Radio Journalism: Colleges offering Radio courses, Career and Scope

Interested in working in Radio Journalism? Check out the courses, the scope and career options in the field of Radio.

Since the invention of the Radio in 1896 by Guglielmo Marconi, the radio has been one of the greatest inventions to disseminate information to the masses. Ever since then, the evolution of radio has modernised rapidly and in today's world, radio plays an important medium to distribute information in the form of news and entertainment. Right from the '70s, people have been glued to the radio, listening to the latest music, hearing celebrities talk, hear the latest news on the go and especially hear their favourite Radio Jockey (RJ) talk. In the field of Journalism and Mass Communication, radio has played a pivotal role. 

While the early '90s saw the rise of Video Jockeys (VJs), with the advent of FM, Radio Jockeys became popular with a personality of their own. Disco Jockeys (DJs) have been around for ages and have their rightful place. If you are interested in making a career in radio journalism and want to become an RJ, there are many universities and colleges in India that offer courses in radio. Students can either pursue a full-fledged course in Journalism and Mass Communication or can pursue a diploma in Radio Journalism. 

Courses Offered in Radio

There are various diploma and certificate programmes like:

Colleges offering Radio Journalism

The following colleges/universities offer courses in Journalism and Mass Communication which include Radio Journalism. 

Radio Journalism Required Skills

Other than meeting the eligibility criteria of a course, to become an RJ, one requires talent and should have the required skills to succeed in the field of Radio. Not everyone gets the opportunity to go on to become an RJ. One needs to have a journalistic mind and it's not always about entertainment or making people laugh. One needs to captivate the audience with their voice, inform people in a manner which they understand, use their wit and humour when required and should communicate in a way which stands out from the competition.

It is a talent-based field but for attaining perfection, it is required to hone their skills.

• Good Voice with proper modulation skills
• Pleasing personality for RJ aspirants
• Clear diction, pronunciation, flare and fluency in the language
• Good sense of Humour, individuality, creative bent of mind, spontaneity and updated about the current affairs.
• Must have a down to earth, friendly and approachable attitude.
• Attentive and sharp-minded. 

Radio Journalism: Scope

Radio has been around for a very long time, since the 1900s, however, in today's modern and advanced world, technology has come a long and people no longer have radios at their home as they can listen to the radio on their smartphones, their stereo systems and through the internet. Other than FMs and AMs, radio is now global just by searching a channel on the internet. Other than an RJ, one can be a scriptwriter, be a sound engineer, a sound producer, marketing strategist, analyst and many more options. However, when it comes to salary, one can earn a decent package, however, not as much as earned in the television line. 

Radio Journalism: Salary

With many radio and TV channels, candidates willing to pursue this as a career will find a number of options. The salary of an RJ varies from city to city and also depends on the Radio Station one is working for. The starting salary of an RJ in Tier 3 cities can be anywhere between Rs 7,000 to Rs 20,000 per month while for a VJ it is Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Further, in Tier 2 cities the salary of an RJ may range between Rs 20,000 to Rs Rs 45,000 and in Tier 1 cities may be around Rs 45,000 and above.

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