Career as Journalist
Journalism can be defined as an act of gathering and presenting news and relevant information from different sources, in a presentable format through various means like articles, reports, newspapers, broadcasts, or through social media. In this fast-paced life, everyone wants to keep themselves ahead of the latest development. Journalism helps in keeping track of the latest ongoing around you. With the increase in the popularity of the social media, Journalism is extending itself on various means today. One of the latest developments include Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp becoming a mainstream source to gather information quickly. With the rise of digital media, fake news and disinformation are increasing day by day. Journalism keeps a check on this and helps you get all the relevant and reliable information, making it a desirable field as a career.
- About Journalist :
- Job Profile |
- How do I get there?
Job Profile
Journalism requires a lot of hard work of years to become a successful journalist. With the advancement of the digital era, there is a constant need for reliable information that is easily accessible and authentic. This field is a never-ending process and teaches you every single day and helps you explore various prospects. Various private, as well as government news channels and newspaper agencies, require young professionals for this emerging profession. You can kick start your career by working with government agencies and after the much-needed experience and exposure, you can smoothly uplift your career with any private company.
Journalism is a very vast field which includes various roles. You might be working on the field covering numerous thrilling and important stories or you might get assigned proof-reading work over a desk. Some of the most common designations include Reporter, Feature Writer, Proofreader, Sub Editor, Designer or News editor. These different roles require different sets of skills and knowledge.
In India, a journalist can earn a minimum salary of Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 per year. A starter or intern may get Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 and it will go on increasing with years of experience. Senior reporters after 10-12 years of experience get around Rs 1-2 Lacs per month. The salary of a chief editor is usually around Rs 5 Lakh per month. Various news channels like India TV, Aaj Tak, ABP News, always look for graduates with experience and also provide internships.
Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster
Pros and Cons of Being a Journalist
Pros
- It is a gratifying career for those who want to learn something new every day.
- It is the new diversified sector which is continuously evolving with the digital era and is full of opportunities.
- The future aspects of the sector are promising as there is a constant demand for authentic information.
- Journalism offers you the opportunity to meet new people.
Cons
- Journalism is all depend upon the authentic information, if the sources of your information are misleading or inappropriate it may result in a disastrous situation.
- This job constantly requires frequent travelling, long working hours and working under deadlines and pressure.
- Journalism requires practical, on-field training, analytical and decision making skills to excel in this profession
How do I get there?
To start an exciting career in Journalism, you have to start by clearing your 12th class from any stream. Once you have completed your 12th class, you can then opt-in for either a three-year degree course, or a one-year diploma course, or a certificate course as well. Students can enroll in Bachelors of Journalism (BJ), Bachelor of Journalism and Mass communication (BJMS), Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM), and even Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BA) which is an undergraduate (UG) program of three-years in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication. For candidates who doesn’t want to apply for a full-fledged three-year degree course, can also opt-in for a one-year diploma course. Students who wish to explore Journalism can enroll in MA in Journalism which is a PG program of two-years. Students can find work as Reporters, Correspondents, Editors, and Writers etc. after completing MA in Journalism.
How much does it cost?
The average cost for a one-year diploma in Journalism ranges from Rs 10,000 to 5 Lakh depending upon the type of institution you chose. The average tuition fee cost of a comprehensive three-year UG course in Journalism ranges from Rs 5000 to 5 Lakh per year. Some private schools and colleges can charge more based on the facilities provided. The average tuition fee for two years MA in Journalism ranges from Rs 50,000 to 2 Lakh. There are various government colleges that offer the course at a lower cost also.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become a Journalist?
There are various colleges in India which offer excellent
quality education and top-class infrastructure facilitates for
students. Some of the colleges are:
|
Rank of College |
Name of College, City |
Programme Fees (in Rs) |
|
1 |
Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore |
UG Diploma – Rs 4.15 Lakh for a full-time 1-year course |
|
2 |
Lady Shri Ram College for Women |
UG Degree – Rs 30,000 for 1st Year |
|
3 |
Christ University, Bangalore |
UG Degree – Rs 85,000 for 1st Year |
|
4 |
Delhi College of Arts and Commerce |
UG Degree – Rs 30,000 for 1st year |
|
5 |
SIMC, Pune |
PG Degree – Rs 4 Lakh for 1st Year |
|
6 |
IIMC, Delhi |
PG Diploma –Rs 72,000 for a full-time 1-year course |
Books and other Study Material
Below mentioned are some of the books that will surely help you in endeavouring this profession.
- Textbook of Journalism by Sumit Chawla
- Handbook of Journalism and Mass Communication by V. S. Gupta and Vir Bala Aggarwal
- NTA UGC Net Mass Communication and Journalism
- Elements of Journalism by Kovach Bill and Tom Rosenstiel
What if this career does not work out for me? What are the other options for a person with these credentials?
Journalism is one of the most tremendously expanding fields of choice as a career. It gives you a new perspective and forces you to expand your limits. If you do not prefer a job after the completion of the Journalism course, you can start your newspaper agency, blog, news websites etc. There are few options also available for doing a PhD in Journalism after completing your PG course.
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Content on this page is by Career Expert Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile |