Excellent language skill , an analytical mind and intense interest in reading and investigating are at the core of journalistic work. Making observations, drawing logical conclusions and forming an opinion is a process journalists follow. Success will require deep knowledge of the subject you are dealing with.
Intending journalists could be students of economics, philosophy, law, international studies or just any subject preferably at the postgraduate level. Keep writing, reflecting, reading. Develop a style of your own.
Introduction
Journalism is about information, something modern society depends on for its existence. Information is power and the press is one of the main forces controlling the flow of power in the free world. This is so even in India where the 'reach ' of the printed media is shadowed by that of the television, radio and the internet.
Journalism has been referred to as the fourth estate from the time of the French Revolution in the 18th century. The royalty, the clergy and the commoners were the three estates and as the press grew in power and influence over society it was called the Fourth Estate.
Journalism involves essentially the task of reporting, writing, photographing, illustrating or editing for newspapers, magazines, PTI, AIR, Doordarshan, or for a dot com.
The press began as the sole mass medium of information at the beginning of the 18th century. In England a daily newspaper was reporting on the happenings at a time when all other means of communicating news were slow and irregular. The function of journalist aims not only to inform, but to instruct, entertain, and somewhat influence public opinion. It reports and analyses events. It comments on the implications of an event. When people see the newspaper in the morning they have already heard the news on the TV or radio .They look for a great deal of detail in the newspaper.
Today 600 million people in India over the age of 14 are exposed to various media. Nearly 280 million connect to the print medium, 480 million watch TV, almost 200 million listen to the radio and 180 million watch films in cinema halls. The challenge in media related careers is immense.
Journalists are working in diverse areas. With over 25,000 newspapers/periodicals/magazines/journals in the print medium, a network of government/commercial radio channels as well as the national and private TV networks, etc., the challenge for journalists is evident. Enormous opportunities exist for producers of software for broadcasting, technical staff and cameramen, visual and graphic designers and for performing artists. The news team and anchor persons have catapulted to prominence in the last decade. There are nevertheless more serious challenges to encounter with the worldwide web reaching unprecedented heights.
There is a free flow of members between the three mediums - Print, Electronic and the Internet. Everyone needs young men and women as proof readers, correspondents, reporters, contributors, photographers, illustrators, and cartoonists, and editors. They might want experienced people but they don't get them too often and often they prefer young people, fresh from college, who are more open to learning and who command lower salaries.
Nature of Work
Newspaper journalism
Reporters and Sub-Editors - As a reporter you'll go out to cover events, functions, press conferences and the like. But much of your work will be in the office where you will write down your reports. During your training the abilities you demonstrate will make a lasting impression. You cannot get the big time stories from day one. Trainees find themselves assigned to all sorts of tasks. The approach required is the hand-me-down assignments.
Curiosity and observation are essential qualities in a good journalist. They show up easily in a reporter's work. Your interest in every thing of concern, your style and how much editing is done to your pieces, your sentence structure, leads (opening lines), proficiency in dealing with a special area - all determine how fast you will graduate to become a special correspondent. Poor knowledge means a lot of research work under deadline pressure. Even in leisure reporters cultivate news sources.
If you don't like reporting you could get a desk job. As a graduate without experience you could get any editorial position other than that of sub-editor. A sub-editor is not like a deputy or assistant editor because he doesn't take editorial decisions - he follows them. Sub-editors do read manuscript and reject unusable ones. Their main work is to go through the copy filed by the reporter checking the grammar, punctuation, style, factual and general consistency. Sub eds are recruited either from other newspapers or fresh after graduation. If a special interest and flair for writing on a specific area is noticed they may move to a department suited to their skills. The popular assumption is that some experience of writing / rewriting and subbing is necessary for a journalist.
Associate/assistant editors are responsible for particular subjects, such as sports, international news, education, careers, family, etc.
Editors - Editors are overall responsible for the publication. They decide what has to be published i.e. the content. They allot topics to writers and journalists, hire writers, plan the budget, make contracts with stringers and set the general policy of the newspaper.
Freelance journalists - A newspaper has reporters and news agencies for news pages material but for features, humour, leisure columns, pieces on travel that do not fall in the news category are provided for by the stringer or the freelancer. Freelance journalists are paid for each piece or article they write on specific areas.
Columnist - Specialists are appointed for regular columns.
Commentators - Eminent professionals and personalities are invited to write on topical issues or leading articles on a selected subject.
Visual Illustrators - Cartoonists, artists, Cartographers and Photojournalists are required both in newspaper journalism and magazine journalism.
