Journalism as a career
Today journalism as a career stands not only for a prestigious profession but also for a challenging career option. Journalists play a key role in the growth of any nation. The core purpose of journalism is to inform, educate and enlighten the masses on various issues revolving them.
Is journalism a good career?
With the growing numbers in the communication channels, the numbers of audiences have also increased at a huge rate. Presently in India, journalism has become a prestigious career choice for many students. Journalism is a challenging field and it is playing a key role in the development of the nation.
Pen is mightier than the sword. Even today, the younger generation is attracted to journalism. Everyday there are several events happening around the world- political, cultural, religious, educational, social and natural events etc. We come to know about these events sitting in our houses.
Journalism includes investigating, analyzing and reporting local as well as world events, trends, current affairs and so on.
Steps to become a Journalist
People who have successful careers in journalism tend to have a few things in common:
- They are critical thinkers who can access, synthesize, and retain factual information logically and systematically
- They are motivated and persistent in their efforts to get at the best available or obtainable version of the truth, and then to verify those facts
- They are good communicators who have an intuitive understanding of storytelling and the non-fiction narrative devices that create drama, tension, and suspense
How do I get there?
To start an exciting career in Journalism, you have to start by clearing your 12th class from any stream. Once you have completed your 12th class, you can then opt-in for either a three-year degree course, or a one-year diploma course, or a certificate course as well.
Students can enroll in Bachelors of Journalism (BJ), Bachelor of Journalism and Mass communication (BJMS), Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM), and even Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BA) which is an undergraduate (UG) program of three-years in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication. For candidates who doesn’t want to apply for a full-fledged three-year degree course, can also opt-in for a one-year diploma course. Students who wish to explore Journalism can enroll in MA in Journalism which is a PG program of two-years. Students can find work as Reporters, Correspondents, Editors, and Writers etc. after completing MA in Journalism.
Complete an Internship
Journalism is often learned through internships, apprenticing, and trial-and-error on-the-job experience. Now a day, learning the principles of journalism is something that happens in a classroom and learning the practices of journalism is dependent on real world experience.
What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become a Journalist?
Rank of College Name of College, City
1 Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore
2 Lady Shri Ram College for Women
3 Christ University, Bangalore
4 Delhi College of Arts and Commerce
5 SIMC, Pune
6 IIMC, Delhi
Pros and Cons of being a Journalist
Pros
- It is a gratifying career for those who want to learn something new every day.
- It is the new diversified sector which is continuously evolving with the digital era and is full of opportunities.
- The future aspects of the sector are promising as there is a constant demand for authentic information.
- Journalism offers you the opportunity to meet new people.
Cons
- Journalism is all depend upon the authentic information, if the sources of your information are misleading or inappropriate it may result in a disastrous situation.
- This job constantly requires frequent travelling, long working hours and working under deadlines and pressure.
- Journalism requires practical, on-field training, analytical and decision making skills to excel in this profession
Career trends in Journalism
Editor
Editors may oversee sections of particular publications and/or websites (i.e., a sports editor, a political editor, an arts and entertainment editor), or they may be in charge of an entire site or publication. Their job is to plan and coordinate the work of writers, photographers, videographers, and other content providers, to assign and oversee projects, and maintain the editorial quality of the media company.
Broadcast News Analyst
Broadcast news analysts are the anchormen of yesterday, and the webcast hosts of tomorrow. They are on-air personalities and behind-the-scenes writers, producers, and reporters, whose job it is to sort through and interpret news events and craft them into stories for broadcast purposes.
Social Media Marketing Manager
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms have become an important part of the way media companies reach their audience. Social media marketing managers oversee the ways in which these digital platforms are utilized, monitor user feedback, and coordinate social media marketing campaigns.