Career in Mass Communication and Journalism

- Lalawmpuii Fanai & R. Lalrinfeli

Still considering what subject you would prefer after passing your higher secondary schools or after graduating. Are you interested in photography or videography but still confused if it would help you for your future? If you are in a dilemma, this is an article that might help you to clear up your confusions.

Some people might have said that you don’t need to have a qualified degree to have a job in the field of Mass Communication and Journalism. But, I can assure you that, it is always better to learn everything about a particular field or subject which you want to enter before you get into the field because even when you started your education, the first thing that you learn is the ABC. You also need to know the ABC’s of the particular field that you have opted for.  Mass Communication and Journalism is still very fresh especially in the minds of the Mizos. The University has been running the course for only four years. But, we can see that there are many students who are trying hard to get the seats for this subject. Then, we can say that, it also has a wide scope indeed.

When people asked me what I’m studying. Right after they hear the subject they mostly said that u would work in the local channels as a news reader. But, Mass Communication and Journalism subject has scope beyond being a mere news presenter.

Even if you are a good photographer or a videographer, it is always better to know all the basics, laws and guides towards being a professional in your interests. When searching for a job, there are also preferences given to people having a background the particular subject. Only looking and peeping through it will not give you a good job. You have to search inside to know what you want especially in the field of media because it contains many job prospects. Depending upon your personal interest and inclination, a mass communication professional can choose a job.

Job Prospects for Academicians:

If you have a teaching ability and want to go further to be a teacher. You could study further more to the doctoral levels in Mass Communication and Journalism. If you are wondering where you will work after getting your Ph.D. degree, just remember that we still got only one institute to study Mass Communication subject and there are still more to go even in the bachelor levels.

Job Prospects for practitioners:

If you don’t want to study any further more than your bachelor or post graduate course. You could still have a wide scope of job prospects. As Mass Communication is a professional course, you should know that you are trained even to start a business of your own.

Well, to the ones who have a talent in photography and videography? You should know that you might be more confident to mention that you have a diploma or degree of your own in the particular art that you are interested. You could pursue your diploma or degree in institute that offer you your interest. This may also attract a lot of customers. But remember that, your degree would not give you a good work unless you give your all to it.

If you are interested in filmmaking, you could be a film director, film maker, cinematographer, screenplay writer, film producer, film editor and even film actors.

If you wanted to be a journalist, you could opt for journalism both in electronic and print media. Electronic media deals with the Television and radio. You could be a news presenter, news reporter, news correspondent, news editor. That includes both in television and radio. For talented and trained individuals, you could also work as a radio or video jockey (RJ/VJ) in the broadcasting media. The print media includes the newspapers and magazines. You could be news editor, news correspondents, news reporters, sports writers, etc. If you say that, there are also many people working who do not have Mass Communication qualification. But, in today’s world, many companies are now giving preferences to the qualified ones.

If you have an interest in Advertising and Public Relations,you could be opening a good advertising firm in your own place. Don’t worry about your customers. You see a lot of advertisements even in your local channels. People will be coming after you, if you could give them an exclusively good first impression. You should also know that advertising is not an easy matter; you need to be very creative to think of a good work instantly. Public Relation is also a part of Mass Communication. It is the way an organizations, companies and individuals communicate with the public and media using press releases, newsletter, and public appearances. You must have all heard about press releases in our day to day activities. These are the works done by Public Relation officers. All the well-known institutions and companies have their own team of public relation officers. If you think that you are capable of being a public relation officer, your job is opened in the media field. Don’t miss your chances.

You should also know that career in mass communication requires commitment, dedication and sacrifice of personal time. A journalist may have to work day in and day out to get the best news, similarly, other media professionals who are in entertainment or film making need to work with passion which may cut them off from socializing.. So, you have to make sure what you want. Working hard for later enjoyment or working and enjoying. You need to think this before you get deeper inside.

The last thing you need to know is that, which institutions you should head off to get a degree in Mass Communication. There are yet manyinstitutions that offer you a diploma, bachelor and post-graduation degree in Mass Communication. Not to forget that, the course fee in Mass communication course are mostly high. It also depends on the institutions that you are studying. Most of the institutions offering under graduate courses charge anywhere around Rs 60,000 – Rs 2, 00,000 per year for three years.  PG Diploma Course from Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) can cost in the range of Rs. 40,000 – Rs 1, 00,000 for one year. PG courses in Mass Communication for two years would cost from one lakh and more depending on the institutions.

In northeast, we have one college, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong that offers a Bachelor course in Mass Communication and Video Production and a Bachelor course in Media Technologies.  

We also have three Universities Mizoram University, Manipur University and NEHU which offers Post Graduate course in Mass Communication.

The top institutions that offer Mass Communication subject are:

·        Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune

·        AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, JamiaMilliaIslamia, New Delhi

·        Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi

·        Asian College of Journalism, Chennai

·        MakhanlalChaturvedi National University of Journalsim and Communication, Bhopal.