CAREER IN MASS MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

This section consists of:

Courses in Mass media:
Top Mass Communication Colleges in India
Career in Mass Communication
Career in Journalism
Career in Photojournalism
Career in Advertising
Career as a Film Director
Career as a RJ
Career as a TV Anchor/commentator
Exams in Mass Media and Communication

Courses in Mass media: Media means different means of communication such as TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc. including the press or news reporting agencies, taken collectively, which is particularly deigned to reach out to a large audience or masses( internet media such as blogs, message boards, video sharing).
Mass communication is the study of mass media. Mass communication incorporates all types of medium used to convey all sort of information. These medium could be newspaper, magazines and television or radio etc. An individual trained in this field has a fair chance to build a promising career for himself in this sector. They can try their luck in print media, electronic media, advertising field and public relation sector as well as in research field too. Here is the list of top ten career options of this field:

Career as Journalist: Students who have completed their mass communication can pursue their career as journalist. This is one of the most preferred career choices of maximum students who have completed their mass communication. They want to make their career as a journalist as it gives them name and fame. They can choose their career in print media or in electronic media. They can also work with top media house or in magazines. They can work with some newspaper, magazine, tabloid, or with some TV channel.

Career in Advertising: Advertising is the business of communicating a message to an audience through the media newspapers, magazines, radio, television, hoardings in public places etc. Every product that is available in the market needs to be advertised. A career in advertising is very creative and generally gives lot of professional satisfaction. Advertising professionals work in close coordination with the companies whose product or service has to be promoted or sold.

Career as TV Anchor: Students of this field can make their career as TV anchor. This is one of the most lucrative fields. Aspiring professionals can earn hefty amount in this profession. TV news anchoring/program anchoring has emerged as a popular career option in the country after the entry of satellite channels and 24/7 news channels.

Career as Photojournalist: A photo journalist plays a very vital role in any print media as well in electronic media too. A good picture is better than thousand written words. A photo journalist can works with sports magazines, beauty magazines, newspapers and other sectors of print media. A good photo journalist can earn a handsome amount. A photo journalist can also work as freelancer with many organisations. He/she can sell his/her photographs to media houses, magazines and other publishing houses and can earn a very hefty amount.

Career as content Writer: Content writing can be defined as producing content for the web. It is often dubbed as web content writer, because it has emerged as a job related to the cyber media. In the age of globalisation, writing articles, stories and blogs on websites has emerged as an effective way of expanding one’s business and promoting any service or product through internet. Writing for website is totally different from writing for newspapers and magazines or any other media. The job of the content writer not only involves writing articles, but also includes lots of research work too.

Career as Radio Jockey: Radio Jockey is specially someone who plays music on radio of his own or audience’s choice. He/she interacts with people, delivering relevant local, national or international news and information in his/her own style. This career require rationality, creativity, right use of words, a good sense of humour, excellent communication skills, appealing and clear voice, and good sense of music. This is not conventional career option, but it is emerging as one of the most sought after career choices among the youth. With the advent of more and more FM channels, this profession has become a popular career choice among the aspirants.

Career in Film Editing: Editing is an integral part of film making. Film editing can be defined as a process of selecting the scenes and combining them in right sequence, in order to make a motion picture. Sometimes, film editing is referred to as an ‘invisible art’ because viewers generally are not aware of the work a film editor. A film editor has to keep various points in mind while editing a movie like story, rhythm, and audience focus of interest. This profile has become a money spinning job, nowadays demand for the trained professionals in this field has increased a lot.

Career in Screen Play Writing: Screen play writing can be defined as writing documents that consists of the story of a film or a television program. All the work of director, cast, editor and production team moves around the screenplay or script. Therefore, script should be written in a good manner, so that every member of the team can have a clear idea of the story. There are two important part of this style of writing- action and dialogue. Screenplay writing has emerged as lucrative career option.

Career in Media Planning: With the media and advertising industry emerging as the most powerful ways of communication. The career option in this field is increasing. Media planning is most promising career option in present situation. It includes selection of media for the placement of advertisement on behalf of clients, keeping the budget and target audience in mind. A media planner acts as a mediator between media organisation and clients. They help client to buy media space for the advertisement. Media planner should have good communication skills, pleasing personality and pro-active good observer. Thorough knowledge of current media trends is also important to excel in this field.

Career as Voice-over Artist: A voice-over artist is a person who lends his/her voice to complement the visuals being telecast on the screen. It can be considered as off-screen commentary. It is a technique wherein voice is modulated in order to be broadcast along with the visuals of a tele film, documentary, advertisement, television serial or news. Radio also makes use of voice-over artist to convey important massages. A voice over artist should have good command over language and should know more than two languages, clarity of voice, pitch of the voice, tone as well as silence in accordance with the gestures and body language of the character.

Career as PR Manager: PR managers are responsible for effective and impressive communication and play a very important role in the matter of policy making. They also develop healthy relationship between various departments within the organisation itself and external public. They can find jobs in both public and private sectors. Government departments hire their own PR spokes persons. They can also find jobs in corporate houses, media houses, political parties, banking, finance, insurance, advertising agencies, hotels, tour and travel agencies, export houses, consultancy etc.

Mass communication encompasses all the means by which information can be transmitted to a large number of people. In this age, the mass communication industry is commonly called media and entertainment. According to a report by a well-known research & analytics company, India showed a remarkable revenue growth in the media and entertainment industry at 11.2% in the year 2010. With the increase in the number of internet users, television sets in Indian household, and satellite channels, media sector is expecting a higher growth in the next year as well. Along with this, there is always a requirement for fresh content and new ideas in different fields of mass communication such as television and advertising, to keep the viewer or consumer interested. Therefore, mass communication offers a dynamic career option for well educated and trained professionals. It is no wonder that more youth today are enrolling in mass communication courses in India.

Career in Media: Media is a term used to store and deliver information or data through books, magazines, news papers, television, Internet and radio .Media is a magical tool used to bring about social change. It is a great example of social movement to educate, cultivate, organize, and communicate; and to share cultural and personal events etc. Though the term media is singular in nature, it is widely used as collective term for news agencies or press.
Print media is comprised of periodicals printed on paper such as magazines, newspapers, books, and directories. Though printing came into existence before 220 AD in the form of letter carving on wood, the modern day printing techniques were developed only after the fifteenth century. Nowadays the total volume of printed text exceeds more than 44 trillion pages a year, globally. More than 31,000 printing and publications companies are running in United States alone. In India alone, there are 63,000 newspapers being published and number of subscriptions exceeds 180 millions. The social impact of print media is huge as it has the potential to change the way people think. It enhances their knowledge and changes their mindset.

Current Scenario of Media in India

Electronic media is referred to the digital information shared with the users mainly through TV, films and the Internet. It is mainly comprised of audio and video communication. Social media is also an example of electronic media. Social media uses this technology and it can be used through mobile phones and laptops. It is one of the most powerful tools for information sharing, gaming, interacting, tracing old friends, marketing and entertaining the masses. You can also use this media to update, influence, educate, advertise and sell your products.
Advertising and maintaining client relationships on social media and networking sites is quite economical as compared to other means and channels of advertising such as hoarding, banners, posters, neon signs and glow signs. You can take up courses in mass communication or journalism to get into the field of media. Professional acumen, linguistic abilities, effective communication and a passion for results can take you places in the field of media.

Entrance Exams for Media

There is no major common exam for a course in media or mass communication. Prominent media houses hire from IIMs, XLRI-Jamshedpur, the SIBM, Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon, and JBIMS.