Magazine journalism
Magazine publishing bears a similar structure to that of a newspaper. There is an editor, associate editors and journalists. Magazine journalism is focussed to a specific clientele e.g. women or children. The job hence is specific to the purpose of the magazine. Topics are decided by the editor and assigned to writers/ journalists who research, interview relevant people and prepare the story. Magazines normally include a number of pictures and graphics.
Television & Radio
Newsmakers and anchor persons - Television news broadcasting requires specialized "on-camera" personnel - anchor persons, television news reporters and broadcast news analysts.
Reporters and Correspondents - Reporters and correspondents cover news stories, business issues, sports events, travel destinations, and prepare fashion or entertainment programmes. The job involves covering the story, production, voice recording, sound mixing etc. TV or radio reporters and broadcasters have a good command over the language , eloquence, and public speaking ability.
Editor - Editor's select, edit, sequence and highlight the shots.
Production team
Production of a programme for TV, video, radio involves the producer and his technical team.
Producer - The programme is conceptualised by the producer. He coordinates to get the script ready, chooses artists, discusses the style of presentation with media experts and researchers and manages the production.
Production assistants (PAs) - Production assistants provide the essential support for carrying out the production.
Researchers Researchers collect relevant material, both textual and visual and prepare materials to be used for the production of a programme. They often record interviews, and research from libraries or literature on the theme.
Freelance Scriptwriters -. Script writing requires a complete grasp of the topic at hand and is generally done by professionals, entertainers, subject specialists who have some training or experience for writing of scripts.
Continuity Scripting - Broadcasts are intercepted with fillers of many kinds such as station announcements, previews of coming shows, local advertisements for sponsors which are prepared by professional voice lenders, sound mixers etc. after a script has been prepared.
Broadcast Scripting - A special programme for a special occasion or for a particular time slot requires scripting.
Floor Managers - Managers on the sets liaison between the director/producer and artists and camera/ technical team. They work ahead to prepare for the production work, the set and all the props. They have the scripts and communicate messages.
Camera team - Camera team carries out both indoor and outdoor shoots. Outside shooting is used for sports, state functions and outdoor events.
Sound technicians - The job involves recording dialogues, sound and music, sound mixing and dubbing. The job is done under the direction of the producer with professional broadcasters, artists and musicians.
Transmission executives - They monitor the quality of the transmission during a broadcast.
Work Conditions
* Journalism is strenuous, perhaps more so than any other white collared job. It means a lot of work.
* Forget the fixed 9 to 5 hours schedule. There are late duty shifts - the newspaper is printed after all, at night. If you are a reporter --- there could be a major fire in a hotel room at 11 p.m. You rush off with the photographer for a quick story on the rescue operations and file in the report.
* Sub-editors often work in night shifts and editors may stay till late in the night.
* The profession offers more variety than any other.
* The reporter constantly interacts with people: sometimes with high life at cocktail parties, but more often with the other end of the social spectrum or those in between - on the crime beat with policemen, on a general reaction story with the man on the street.
* Desk job requires long hours of working on the script.
Personal Qualities
* Deep insight, broad based education, awareness of current issues
* Excellent writing skills, clear and logical expression is required
* Good observation and an inquisitive mind
* Accuracy and thoroughness in reporting
* A self-driven approach and perseverance are valuable assets
* Editors have innovative ideas and establish the style of the publication
* Editors should be able to lead and coordinate the efforts of a team
* Ability to work within deadlines will be required
* Alertness, a nose for details, tact and ability to sift relevant facts from the irrelevant are required by journalists
Job Prospects
* Newspaper groups of the English/Vernacular medium
* Newsagencies, News Bureaus, Press Trust of India
* English/Vernacular magazines
* Journals
* Government service- Indian Information Service (Group A), Directorates of publicity
* Radio/TV news service
* Video magazines
* Advertising and Visual Communication agencies
* Free lancing
Other options
There are some ex-journalist professions
Public relations - Most PR persons have some kind of a journalistic background. The press being the most powerful instrument for PR, the journalists do very well.
Agency - There are an increasing number of agencies offering integrated services - editing, composing , typesetting, layout design and production and printing all under one roof. They produce books, in-house journals, embassy periodicals, literature and sometimes regular monthlies for clients. The journalist has experience of handling all these tasks. There are also many syndicates coming up which are agencies supplying features, news reports and columns by prominent writers who do not sell directly to a specific newspaper, but to several publications.
