcast Journalism uses an electronic or radio platform to broadcast news. For this, news bulletins, documentaries, and other factual programs are produced and broadcast on TV or radio. TV broadcasting in India first started in 1959. At that time news bulletins were broadcast only for a short time. Gradually this medium became so popular that news bulletins were replaced by news channels. Today there are news channels in regional languages apart from Hindi and English news channels. Working in Broadcast Journalism can be tiring and stressful as you have to be prepared for news coverage all the time. Some career profiles in this media domain are similar to those of Print Journalism such as editor, copy editor, correspondent, etc., while some newer profiles are also included such as news anchor, cameraperson, producer, video editor, graphics designer, sound recorder, sound mixer, etc.
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Digital/Online Journalism
The increasing proliferation of the Internet has changed almost every aspect of our lives. The field of Journalism is no exception to this. Along with print and broadcast Journalism, online or digital Journalism has also carved a strong niche for itself. Many news websites provide news to people in just one click. This type of Journalism is also called new media. This form of media has brought many benefits to journalism as it not only democratized the flow and distribution of information between different media but added new advances in editing and recording techniques and reduced the cost of production. Some of the job profiles present in this emerging field of media are – Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist, Content Curator, Digital Journalist, Content Writer, SEO Team etc.
Photo Journalism
Photojournalism is the use of the visual medium to effectively present issues or stories. This medium of Journalism can bring forth the issues in a new perspective and in a thought-provoking manner. It is not just a medium of reporting, but also highlights the good and bad aspects of humanity. Travel holds a very important place in the life of a photojournalist as they have to travel to any part of the world to bring out those neglected aspects of society that need a voice to reach out to the world. You can make a career in photojournalism through various photography courses.
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Tabloid Journalism
In this, certain news stories are exaggerated or sensationalized with photos to attract the readers' attention. It can also be called a type of gossip news, as Tabloid Journalism is usually celebrity-centric. Earlier newspapers contained crime stories and gossip in a single column, but its popularity among gossip seekers grew so much that it developed into a full-fledged media outlet broadcasting news for entertainment. Tabloid journalism promoted paparazzi culture and has now become one of the major forms of media.
Mobile Journalism
News in Mobile Journalism is covered through smartphones. It mainly uses smartphones to create and edit images, audio, and video. In this journalist is capable of executing both production and distribution from the same device i.e. smartphone. This medium of Journalism has revolutionized the use of smartphones. This Journalism not only allows new forms of raising issues but also supports more inclusive approaches to Journalism.
Other Journalism Specializations
You can pursue journalism courses in many specific areas. These areas are based on hard news and soft news. You can choose a specific area based on your interests and knowledge. Reporting on a particular area not only enhances your knowledge in that domain but also allows you to become an expert. Some such specific areas of Journalism are given below:
Sports: Sports Journalism includes coverage of sporting events for TV, digital platforms, or newspapers. As a sports reporter, you can interview any sports team or player and also do coverage of any league or tournament. In Sports Journalism, you have to make sure that your news is authentic and factual.
Entertainment: Entertainment journalists cover cultural and social programs for newspapers, magazines, television, and other media. They write news related to films, TV shows, theater plays, etc., interview film and TV actors, and cover programs like film festivals.
Political: Students who are interested in politics, are keen to know how policies affect individuals and societies, and want to participate in political discussions can become political journalists. Political journalists can write articles on topics assigned by their editor and according to their own choice. They analyze documents and data, attend press conferences, briefings, and other government events, interview politicians, and cover elections. Political journalists have to develop relationships with sources to collect the necessary information for their articles.
International: It includes coverage of international affairs. Such journalists cover international events, seminars, and bilateral talks at home or abroad and analyze the internal status of a country. They also get the opportunity to travel internationally for coverage of events abroad.
Security Affairs: This is related to defense matters. It includes reporting on defense deals, activities on the country's border, and the functioning of various departments of the security forces. Security affairs journalists need to develop relationships with reliable sources for reporting and their report should be accurate and with facts.
Investigative Journalism: In this journalism, information is collected closely by investigating news related to crime, corruption, scams, and wrongdoings, so that the truth can come out. A story is explored in a detailed manner and the key elements are detected to go in the depth of matter. Generally, investigative journalism is related to an important event, such as the murder of a famous person or an event that is of utmost importance and of public interest.
Crime: As the name suggests, it involves coverage of crimes. A crime reporter often has to keep in touch with the police to get information about the incident. Arriving at the crime scene with the police, reporting the crime, and uncovering various aspects related to the case is some of the major tasks of a crime reporter.
Business: Business Journalism includes coverage of big corporate houses, economic deals, decisions taken by the Ministry of Finance, etc. It also includes industry-specific news for products such as oil, metal, and agriculture as well as business sectors such as travel and healthcare. A business reporter also gives information to people about the market conditions.
Science: It includes the coverage of research, inventions, and innovations in the field of science and the country's space missions. If you are interested in science and want to bring new scientific methods to the world, then it is the right area for you.
Lifestyle: A lifestyle reporter covers fashion, food, sports, travel & tourism, books and magazines. Lifestyle reporting is a soft form of Journalism in which ideas are gathered and presented to the readers in a relaxed and entertaining manner.
Journalism Courses
You can pursue Journalism at the Diploma, PG Diploma, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate level. Although the eligibility criteria are different for all the courses. While a class 12 pass in any stream is a must for Undergraduate level courses, a Bachelor's degree in any discipline is mandatory for PG diploma, Diploma, and Postgraduate level courses. Some of the popular Journalism courses are given below:
| Diploma in Journalism | Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) | BA Journalism, Film and Television Studies |
| Diploma in Documentary Photography | Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) | BA (Hons) Photojournalism |
| Diploma in Photojournalism | Bachelor of Mass Media | Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) |
| Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | BA in Journalism |
Master of Journalism |
| PG Diploma in Journalism | Bachelors in Sports Journalism | Masters in Mass Communication |
| PG Diploma in Radio and TV Journalism | Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) | MA Broadcast Journalism |
Popular Journalism Colleges
There are numerous colleges in India that offers Journalism courses. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Asian College of Journalism
- Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Madras Christian College
- National Institute of Mass Communication and Journalism
- Chandigarh University
Journalism Entrance Exams
Some institutes also conduct entrance exams to give admission in Journalism courses. Some of the popular entrance exams are:
- AIMCET/GMCET
- IIMC Entrance Exam
- JMI Entrance Exam
- ACJ Entrance Exam
- XIC XET
- DUET
- MASCOM Entrance Exam
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With over 7 years of experience in the digital content arena, Vikrant specializes in creating unique content specific to the Media, Journalism, Film and TV stream for Shiksha. He writes articles and news covering th... Read Full Bio