Top Media Colleges in India

Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU New Campus, New Delhi
A J K Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Manipal Institute of Communication, Udayavani Building, Press Corner, Manipal
Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune
Asian College of Journalism, Express Building, 1 Queen’s Road, Bangalore
Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Poona, Pune
New Delhi YMCA, Centre for Mass Media, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi
Amity School of Journalism and Communication, (More available at AKC House, E-27 Defence Colony, New Delhi
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Apeejay Campus, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi
Academy for Photographic Excellence [APEx], New Delhi
Bharati Vidya Bhavan’s Sardar Patel College of Communication & Management, New Delhi
Delhi College of Arts & Commerce, New Delhi
EMPI Institute of Advertising & Communication, New Delhi
Indraprastha College for Women, 31 Shyam Nath Marg, New Delhi
School of Vocational Studies, H-58 South Extension Part I, New Delhi

Courses in Mass Communication Field

Students who wish to have a career in mass communication have a range of courses to select from, including short duration certificate courses to doctoral programs in mass communication. A number of colleges also offer mass communication study programs in the form of 3 years Bachelors degree, 2 years post graduate degree and 1 year post graduate diploma. The durations for certificate and diploma courses vary depending on the nature of the program and the college that is offering it. Here are the popular career courses in mass communication at each course level:

Undergraduate Courses	Media Studies Journalism Film and Television Production
Post Graduate Courses	Journalism Advertising Convergent Journalism Communication Management
Certificate Courses	Photojournalism Sports Writing Science Reporting Broadcasting Compering Creative Writing Disc Jockey Radio Jockey Public Speaking Photography Poetry Writing Print Journalism
Diploma Courses	Business Reporting Corporate Communication Journalism & Mass Communications Film, Television & Digital Video Production Mass Communication
Post Graduate Diploma Courses	Journalism Public Relations Advertising and Marketing Broadcast Technology Health Communication

Eligibility Criteria for Mass Communication Courses

Getting admission into a mass communication course in a college is possible only if you meet the minimum eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria for certificate courses cannot be given since it depends on the nature of the course. For instance, a Course for Disk Jockey requires a 10th standard qualification, whereas for a Science Reporting Certificate Course one needs to have completed a Bachelors degree in Science. Depending on the college, Diploma programs can have an eligibility criterion similar to that of an undergraduate or even a post graduate level. As most of the courses are offered at both undergraduate and post graduate levels, the eligibility criteria for mass communication courses are:

Undergraduate level:

Must have passed the 12th standard board examination

Post Graduate level:

Must be below 30 years of age (depending on college)

Must have obtained a Bachelors degree in any discipline

Must have experience in some media related work (optional)

Top Mass Communication Colleges in India

Studying a mass communication program from a well known college will make a huge difference in the job opportunities you get in the media and communications industry. Several agencies conduct surveys to find the best mass communication colleges in the country. The following top 10 mass communication colleges in India are adjudged according to a survey conducted by the Outlook magazine for the year 2011:

Name of College	Location	Courses Offered	Admission Procedure
1. Xavier Institute of Communication (XIC)	Mumbai	Certificate: Announcing, Broadcasting, Compering, Dubbing and E Book Narration (ABCDE), Creative Writing, Disc Jockey or Electronic Music Production, Radio Jockey, Public Speaking, Photography, Poetry Writing Diploma: Advertising & Marketing Communications, Journalism & Mass Communications, Film, Television & Digital Video Production, Public Relations & Corporate Communications, Mass Communication in Marathi Language	Certificate: First come first served Diploma: XIC Online Entrance Test, Personal Interview and Group Discussion
2. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ)	Chennai	Post Graduate Diploma: Journalism	Post Graduate Diploma: Entrance Test, Interview
3. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)	Delhi	Post Graduate Diploma: Journalism, Advertising & Public Relations	Post Graduate Diploma: All India Entrance Examination, Group Discussion, Interview
4. Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK – MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia University	Delhi	Post Graduate: M.A. in Mass Communication, M.A. in Convergent Journalism Post Graduate Diploma: P.G. Diploma in Broadcast Technology, P.G. Diploma in Development Communication, P.G. Diploma in Still Photography, P.G. Diploma in Graphics & Animation Doctoral: Ph.D. in Mass Communication	Post Graduate, P.G. Diploma, Doctoral: Entrance Test and Interview
5. Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (SIMC)	Pune	Undergraduate: Bachelor of Media Studies (B.M.S.)Post Graduate: Master of Business Administration (Communication Management), Master of Mass Communication	Undergraduate: Symbiosis Entrance Test Post Graduate: SNAP Test
6. Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media	Bangalore	Diploma: Journalism (Television, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine, New Media)Post Graduate Diploma: Journalism (Television, Radio, Newspaper, Magazine, New Media)	Diploma and P.G. Diploma: Online Written Test, Interview
7. Sarojini Naidu School of Fine Arts and Communication (University of Hyderabad)	Hyderabad	Post Graduate: M.A. (Communication)Post Graduate Diploma: Health Communication Doctoral: Ph.D. (Communication)	Post Graduate: Entrance Test Doctoral: Entrance Test
8. Department of Communication and Journalism (Pune University)	Pune	Post Graduate: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication Post Graduate Diploma (part time): Diploma in Journalism, Diploma in Mass Media	Post Graduate & P.G.D. (part time): Aptitude Test, Personal Interview, Computer Literacy Test
9. Manorama School of Communication	Kottayam	Post Graduate Diploma: Journalism	Post Graduate Diploma: Written Test, Interview
10. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan	Delhi	Diploma: Journalism (English and Hindi), Public Relations, Mass Communication (English and Hindi), Event Management, Marketing & Advertising, Diploma in 2D/3D Animation and Multimedia	Diploma: Admission Test, Interview

Entrance Exams for Mass Communication Courses

The selection procedure for most mass communication colleges is based on an entrance examination. Unfortunately there is no common admission test for these courses; each college conducts its own test. The exams although have a similar format and the syllabus usually includes current affairs, general awareness, English language, essay and computer aptitude. You can consider taking the following entrance tests for pursuing a mass communication course:

Career Prospects in Mass Communication

The post graduate diploma and degree programs in areas of mass communication usually include an internship within the duration of the course and most colleges also offer placement after its completion. Organizations that require mass communication graduates are news agencies, public relations companies, television channels, radio networks, event management companies, advertising and marketing firms, brand management agencies and internet companies. According to your area of specialization, you can work as a copywriter in an advertising firm like Ogilvy & Mather, Cygnus Advertising and Mudra Communications or even make your career as a news anchor or reporter or presenter or news desk editor in news channels like CNN-IBN, CNBC TV 18, Aaj Tak, NDTV, Times Now and Star News. There are a lot of mass communication pass-outs who venture out on their own and set up their own production houses, media or advertising agencies. Salary varies depending on the organization. It is with experience and increasing expertise that the prospects become brighter for a professional working in this field.

WHY MEDIA?

Media plays a very important role and has an influence in every aspect of our lives. It is considered as the best source to know the happenings around the world. Newspaper, magazine, radio, television and internet are the different types of media which greatly affects our lives because media has the power to influence our thoughts. Media at times is used just to convey a message.