Free lance photography and photo banks
Entry Routes
If you join a newspaper as a fresh graduate you'll go through a period of training. During this time, what you do depends on the newspaper. You may indicate your interest to pursue a desk or field job on taking your first job. Some papers may put trainees onto the desk, to do rewriting/subbing and later they are sent for reporting.
Courses in journalism can be pursued after school or after graduation in English, Hindi and regional languages
Andhra Pradesh
* Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530003 AP
Bachelors in Journalism & Mass Communication, Masters in Journalism & Mass Communication
* Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar 522510, Dt. Guntur
M.A. in Mass Communication
* Sri Padmavathi Mahila, Visvaridyaeyam, Tirupati 517502, Chitoor Dist.
MA in Communication & Journalism
* University of Hyderabad, PO Central University, Hyderabad 500134
MA Communication
* Osmania University, Administrative Building Hyderabad 500007
Dip. in Journalism Research based M.Phil course in Communication
* Sri Krishnadevaraya Univ. Sri Venkateswarapuram, Anantpur 515003
Diploma in Journalism
Bihar
* Ranchi University, Ranchi 834001
Diploma in Journalism, M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication
* Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Kameshwarnagar 840004
B.A in Journalism
* Magadh University, Bodh Gaya 824234
MA(Journalism)
* Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur-760007, Distt. Ganjan
Bachelor/ Masters in Journalism & Mass Communication
* Purvanchal University, Devkali Jasopur, Jaunpur 222001
Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication
Delhi
* Jawaharlal Nehru Univ., New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110067
Diploma in Mass media in Urdu
* Indian Institute of Mass Communication Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU Campus, New Delhi 110 007
Post graduate diploma inJournalism (English), New Delhi, Dhankanal, Orissa
Post graduate diploma in Journalism (Hindi), New Delhi
Postgraduate diploma in journalism for the electronic medium.
* YMCA Jai Singh Road, New Delhi
Diploma in Journalism
* Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025
M.A in Mass Communication
* University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007
Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication in Hindi
* Indira Gandhi Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
PG Diploma in Writing for Correspondence
Goa
* Goa University, P.O.Santacruz, Daman & Diu, Bambolin 403005
BA with Mass Media Communication as a component group subject
Gujrat
* Saurashtra University, Univ. Campus, Kalwad Road, Rajkot 360005
Diploma in Journalism
* Gujarat University, Navrangpura Ahmedabad 300009
Diploma in Communication Journalism & Public relations
* Bhavnagar University, Gaurishanker Lake Road, Bhavnagar 364002
Diploma in Journalism
* South Gujarat University, Post Box No. 49, Udhna Magdalla Road Surat 395007
Diploma in Journalism
* Mudra Institute of Comunications, Shela, Ahmedabad 380058
Postgraduate diploma in Communications The institute also conducts a faculty induction course
* South Gujarat University, Post Box No. 49, Udhna Magdalla Road Surat 395007
B.A in Journalism
Haryana
* Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 132119
MA Journalism
Himachal Pradesh
* HP University, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005
B.A in Journalism and Mass communication
* H N Bahuguna Garhwal Univ., Srinagar 246174, Garhwal Distt.
Dip. in Journalism
Jammu & Kashmir
University of Kashmi, University Campus, Hazratbal, Srinagar190066
* M.A in Journalism and Mass communication
Karnataka
* Mysore Vishwavidhyalaya ,Karya Soudha Crawford, Hall, Mysore 570005
BA Journalism/MA Communication
* Bangalore University, Jnana Bharati, Bangalore 560056
B.A. Journalism/ Communication,MS Communication
* University of Mysore, Manas, Gangotri, Mysore 570005
Diploma/ BA in Journalism
* Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore 560056
Mass Communication specialisation available in Broadcasting and Film Media, Magazine, Production, Journalism Communication and Interpretative & Investigative Reporting ,Bachelors in Communication, Masters in Communication
* Mangalore University, University Campus, Mangalagangothri 574199
MA Mass Communication & Journalism
* Karnataka University, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad 580003
B.A. Mass Communication, M.A. in Mass Communication & Journalism
Kerala
* Manonmaniam Sundaranai University, Univ. Campus, Abbushekapatti, Tirunelveli 627008
Dip. in Journalism
* Bharathidasan University Palkalai Perur, Tiruchirapalli 620024
Dip. in Journalism
* Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin University , PO Cochin 682022
Dip. in Administrative Drafting and reporting in Hindi
* University of Calicut, Mallapurum, Calicut 673635
Diploma in Journalism
Maharashtra
* Nagpur University, Rabindranath Tagore Mg., Nagpur 440001