MEDIA COURSES

Media study is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media, in particular, the mass media. The various disciplines under media studies consist of:

Mass communication
Journalism
Electronic media
Media production
Advertising
Film-making
Public relations
Radio jockeying
Video jockeying
Publishing & printing
Video editing

TOP MEDIA COLLEGES IN DELHI/NCR

Delhi School of Communication
Delhi College of Arts and Commerce
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Amity School of Communication

Amity School of Communication offers courses in Media, Mass Communication & Journalism & is affiliated to Amity University. The admission to most of these courses is done through various entrance tests at different levels and for rest of the courses the admission is done by applying directly to the college. The various courses offered are:

Graduate:

Bachelor of journalism & mass communication
Bachelor of journalism- mass communication (evening)
B.A (Honors)- Media studies

Post Graduate:

M.A- Advertising & marketing management
M.A- Film & TV production
M.A- PR & Event management
M.Sc- Visual communication
MBA- Media management
Master of journalism & mass communication
Post graduate diploma in radio broadcast & radio management
MassCo Media

MassCo Media is a new-age media institute located at Noida for the study of Broadcast journalism, TV production, Print journalism, Animation, etc. The courses offered are:

Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication (3 year degree program in partnership with Deakin University, Australia)
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (UGC recognized Indian University)
Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (UGC recognized Indian University)
Master Program in TV Production, Direction and Broadcast Journalism
Diploma in Broadcast Journalism and TV Production
Diploma in Animation, Gaming & Special Effects
Master Program in Advertising, PR and Marketing
PG Diploma in Event Management and PR
Diploma in Event Management and PR
Diploma in Professional Photography and Digital Imaging
Diploma in Character Animation & Gaming
Diploma in Corporate PR (for working professionals)
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication

AIMC was set up in 2003 to cater to the growing demands of students interested in pursuing career in Broadcast Journalism, Advertising, PR/Corporate Communication, Event Management, Social Media, Bollywood and also acquiring necessary skills in News Anchoring, Electronic Cinematography and Video Editing. The courses offered are:

M.A. in Mass Communication affiliated to UGC recognized University
PG Diploma in Advertising & Marketing communication
PG Diploma in Public Relations & Event Management
PG Diploma in Television & Radio Production with specialization in: Broadcast Journalism / News Reading / Anchoring/Video Editing
Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia

It is primarily known for its mass communication courses today. The courses offered are:

M.A. in Mass Communication
M.A. in Convergent Journalism
P.G. Diploma in Development Communication
P.G. Diploma in Broadcast Technology
P.G. Diploma in Still Photography & Visual Communication
P.G. Diploma in Graphics & Animation
P.G. Diploma in Acting
National Institute of Advertising, New Delhi

Courses offered are:

Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communications Management (PGDMCM) -Full Time
Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Communications

Career in Mass Communication

Changing times have revolutionized prospects in all most every career field one can find today. So many new and exciting career options are lined ahead that it is difficult to choose one. Mass communication is one such field which is attracting a lot of young these days and why not, when it has to offer such interesting career options in the fields, like various kinds of medias – newspapers, magazines, radio, television, advertisements, public relations etc. Though its presence has been there since long but it is only in recent times that it’s been able to earn due recognition. Efforts are on to add professionalism to different areas of mass communication, with many universities and institutions offering number of professional courses.

Mass communication covers a wide area, comprising of closely related fields of advertisement, communication and public relations. Almost all kinds of establishments whether business, government or political are availing of services, offered by these industries, therefore an encouraging sign for those looking ahead to making a career in mass communication.

Nature of Work

Mass communication is a vast field covering many areas under it. Some of these are discussed under the following headings.

PRINT JOURNALISM: In short, journalism is collecting and editing of news for presentation through media. Print journalism has been one of the oldest forms of journalism. Newspapers and magazines, big or small have always been major source of news and information throughout the world and millions of readers go through them daily. Over the years, print journalism has witnessed major transformation, the simple reporting of yesteryears has taken a shape of highly specialized and professional field owing to competition and other factors. The newspapers and magazines today cover a wide range of specialized sections like political events, business news, leisure, cinema, sports, career, health and so many other subjects, which demands for professionally qualified journalists. Given the variety of subjects to choose from, one can look forward to a field of his interest and pursue several avialable courses in that direction.

ELECTRONIC JOURNALISM: Introduction of electronic communicaiton especially through broadcasting has affected the lifestyles and thoughts of masses. Communication mediums like television, radio, audio, video etc. has made possible news, entertainment, information, education related subjects reach the very far and wide places. It has to an extent sidelined other forms of communication. With the growing network of TV, satellite communication, cable services, radio stations, etc., the future of this industry seems bright. Electronic journalism offers to professionally qualified aspirants opportunities in a number of fields. Some of these are direction, production, camera, graphics, editing, sound, programme research, script writing etc.

FILMS – PRODUCERS, ACTORS, MUSICIANS AND DANCERS When we talk of films today, there is no dearth of available professional career options. Although, it is not all that easy to taste success in one of the most competitive and sought after fields, but definitely for someone sanguine and determined, it can be quite rewarding. Films have always earned recognition and fascination of masses. There are so many different groups of people associated with the so-called big screen and one has a variety to choose from the available options from technical professions like directors, producers, soundmen, lightmen, cameramen, editors etc. to artists like actors, dancers, musicians, stuntmen etc.

The rapidly growing film industry and its certain future has led to various institutes offering highly professional courses. One definitely finds it useful to pursue these courses in order to hone their skills and make themselves better to compete with the best in the industry.

ADVERTISING: Advertising is brand building process of a product, idea, thought or a even a service, through effective mediums of communication. From newspapers, magazines, posters, signboards, bills to the commercials on radio, television and even Internet, advertising has come a long way. Business organisations, political organisations, social organisations, all find it important to advertise in order to influence public opinion.

Since advertising is a service industry, the reputation of the ad agency depends on the effective work being done and campaign released from time to time. This makes the job even more challenging. With the advent of the multinational companies, more and more Indian agencies are tying up with the the foreign agencies to pitch for international clients which is clearly indicative of high growth in coming years in this industry.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: Once, the simple operation of publicity, today has emerged as an important management function. Public Relations, as the name suggests, is used to generate and portray, positive image of an organisation by various means. Business houses, schools, universities, hospitals, government institutions, etc. engage public relations personnels and agencies to cast and present their image, objectives and policies in the best possible light.

For somebody to become a successful public relation consultant, it is imperative to have a liking to meet people alongwith excellent communication skills, ability to interact with, convince people, and build a rapport is important. The other traits should be quick decision making abilities and good organizational skills.

Personality

The sphere of mass communication being widely spread, requires a combination of skills and traits. Different areas asks for different qualities, but for anyone to take on any of the fields of mass communication definitely requires better than average performance in whatever one does. It is not easy to get in and progressing is even difficult. In general, excellent communication skills, being a good team player are important, besides being confident and hardworking. Physical stamina and will power count in favour for jobs in mass communication. Other attributes vary from one another depending upon the area one pursues.

Professional Courses

Colleges, Institutions and Universities
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU New Campus, New Delhi-110067
A J K Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025
Manipal Institute of Communication, Udayavani Building, Press Corner, Manipal-576119.
Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Senapati Bapat Marg, Pune-411004.
Asian College of Journalism, Express Building, 1 Queen’s Road, Bangalore-560001.
Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Poona, Pune-411004.
New Delhi YMCA, Centre for Mass Media, 1 Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001.
Amity School of Journalism and Communication, (More available at AKC House, E-27 Defence Colony, New Delhi -110024.
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Apeejay Campus, Sector 8 Dwarka, New Delhi-110075. Some of the other offered courses include the following.

Undergraduate courses (Journalism) offered by some colleges in Delhi University:

School of Vocational Studies, H-58 South Extension Part I, New Delhi-110024.

Indraprastha College for Women, 31 Shyam Nath Marg, New Delhi-110054.

Career Prospects

Diversification in different areas of mass communication is witnessing a steep rise and is expected to thrive further, on account of growing professionalism and advancement in this sector. Anyone who is creative, dynamic, enterprising and has a flair to project his ideas, thoughts, observation through different mediums of communication can accommodate himself comfortably in this industry. Computers, especially the advent of Internet has furthermore brought new and challenging opportunities in the communication segment. It is attracting a more and more people from traditional forms of mass media.

Opportunities for placement in diverse fields of mass communication are available in publishing houses, radio and television companies, corporate world, entertainment industry, media industry, advertising agencies, public relations agencies, government organisations etc. As far as remuneration is concerned it varies from one area of mass communication to another. However in every area, it is much dependent on the size of the organisation, its location combined together with the level of responsibility and experience of the candidate.

Career in Journalism

“Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumphs and the signs of horror are still in the air.”

Coming from Henry Grunwald, the Managing Editor of TIME Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Times Inc, nothing could describe journalism better!

The definition of the word ‘journalism’ would take you back to the origin of the newspaper, where the profession of ‘journaling’ daily events, happening and announcements came to be termed as Journalism. In modern times, not much has changed and journalism still refers to the investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a mass audience. Given the power of mass media in today’s world, journalism is a much venerated profession. A journalist may find a role and position in any of the following media:

Newspapers
Magazines
Television
Radio
Web-based Newspapers and Magazines

It is a profession that requires utmost levels of ethics and integrity. In news parlance, you will be tested to see if you have ‘a nose for news’, which essentially means whether you can look beyond the obvious and hunt for the truth. A journalist is also required to be an excellent writer if you are interested in print and online media. To be a successful television and radio journalist, you need to have an incredible verbal communication skills and a pleasing personality.

Journalists often develop an area of interest and make it their desired ‘beat’, or subject of reportage through their career. Most journalists at the start of their career try one or more beats to see which they enjoy more. More often than not, many news organisations assign specific beats to reporters so that they can test them better. Some of the most popular beats in the news world are the following:

Politics
Sports
Business
Defence and Strategic Affairs
Entertainment
Environment
Technology
Fashion

Have you ever seen a news channel blink? That’s because news never stops! Journalism is a demanding profession and it’s definitely not for the weak-hearted. It’s almost a round-the-clock job, where a journalist is expected to be aware and available for any news development. As a journalist you will be expected to respond quickly, think on your feet, be resourceful and most importantly be inquisitive

Courses and Eligibility

In India journalism as a field of study is available as both bachelors and post graduate degree courses. At the post graduate level there are also diploma courses available in the country. Some individual institutes offer certificate short-term courses as well and there are distance learning programs as well.

For a student wanting to study journalism as an undergraduate study, you can be from any stream. Similarly, for a post graduate program, your undergraduate degree does not matter as long as you fulfill the requirements of having excellent written and verbal skills, an interest in current affairs and have a go-getter personality!

A word of caution – Due to the overreaching existence of media today, journalism and mass communication schools are mushrooming in every corner of the country. It is advisable to do a thorough background check of the institute. Find out about the curricula, the teachers (check if they are industry trained), guest faculty, internship and placement history, workshops and exposure; you must also look for references, find former students of the institute and see what they have to say about the school and its course.

At undergraduate level one can do

BA in Journalism
Bachelor in Media Studies
Bachelor in Mass Media
BA in Journalism and Communication
Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
At Post Graduate Level one can do a
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism
MA in Journalism

Entrance Exams:

Most of the reputed institutes and Colleges take admissions through entrance exams. Delhi University takes entrance test for its graduate program in journalism and Symbiosis conducts SET for admission to SIMC (UG). Times School of journalism also conducts an all India Level entrance exam for admissions to its Post graduate Diploma Program.

Where to Study

Some of the prominent institutes offering journalism courses in India are the following:

Delhi University (Offered at 5 colleges), Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Aditi Mahavidyalaya, B.R.Amberdkar College, SGND Khalsa College, Ram Lal Anand College.
Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, Bachelor in Media Studies with specialisation in Journalism, radio and TV Production, Advertising and PR and Events. It also offers Diploma in broadcast journalism, film, radio, video production, advertising, public relations and corporate communication.
IP University, Delhi, offers Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
AAFT, Noida offers BA Hons in International Journalism, and B Sc in Mass Communication.
Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi Offers 1 year PG Diploma Advertising and Mass communication, Social Media and Web Journalism, TV and Radio Journalism and Production.
Times School of Journalism, Daryaganj, New Delhi Offers 1 year Post graduate Diploma in Journalism (English and Hindi).
Need Institute of Technology and Management, Haryana Offers BA Journalism.
Pune University, Offers BA journalism.
University of Technology and Management, Shillong Offers Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Christ University.

Mumbai University, Various colleges affiliated to Mumbai University like Ramnarain Ruia College, SIES College of Arts, Science & Commerce, HR College, KC College of Arts, Science & Commerce, St Andrews College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Jai Hind College.

Offers Bachelor in Mass Media Course.

Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University
Manipal Institute of Communications, Manipal
MS Communications, BA, BSc (Information and Media Studies)
Asian College of Journalism, Chennai
Jamia Millia Islamia: MA in Journalism, New Delhi
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi
PG Diploma In journalism
BHU, Varanasi, MA in Journalism, PG Diploma In Journalism.
Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai
Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore
Central university of Jharkhand offers 5 years integrated course in Mass Communication.
Bundelkhand University, offers 3 years B.A. course in Mass Communication.
Amity University, offers BJMC at its Noida and Lucknow campus.
CCS University, Meerut offers BJMC.
Goa University, offers 3 years B.A. course in Mass Communication.
University of Lucknow
Manipal University

MC National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, M.P., offers BJH at its Khandwa Campus. Also offers 2 years bachelor course in broadcast Journalism and Communication and 3 yr BSc in Electronic Media.

Jaipur National University offers BJMC.
Pearl Academy, conducts its own written examination GPT and DAT.
New Delhi Institute of Management and Mass Communication.
Delhi School of Communication.
FleMITS, Lucknow
R.K. Films and Media Academy, Delhi

Certificate course in Journalism after 10+2

Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
Manomaniam Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu
Punjab University
SNDT University, Women College, Mumbai.

Pay and Remuneration

The starting salary for cub reporter / trainee could be anywhere between Rs1.2 lakhs– Rs 3 lakhs per month. For a mid-level employee the salaries range from Rs 8 – 12 lakhs per annum. For senior editors, salaries range from Rs.20 – 40 lakhs per annum.

Career Prospects

Journalism is a career where almost every fresher begins as a cub reporter or trainee. Generally a beat is assigned and you are expected to deliver quality news stories with great efficiency. Once you have established your forte in a chosen field of reporting, you can qualify to be a Correspondent / Special Reporter, one who has the ability to interpret, analyse and present news with a totalitarian view. The next step would be that of a Sub Editor, one who sorts the content to be published; rewrites news stories and correct grammatical errors. A sub editor also checks news articles for their innovative headlines and therefore must be someone with a deep sense of news, language and imagination. In a news channel, this person is typically part of the input desk that fine tunes the stories that are to be aired. Next up is an Associate Editor who assigns stories to reporters, ensures they come in on time, plans parts of the paper, designs the layout, writes and readies news, reviews and critical analysis pieces. In the electronic medium, this person is part of assignment/ output desk; he assigns stories, brings various inputs, arranges for footage from remote locations, and is overall responsible for the news that is produced on a daily basis. Editor is the one who heads the ship. It’s a position that comes with years of experience and demonstrated career of great news reportage. An editor gives a news organisation a vision. Typically he/she is the one who decides the voice of the paper / magazine / channel. As the most definitive face of the organisation, the editor is a position of great power and greater responsibility.