Diploma
* Shreemati Nathibhai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, 1 Nathibai Thackersey, Road, Mumbai 400020
Diploma in Communication and Media Development
* Garware Institute of & Development, Vidyanagri, Kalina Campus, Santa Cruz (East) Mumbai 400098
Diploma in Communication Journalism
* KC College of Management Studies, KC College Building, 1st Floor, Room No. 7, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020
Diploma in Journalism
* St. Xaviers Institute of Communication, St. Xaviers College Campus, Building No.3, 1st Floor, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai
Diploma in Journalism and Mass Media
* University of Mysore, Manas, Gangotri, Mysore 570005
Diploma in Journalism
* Sophia College Polytechnic, Sophia College Campus, Babubhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026
Diploma in Social Communication Media
* KT Somaiya Instt. of Management Studies, Vidyanagri, Vidya Vihar, Mumbai
Diplomain Journalism and Communication
* Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat 388 120
MA Journalism
* Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007
Bachelor of Journalism,Diploma in Journalism, Master of Communication Studies
* Shivaji University. Vidyanagar, Kolhapur 416004
Bachelor in Journalism and Communication Studies
* Dr. B S Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad 431004
Bachelor in Journalism,BA Mass Communication & Journalism
Masters in Communication and Journalism
* Marathwada University, Aurangabad 431004
B.A with Mass Communication and Journalism as a subject/ /BA in Journalism
* University of Mumbai M.G. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400032
Dip in Journalism & Mass Comm.
BA in Journalism (BJ) ,BA script writing, Masters in Communication & Journalism CJ
Madhya Pradesh
* Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, E-8/76, Arera Colony, P.O.Box R S N/60 Bhopal 462016
Master's Degree in Journalism and Public Relation;
Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Rural & Tribal Communication
Part-time evening courses in Press laws; Diploma course for Rural Journalists
* Rani Durgawati Vishwavidyalaya Panchpeedhi, Jabalpur 482001
Diploma in Journalism and communication
* Guru Ghasidas University, PO Koni, Bilaspur 495009
Bachelor in Journalism & Mass Communication
* Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya 169 Ravindra Nath Tagore Marg, Indore452001
Bachelor in Journalism & Mass Communication
* Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwa Vidyalaya PO Nayagaon, Distt. Satna 485331 (MP)
Bachelor in Journalism Mass Communication,MA(Journalism) & Mass Communication
* Ravi Shankar University, Raipur 492010
Bachelor in Journalism
* Dr.Hari Singh Gaur Vishwavidyalaya Gaurnagar, Sagar 470003
Bachelor in Journalism
North Eastern States
Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal 795003, Manipur
B.A in Journalism
B.A with Mass media as an allied subject
Punjab
* Punjabi University, Patiala 147002
BJMC,M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication
* Punjab Agricultural Univ Ludhiana 141004
M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication
* Punjab University, Chandigarh 160014
BMC (Bachelor's of Mass Communication)
PG Dip in Journalism MMC (Master of Mass Communication)
Rajasthan
* Rajasthan University, Jaipur 302004
Diploma in Folkloristic & Journalism
Tamilnadu
Annamalai University, P O Annamalai Nagar, 608002
* Course in Journalism
* Alagappa University, Alagappa, Nagar, Karaikudi 623004
Sports Journalism
* Dakshina Bharati Hindi Prachar Sabha, PB No.1419, Thygarayanagar, Chennai 600027
Hindi Journalism(evening course)
* Bharathiyar University, Maruthamalai Road, Coimbatore 641046
MA in Communication
* Avinashlingam Institute Home Science and Higher Education for Women
MA in Journalism
* Madras University, Centenary Building, Chepauk, Chennai 600005
MA Communication and Journalism ,Certificate course in effective communication
* Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai 625021
Diploma in Mass Media & Communication,Part time Diploma in Journalism
UttarPradesh
* Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202001
Diploma in Journalism
* Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, P.O. Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar 249 404
Dip. in Hindi Journalism
* Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut 250005
Diploma in Journalism
* University of Agra, Agra 282004
Diploma in Mass media
* Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi,221005
B.A in Journalism
M.A in Journalism
* Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi 221002
Bachelor in Journalism
* University of Lucknow, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow 226007
MA Journalism
West Bengal
* University of Calcutta, Senate House, 87 College Street, Calcutta 700073
B.A & MA with Journalism
* Rabindra Bharati Univ. 6/4 Dwarkanath Tagore Lane, Calcutta 700007
M.A in Mass Communication
Subscribe to us
100% Free.
close