Journalism at one time was the domain of whosoever wrote written content or reported on a news story. The person who got the visuals and photographs were often called cameraperson / photographer. Today, however much of that has changed. Photographers have transformed into photo-journalists with their active involvement in bringing newsworthy pictures. Similarly, video journalism is a dynamic process in the electronic news gathering process.

Personal Attributes:

To become a good journalist one should have the qualities of being
Curious
Flexible
Good personality
Clear thinking
Good writing skills and command over the language
Humanity, spirit and concern for the society

Moreover, there are different positions in the field of Journalism, demanding different personal characteristics.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Openings for journalists are available in Newspapers, Magazines and Periodicals, News Agencies/Bureaus, Television and Radio, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, related Govt. Agencies like DAVP (Directorate of Audio, Visual Publicity) and some on-line web-sites.

A journalist can work in different capacities, viz. as Reporter, Sub-Editor, News-Editor, Feature-Writer, Columnist, Editor or freelance writer.

Chief Editor/Resident Editor, News Editor, Assistant Editors and Chief Sub-Editors: These are the caption of the editorial department having an excellent comment of the major and minor political or current affairs. Chief Editor is one who is highly qualified and having long term experience.

REPORTER: A reporter is said to be the eyes and ears of a newspaper. He/she is always supposed to stick to facts and give accurate information only. They are required to cover a political gathering, an exhibition or an inaugural function. For this he/she has to stay in touch with police station, courts, hospitals, and he/she also makes use of press releases issued by various local bodies or private organisations. He may be a specialist in a particular field such as politics,sports, cinema, environment, crime etc, and receives invitations for press conferences, parliamentary or legislative sessions etc. A reporter is required to select the significant news items for printing.

SUB EDITOR: The sub-editor deals with most of the editing work. All news items articles, etc. are checked and rechecked by him. He improves the language, inserts punctuation deletes the irrelevant portions and even rewrites the whole story. Not only this he even composes suitable headlines. The main aim behind so much of hardwork is to make the article clear, simple, appetising and genuine.

THE NEWS EDITOR: The news editor heads the news desk. He controls the vast network of correspondents and other news sources like the news agencies, wire services etc. He is the right hand man of the editor and also a vital link between the editor and the newsroom i.e. sub-editors, reporters, feature writers, photographers etc. He keeps an eye on how news is featured, how it is edited and headlined.

FEATURE WRITERS: Feature writers produce ideas for and write articles about a variety of subjects of general interest. They may also specialize in particular subjects. They collect information and opinions about current topics and may also do interviews with well known personalities. Feature writers often have to do a good deal of research for their articles.

COLUMNIST: A columnist usually has years of experience of feature writing. He/She writes more or less about what interests him/her.

EDITOR: The Editor is the keeper of public conscience, He comments editorially on important matters in an unbiased manner and he is the one who decides the topic for editorial column. The personality of a newspaper is dependent on the dynamism or otherwise of the editor.

Famous Personalities: Benjamin Franklin: Little do people know that the founding father of The United States was a journalist. He published The Pennnsylvania Gazette in 1730’s which he used as a propaganda tool to influence the populace leading up to the American Revolution.

Arnab Goswami, the famous news anchor on TV, started his career with NDTV as newscaster. Currently he is the editor-in-chief of Times Now English News Channel. He did his class XII from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jabalpur and his graduation in Sociology from Delhi University.

Vinod Dua, who shot to limelight with his current affairs Parakh for Doordarshan, is known for his cutting edge election and political analysis in NDTV’s Hindi channel.

Shekhar Gupta: Editor in chief of The Indian Express, his long career in Indian Journalism began as a reporter; he covered some of the most courageous news stories like North ease insurgency and US terrorist attack and many more.

A Day in Life

The typical news gathering process involves an edit meeting at the start of the day that sets the agenda for the entire day’s coverage. In terms of publications (depending on the time of publication), edit meetings are held in the evenings to plan the news coverage for the next day. News in monitored constantly through news wires to stay updated on breaking news and developing stories. Reporters in a newspaper typically cover one-two news events in a day. They return to their desks at the end of their events, and write their stories themselves. The news articles then reach the sub-editors who prune the copies to make them publish-worthy.

Career in Photojournalism

Photojournalism is a form of journalism, wherein the person clicks, develops, and submits images relevant to a news story. Initially, the term ‘photojournalism’ was restricted to still photography. Its scope has now widened and in the present time, photo journalists even shoot videos to come up with a good news item/ feature – a trend commonly seen in citizen journalism. Photo journalism is not merely about taking the best shots, but also how to click news-worthy photographs, in accordance with the interest of the reader. Generally, the work of a photojournalist is quite similar to a reporter, except the fact that a photo journalist doesn’t gather, write, and report news stories. To become a successful photojournalist, one should have thorough knowledge about the three principles of photo journalism – timeliness, objectivity, and narrative. He/She should be able to use modern gadgets like digital camera, state-of-the-art studios, and other software in order to develop quality photographs. Photojournalism is a lucrative career option in India, since it has become an integral part of mainstream journalism. As a result, many institutions that offer courses in journalism have also included photo journalism in their curriculum.

What is it?

Photojournalism consists of creating images to tell a story. These photographers are often hired by newspapers and wire service agencies. Many famous newspapers have built their reputations largely on their excellent use of photography. Today, these types of journalists are responsible for photographs as well as video capture.

Careers

You can work as a freelance photographer and find work with various clients. You can work for agencies, newspapers, magazines and many other types of media. Your career allows you to get the experience you need in journalism, and can lead to other types of careers such as public relations, advertising, marketing and so on. The most famous news agencies for photojournalists is the US Associated Press.
Many people who study journalism find themselves as photojournalists, reporter/photographers, picture Editors, photo technicians, freelance photojournalists and photographers, and digital publishing specialists.
More careers in photography: Advertising, fashion, portraits, crime scenes, food photography (for packaging, advertising or editorial use), wildlife and landscape (think National Geographic).

Studying Photojournalism

Studying photography or photojournalism includes:

Reporting and Writing
News Judgment
Camera Operation and Lighting
Electronic Publishing
Digital Imaging
Principles of Photopage Design

Types and Objectives of News Photography

The history, philosophy, traditions and ethics of photojournalism.
Digital photography, video capture and computer-based image processing.

Qualifications

Ability to meet deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment

Objectivity and ethics

Ability to relate images with other news elements
Quick decision-making
Artistic and technical skill in photography
Ability to withstand significant obstacles (physical danger, weather, crowds)
Knowledge of current affairs and new technologies

Course Details

In India, many educational institutions have started conducting separate courses for photo journalism at postgraduate diploma level. For enrolling in the program, candidates are required to have a graduation degree from any recognized institute or university.

Career Prospects

Photojournalists can work for newspapers, magazines, or any other media houses. One can opt for commercial photography, fashion photography, industrial photography, wildlife photography, aerial photography, scientific photography, etc. as his/her specialized field.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses

Some of the leading institutions offering programs in photo journalism are India International Photographic Council (New Delhi), Amity School of Journalism & Communication (Delhi), Asian College of Journalism (Chennai), Biju Patnaik Film & Television Institute (Bhubaneswar), Bhavan’s Institute of Communication & Management (Mumbai), Indian institute of Mass Communication (Delhi), and Indian Centre for Media & Communication (Pune).

Remuneration

Newspapers and news agencies pay according to the assignment offered to the photojournalists. Generally, at the beginning of the career, a photojournalist can earn around Rs. 12,000 – 15,000 per month. The experienced ones can easily extract between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 30,000 per month. Those who have acquired perfection in the field are offered high pays by reputed organizations.

Career in Advertising

Introduction

“Creativity without strategy is called Art; creativity with strategy is called Advertising.”Jef I Richards, advertising expert.

Indeed, it is the advertising professionals who, through their creative renderings, using a few good pictures and a few good words, help sell almost anything under the sun. Marketing as a function would be very dry without advertising.

Advertising is the business of communicating a message to an audience through the media newspapers, magazines, radio, television, hoardings in public places etc. Every product that is available in the market needs to be advertised. Advertisement helps in the publicity of the product by creating awareness among the consumer. The consumer comes to know about the different features of household goods (like T.V. fridge, cooking oil, soap etc) or a service provider (Airlines, Insurance etc.) An attractive advertising campaign helps in popularizing a product/service and gives a boost to the sales figures. It forms the basis of marketing.

Advertising offers jobs on the executive side or the creative side. While the executive department deals with client servicing media planning and market research the creative department employs copywriters and visualizers along with the scriptwriters, storyboard artists, typographers, etc.

Work of Advertising Professionals

A career in advertising is very creative and generally gives lot of professional satisfaction. Advertising professionals work in close coordination with the companies whose product or service has to be promoted or sold. They first decide about the desired outcome of the advertisement planned and then accordingly work out a strategy. This part is usually done by senior people in the advertising agency and the marketing team of the company.

The advertising agency then gives the work of developing the advertising material to the creative team. The creative teams work on different ideas and after lot of fine-tuning, produce the advertising material for different media like Print (newspapers or magazines), Radio (in the form of radio advertisements or jingles), TV (in the form of TV advertisements) and Internet (in the form of online ads). After the advertising material is produced then it is released in different Medias and it is here that the advertising people specializing in different media help the company in negotiating and buying media space for effective dissemination of the advertisement.

PERSONALITY TRAITS:

Good power of observation,
An insight into the psyche of the people,
A creative visual imagination,
Patience and perseverance,
Proficient in the language, Expert at interacting with the people.

Courses & Eligibility

BA Advertising: 10+2

Bachelor of applied art/ Courses in multimedia and mass communication/ any graduation (For Copy Writer), Entrance test- Copy Test.

Graduation in communication Design/ Graphic Design/Animation Design (For Visualiser)

Post Graduation Advertising: Any Graduation and entrance exam and/or interview.

MBA/Communication Management/ Media Management

Entrance Exam:

Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan, Jamia Millia Islamia, Rajendra Prasad Institute of Communication and Management, Xaviers Institute of communications, School of Communication and Management Studies, Cochin conduct various entrance exams for admission to their courses.

Where to Study

Mudra Institute of Communication (MICA), Ahmedabad.
Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi.
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Offers Post-graduate Diploma Course in Advertising & Public Relations. JNU new campus, New Delhi Phone.
National Institutes of advertising, New Delhi offers Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communications Management (PGDMCM) -Full Time and Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Communications.
The Delhi School of Communication, New Delhi Offers 2 year Post Graduate Program in Communication integrating Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing and Strategy.
Asian Academy of Film & Television, NOIDA.
Sardar Patel College of Communication & Management, New Delhi Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.
University of Delhi Website: www.du.ac.in
University of Mumbai, Mumbai Offers Bachelor in Mass media (BMM) 3 years course.
Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, New Delhi.
Sir Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication New Delhi.
The Advertising Academy, New Delhi.
International Institute Of Mass Media, New Delhi.
Institute of Mass Communication, Manipal.

PROSPECTS:

With the growth in markets and ever-increasing number of consumer goods, advertising is here to stay. Well-known Advertisement Agencies have openings for copywriters, editors, visualisers and even musicians. One can also be self-employed by opening up own advertising agency.

COURSE/TRAINING:

In order to be a successful advertiser one does not need any formal qualification as such. Anyone with a talent to understand public perception and preferences can excel in this field. However, training in also available in the field of executive and creative departments.

Executive Department: In this department students are taught marketing, media planning, graphics, and group campaigns with all other aspects of advertising and public relations.

(i) Graduation in any discipline with a flair for writing.

(ii) Diploma or degree in Mass-Communication/Advertising/Social Communication.

(iii) MBA Graduates with specialization in marketing.

Creative Department:

Bachelor of fine arts (BFA) can be taken after +2. The duration is four or five years.
The National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad offers a School Leaver’s Professional Education Programme (SLPEP).

Client serving- Direct link with the Client: Account Director and Account Supervisor

Pay and Remuneration

Usually the fresh people in advertising industry get Salaries of around Rs. 1.5 to Rs.2 lakhs per year, after about 5-6 years of experience the professionals in this field start earning anywhere between Rs.4 to Rs.8 Lakhs per annum and very senior professionals usually get anywhere between Rs.15 to Rs.40 lakhs per annum.

A Day in Life

The advertising professionals usually start their careers in either Art (Visual Creativity) or Copy (Written Creativity). Professionals in Art are usually trained in fine arts or visual graphics. Professionals in Copy are essentially those trained in language. As the profession is quite creative, therefore it is also not very structured. Most of the advertising agencies where advertising professionals work have an open and not very formal structure.A typical day for a new or fresh pass-out starts with checking for new work brief sent by the superiors over Email or in person. After the brief is taken, then the person spends time in conceptualizing the new campaigns. After making a few concepts, the same is forwarded to the supervisors. Thereafter the person works on giving finishing touches and finalizing the campaigns where the clients and superiors have given their feedback.

There are days when the professional is relatively free by early evening and there are also days when they have to meet the clients’ deadlines and it becomes really late. However there is always creative energy flowing in an advertising agency and the professionals never feel bored.

Career as a Film Director

Introduction

“My movie is born first in my head, dies on paper; is resuscitated by the living persons and real objects I use, which are killed on film but, placed in a certain order and projected on to a screen, come to life again like flowers in water.”— Robert Bresson

Film direction is an art of putting a dream on to a medium called film. Film directors are the force behind a film and work together with many people who make a film happen.

What do film directors do?

Directors are the visionary’s behind the story of the film and decide the overall look and feel of the film. They closely work with producers and other people involved in making of a film and shoulder many responsibilities related to the creative aspects in the film. It is said that casting is more than half of direction. Other than casting, directors are overall in charge of film making, script, camera and editing etc where as finance and marketing are looked after by producers. They coach the actors and direct them to give performance as per the requirements of the film. They coordinate with the staff on the sets and direct the shooting of the film. Directors are also involved in the post production aspects of the films and get it edited to a final shape.
There are formal courses offered by recognized institutes and colleges, where one can learn about different aspects of film direction.

Courses and Eligibility

Although getting a formal education is not compulsory in this field, it is advisable. Many directors have worked their way up in the film industry by learning on the job and by making mistakes. A course in film institute gives you technical skills and gives opportunity to refine your creativity. There are many types of courses available in Institutes across the country that train people in aspects of direction. Short term courses, graduation and Post graduate diplomas.

Course Fees

Satyajit Ray Film Institute charges Rs 40,500 in the first semester and 19,500 in the subsequent semesters. Private institutes charge a much higher fee.

Where to Study

Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Course: 3 year Post Graduate Diploma in Direction; Eligibility: Graduate degree holders are eligible.
Course: 2 year Post Graduate Diploma in Art Direction and Production Design, Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture/ Painting / Applied Arts / Sculpture / Interior Design in or any related field in the Fine Arts or an equivalent qualification
Course: 1 year Post Graduate Diploma in TV Direction; Eligibility: Graduate degree holders are eligible.
Admission is through All Indian level entrance test.

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata.
Courses Offered: 3 years PG Diploma in Cinema with specialization in Direction and Screenplay

Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
Courses Offered: 2 years course in Direction.

Zee Institute of Media arts, Mumbai
Courses Offered: Degree course in Film making, short term course in direction.

Center for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), Delhi
Courses Offered: Offers 1 years PG Diploma In Direction.

Asian Academy of Film and TV, Noida
Courses Offered: Three-month course

Pay and Remuneration

Beginners earn around 2.5 lakhs a year as assistant director, while established directors earn big time money per film.

Famous Personalities

Some of the famous names in film direction are Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Tarantino and Werner Herzog.

Popular Indian directors include Satyajit Ray, Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Mani Ratnam, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, among many others.

Career as a RJ

A Radio Jockey (or RJ) entertains listeners of a radio program and provides information along with selecting and playing records. They have their own style and they create newer ways to entertain the people while they are listening. RJs need to have very good awareness of the events and things going around in the city, they must know the city well and of course they should know a lot about Indian films and film music. They usually write their own scripts and have to be very innovative at the same time keeping their style intact. RJ’s begin with odd-hours duty and with experience and popularity they come in the prime time.

Pay and Remuneration

At entry level, a radio jockeys get Rs 1.8 lakhs to Rs 2.4 lakhs a year and the pay increases according to your job profile and experience. Senior RJs make around Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs in a year.

The average take-home for a disc jockey at the initial level is Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakhs a year. Pay increases with one’s skills and the market condition and label/club/music composer one is working with.

Career Prospects

The demand for professional in Disc Jockeying and Radio Jockeying is increasing. People are spending a lot these days on hosting big parties and events which has opened a lot of opportunities. The profession of RJ has just taken off in India, as there demand is increasing , in the coming years , 10 more FM channels are purposed.

Famous Personalities

Some famous VJ’s are Cyrus Baroacha and Rhea Chakraborty.RJ Richa Vyas and RJ Prateek are two most popular radio jockeys of contemporary radio.

Institutes for Radio/video Jockey courses:

CRAFT Delhi, Offers P G Diploma IN Radio Jockey.
The Radio School, Mumbai
All India Radio, Academy of Radio Mgmt., Delhi
ARCJMC, Lucknow
EMDI Institute, Mumbai, Kolkata, Noida.
MICA, Ahmedabad

Some other institutes that offer related courses are:

IILM Academy, Gurgaon
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi
AJK Mass Communication Research Centre New Delhi
Amity School of Journalism & Communication, New Delhi
Asian Academy of Film & Television
Delhi University
Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai
EMDI, Mumbai
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
AAFT, Noida
ISOMES, Noida and Lucknow
YMCA center for Mass media, Delhi
Amity School of Communication, Delhi
Wigan & Leigh College, Delhi
IIMM, Delhi

Career as a Anchor/Commentator

“Being an anchor is not just a matter of sitting in front of a camera and looking pretty.”— David Brinkley, American Newscaster.

Gone are the days when there were news readers and comperes who would host quiz programs. TV anchoring has evolved into an art. A whole new set of people with specific skills, have emerged who host news shows, live events and reality shows.

A career as a TV anchor (Program/News), requires the incumbent to keep the viewers informed about the event/ program that they are reporting. It could be news analysis, a cricket match, news debate, live broadcast of Independence day, comedy show etc. The TV anchors should have detailed knowledge and information related to the show. Anchors and journalists work with teams of camera people and reporters. Anchoring is not only about passing on the information but about presenting the same in an interesting and entertaining manner. They have to anchor and present the show keeping in view the objective and mood of the show.

A commentator is an expert who reports a live match on radio and/or television in real time. She/He specializes in reporting or commentating on sporting/other events. Commentator is career meant for experts as one has to understand, analyse and talk about the particular sporting event. Thus many former players become commentators although people from outside have also gained success. Sunil Gavaskar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, are former cricketers but Mandira Bedi was an outsider, who rose to fame during ICC cricket world cup in 2003 and 2007.

Courses & Eligibility

Just like Film Actors, while formal training is a plus, however it is the skills that play a vital role in the success of a person who wants to pursue career as a TV anchor. The job of a TV anchor is to strike an instant rapport with potential audiences. Although many successful anchors and commentators have not been professionally trained but have learned with experience. Some institutes offer specialized courses on TV anchoring.

One can begin with a Bachelor’s degree in the mass media field. Else, Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication, PG Diploma in Journalism and TV Anchoring would also help.

Where to Study

TV anchoring is not a career that is accessible through a classroom. There are no institutes which train people to become TV anchors or sports commentators. But one can always go for courses in English, Personality Development and Communication Skills to gain an edge in this career.

CRAFT Delhi: PG Diploma in TV Journalism and Anchoring.
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi.
R K Films & Media Academy – New Delhi.
AAFT, Noida offers B.Sc in Electronic Media and Graduate Diploma in electronic Media, PG Diploma in TV Journalism and Communication.
International Institute for Media & Films (IIMF), Jaipur.
National School of Events (NSE) at Mumbai, Indore, and Kolkata.
International Media Institute (IMI), Gurgaon.
Osmania University College for Women, Hyderabad.
Garden City College, Bangalore.
Indian Institute of Journalism and new Media offers graduate and post graduate diploma in Journalism.

NDTV Worldwide and India Can, offers post-graduate diploma in broadcast and digital journalism. Offered at Delhi, Bangalore, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Ranchi centers. The diploma is recognized by Mahatma Gandhi University. 12 months intensive program and one can intern with NDTV. Final selection is through interview and on camera presentation. On successful completion, the candidates are awarded UGC accredited PG Diploma.

Pay and Remuneration

Freshers may start with a salary between Rs. 2.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs per year. Experienced TV anchors can be offered lucrative packages and get paid per show. Commentators get paid for the days and yearly earnings depend on the number of events.

Career Prospects

With the increasing number of TV channels and entertainment programs there will be a lot of demand for anchors and show presenters. It is better to intern with a leading channel to gain access.

There are very few openings for sports commentators in India as former national players usually enter this field. You can start from All India Radio or Doordarshan or any other channel which are usually good platforms. You need a rich, long experience in the sports arena to get hired by a sports channel.

Famous Personalities

Cricket commentator Charu Sharma.
Breaking News, Aap ki Adalat’s Host Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in Chief of India TV.
Hussain Kuwajerwala anchor for many famous shows on various channels like Indian Idol.

A Day in Life

Anchors and commentator schedules depend on the timings of the events, like day and night match or film awards functions. Their days begin by keeping themselves updated on the current events and happenings in their space. Then the work begins at the venue or studio as the case may be. Anchoring and presentations continue with breaks for meals. The evening following the event may include.

Exams in Mass Media and Communication:

FTII Entrance Exam 2014 – Film and Television Institute of India, Pune Entrance Exam acronym as FTII Entrance Exam is conducted by FTII – An autonomous institute under the ministry of Information and Broadcasting , Govt of India – for providing admission to the following given course:

S.No	Course	Pre-Requisite Qualification	No. of Seats
1	Three Year Post Graduate Diploma in Direction	Bachelor’s Degree	12
2	Three Year Post Graduate Diploma in Cinematography	Bachelor’s Degree	12
3	Three Year Post Graduate Diploma in Sound Recording and Sound Design	Bachelor’s Degree with Physics as a subject at Senior Secondary (10+2) leve	12
4	Three Year Post Graduate Diploma in Editing	Bachelor’s Degree	12
5	Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Acting	Bachelor’s Degree	12
6	Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Art Direction and Production Design	Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture/ Painting /Applied Arts / Sculpture/ Interior Design in or any related field in the Fine Arts or an equivalent qualification	12
7	One Year Post Graduate Certificate Course in Feature Film Screenplay Writing	Bachelor’s Degree	12
8	One Year Post Graduate Certificate Course in Direction (Television)	Bachelor’s Degree	12
9	One Year Post Graduate Certificate Course in Electronic Cinematography (Television)	Bachelor’s Degree	12
10	One Year Post Graduate Certificate Course in Video Editing (Television)	Bachelor’s Degree	12
11	One Year Post Graduate Certificate Course in Sound Recording and TV Engineering (Television)	Bachelor’s Degree with Physics as a subject at Senior Secondary (10+2) level	12

FTII Entrance Exam Eligibility

Educational Qualification:

Desiring candidates should be a graduate from any of the recognised university.

Note: Appeared Graduates may also apply. Such candidates opting for any of the Diploma Course or for Certificate Course in Screenplay Writing must submit graduation certificate / mark-sheet at the time of Orientation.

Those opting for One Year Certificate Course in Television must submit the same at time of interview. In the event of not submitting the said certificate/ mark-sheet as per above, the candidate will not be allowed to participate for further admission process.

FTII Entrance Exam Syllabus

FTII Entrance Exam consists of questions from the subjects:

General Awareness and Mental Ability
FTII Entrance Exam Pattern
FTII consists of 100 objectives multiple choice types of questions to be completed in 90 minutes.
FTII Entrance Exam Dates

Medical Entrance Exam Dates is not fixed as it is usually conducted in the month of May.

How to apply for FTII Entrance Exam?

Aspiring candidates can apply for FTII Entrance Exam getting the prospectus containing the application form and other details by sending a request along with a demand draft of Rs. 2150 for General Category and Rs. 650 for SC, ST and Economically Backward (candidates should enclose attested copy of Parent’s BPL card with the application form) drawn on any of the Nationalised Banks in favour of “Accounts Officer, Film and Television Institute of India,” payable at Pune to the below given address on or before the stipulated date.

FTII Entrance Exam Fee

AIIMS Entrance Exam Fee is Rs.2150 (Rs.650 in case of SC/ST and Economically Backward candidates).

FTII Entrance Exam Contact Details

Controller of Examinations

Film & Television Institute of India
Law College Road
Pune – 411 004
Phone Nos. 020-25431817, 25430017, 25430363 Ext. 223
Direct Line 020 – 25425656
Email tutorial_sec@ftiindia.com
Website: ftiindia.com

FTII Entrance Exam Test Centres

FTII Will held on the following given centres throughout India:

Agartala, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Deharadun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram

IIMC Entrance Exam – Indian Institute of Mass Communication Entrance Exam acronym as IIMC Entrance Exam is conducted by IIMC – an internationally known centre for training and research in Mass Communication, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India – for providing admission to following given PG courses:

Post Graduate Course in Journalism (English), New Delhi, Dhenakanal (Odisha), Aizwal (Mizoram), Amravati (Maharastra), Jammu (J & K) and Kottayam (Kerala)
Post Graduate Diploma Course in Journalism (Hindi), New Delhi
Post Graduate Diploma in Radio and Television Journalism, New Delhi
Post Graduate Diploma Course in Advertising and Public Relations, New Delhi
Post Graduate Diploma Course in Journalism (Odia), Dhenkanal (Odisha)

Five seats available in each Course for NRIs/NRIs sponsored candidates, for which a separate prescribed application form should be submitted.

IIMC Entrance Exam Eligibility

Educational Qualification

The aspiring candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

Note: Those who have appeared / are appearing in final degree examinations are also eligible to apply

Age Limits

The candidates should have born on 1.8.1989 or later (for SCs/STs/PH 1.8.1984 or later and for OBC 1.8.1986 or later)

IIMC Entrance Exam Syllabus

IIMC consists of question from the General Knowledge of daily use.

IIMC Entrance Exam Pattern

IIMC Entrance Exam consists of written test followed by interview. Written test consists of objective type multiple choice questions of General Awareness and General Knowledge.

Medium of Instruction and Examination will be Hindi and/or English and for Course No. 5: Odia.

How to apply for IIMC Entrance Exam?

Offline

Aspiring candidates can apply by obtaining Application forms in person or by post. Application forms and prospectus can be obtained on payment of Rs. 1200/- for general category and Rs.1100/- for SC/ST/OBC/PH category through a demand draft only, drawn on any scheduled bank payable toRegistrar IIMC at New Delhi, from IIMC New Delhi or IIMC Dhenkanal (Odisha). Request for applicationforms should be accompanied by a Demand Draft & a self-addressed stamped (Rs. 70/-) envelope (27×17 cm).

Online

The application form can be filled after downloading from www.iimc.gov.in. Each application form must beaccompanied by a Demand Draft of Rs. 1200/- for General & Rs.1100/- for SC/ST/OBC/PH categories drawn in favour of Registrar, IIMC New Delhi on or before due date.

Important: The sale of application forms will commence at IIMC New Delhi and IIMC Dhenkanal from 10 March 2014. Application form for Course Nos. 1 and 2 is common. There are separate application forms/entrance examinations for Course Nos.3, 4 & 5. Candidates who wish to apply for more than one Course will have to fill separate application forms for each Course they wish to apply for.

IIMC Entrance Exam Dates

IIMC Entrance Exam is normally held in the month of May/June.

IIMC Entrance Exam Test Centre

IIMC Entrance Exam will held at the following given centers:

New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Patna, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal Chennai, Jammu, Srinagar, Kochi, Nagpur ,Aizawl and Guwahati ,Oriya Journalism exam will be held at Bhubaneshwar centre only.

IIMC Entrance Exam Contact Details

Registrar
IIMC, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg
New Delhi-110067
New Delhi 011-26741073, 26741352, 26741062, Fax : 011-26742462, 26741268,
Dhenkanal 06762-226194 & 226196, Fax: 06762-226195, 226197
website : www.iimc.gov.in, Email: iimcadmissions2013@gmail.com

TSJ AIWE 2014 – Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam acronym as TSJ AIWE is conducted by the Times School of Journalism for admitting students to a year-long full-time PG Diploma programme in Journalism.

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Eligibility

Educational Qualification

Any graduate with minimum 45% in graduation. Those with less than 45% but having relevant experience will also be considered.

Those in their Final Year of Graduation can also apply (Final year mark sheet/proof of graduation has to be submitted by them by December 31, 2014)

Age Limit

Not more than 28 years. Age limit can be relaxed for those with relevant experience.

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Syllabus

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam consists of question from the GK testing the General Awareness of the candidates.

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Pattern

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam consists of written Exam followed by Interview/personality test.

How to apply for Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam?

Aspiring candidate can downloaded from (http://www.timesmediastudies.com/images/tsjcomboform-2013-14.pdf) and sent the filling in application form to TSJ with requisite copies of certificates and exam fee (non-refundable).

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Dates

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam is normaly held in the months of May/June.

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Test Centre

Applicants can choose their choice of location for test and interview themselves.

Times School of Journalism All Indian Written Exam Contact Details

Website: www.tcms.in & www.timesmediastudies.com
E-mail: tsj@timesgroup.com
Address: Times School of Journalism, 10, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002
Telephone: +91 11 23273514, +91 11 39843369.

Career in Mass Media and Communication