Introduction in Mass Communication
The world has witnessed a panic and unprecedented explosion in communication technology and media. All bonds have been surpassed, and the integral global community seems to have been brought together into one unified whole. And it is here that mass-communication, as a field of study, and as a career, becomes so vital and enviable.
Mass Communication have no limited to journalism alone. To a very extent mass media is a modern reality which covers all aspects of human life. Moreover, a great change can be seen in the idea of people working in mass media. Careers in Mass Communication are not only large paying but also bought in a high deal of job satisfaction and expression of creativity.
Various Roles, Various Names
Following are the different job profiles given to graduates in mass communication:
| Radio Jockey/ RJ | Film Director |
| Special Correspondent | Sound Engineer |
| Fashion Photographer | Video Jockey |
| Sound Mixer and Sound Recordist | Producer |
| TV Correspondent | Editor |
| Art Director | Screenwriter |
| Public Relations Officer | Event manager |
Market Watch
Career scopes in mass communication are expected to raise as not less than 70 news channels will come up in next 5 years. Thanks to mass media, news and entertainment job scopes are a lot of trained professionals in different roles – particularly in journalism and films. India being the biggest producer of films in the world has plenty of opportunities. Technically qualified media professionals can employ for TV channels, production houses or can built documentaries on their own.
International Focus
News Corporation of Rupert Murdoch, Warner Brothers, Disney Entertainment, CNBC, Guardian Group, BBC, ABC and many others are contained among the high media groups which given attractive jobs in mass communication at various levels and positions. In fact jobs in these organizations are very attractive in case of compensation and offer challenging job profiles. Indian professionals have an edge to employ in international media houses for they have wonderful command over English language.
Positives or Negatives
Like any other career option, mass communication too has positive features as well as a lob side.
A career in mass communication needs commitment, consignment and sacrifice of personal time for the cause of stay on front or top, particularly in news industry. A journalist may have to work all day and night to get breaking news. Similarly, media professionals who are in entertainment or film making require working with interest which may come at the cost of their individual life.
Yet, in a nutshell, mass communication as a career offer job satisfaction, name and fame and a challenge to live with.
Step-by-Step
Not long ago, people with the best communication skills and a degree in literature were considered apt for journalism and other areas of mass communication. Yet, with technology playing biggest role in our lives, all professions associated to mass communication now need skilled professionals who work very fast and efficiently send across the message to an all range of audiences. Even though with the proliferation of blogs, it is generally claimed that ‘anyone’ can become a journalist, a closer inspection of reality clear that only those with professional training made the grade.
Start Early
Unlike engineering or medical field there are no need to make preparation strategies or set formula for making a career in mass communication. A graduate degree in the stream is best to start with but a post graduate degree or diploma is almost require to be considered for responsible positions in any organization. Meanwhile, you want to start blogging or work as a freelance contributor to newspapers and a host of online publishing sites to improve your communication skills. Objectivity, maturity, and a sensible train of thought are required.
Is it the Right Career ?
Answering this question needs a critical self-evaluation. You want to have creativity—a way with words and excellent communication skills as you will be needed to explain and communicate, about the most complex of problems, in the lowest of terms—to many people. Moreover, you need a great deal of patience, because in this stream, it picks a lot of hard work, and quite some time, to make it to the top.
Pay Packet
Whereas students were passing out from MCRC Jamia, IIMC, Symbiosis institute and a lot of other institutes earn good placement after their courses and wonderful salaries, candidates from not-so-well- known institutes have to employ hard to get placed. Beginning salary for a mass communication professional could be between Rs 12,000 and 25,000. After five Years of work experience a professional can earn higher salary in the between of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per month.
What would it Cost ?
Courses in mass communication are very expensive as tuition fees and charges and expenses for working projects, internships, and field work are very high. Most of the institutes giving under graduate courses charge anywhere from Rs 60,000 to Rs 2, 00,000 per year. It means that you will have to pay almost 3 lakhs for a course of 3 years time period. Similarly, a PG diploma course from Indian Institute of Mass Communication can cost in the range of between Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,00,000 for 1 year. PG course in Mass Communication from MCRC at Jamia Millia Islamia can cost almost 1 lakh for 2 years.
Funding/Scholarship
IIMC given scholarship for students in each branch i.e. print media English and Hindi and Electronic Media which is nearly half of the fees – for first 2 toppers. Numerous other memorial scholarships at the collage are based on merit. Other mass communication collage to give merit based free studentships and scholarships. Education loans are available from nationalized banks such as Punjab National Bank and Allahabad Bank wherein a candidate can look a loan up to Rs 7.5 lakhs at low interest rates.
Job opportunities
A professional course in mass communication opens new world for a career in films & TV, publishing, journalism, editing, direction, public relations, scriptwriting, production, filmmaking, etc. In nutshell, Mass Communication diffuse up the horizon of career choice for a person. Depending upon individual interest and a bend of mass communication professional can opt a job. Attractive and high paying jobs as journalist, director,actor, editor, screenwriter, producer, VJ, RJ, are available to the trained and talented persons.
Demand and Supply
Demand and supply plays a tough role in careers of mass communication professionals. The global recession had cost a lot of high profile journalists their jobs and the graduates of these turbulent times found it extremely hard to get placed. On the contrary, there is a scarcity of trained professionals in mass media, new entertainment and news channels and with new launches in the pipeline the demand will only rise up. Opening up of media field for foreign investment is expected to make new jobs in the stream.
Tips for Getting Hired
Besides take a courses from a mass communication collage, a student is needed to possess certain skills or passion which help him get a job. Students who are liked to get into news media must have keen like and sound knowledge of news and current affairs. Global perspective on different problems helps students in obtaining the position of reporter or journalist.
Like wise, those who are liked in electronic media are needed to have practical knowledge on video editing. Most of the mass media training collages gives internship programs with news channels or entertainment channels which help student earn a job after finishing of the course.
Top firms
| Zee TV Network | Viacom |
| BBC | Hindustan Times Group of Publication |
| TV 18 Group | Big Entertainment and numerous others. |
| NDTV Network | Times of India Publication Group |
Top Institutes
| Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi-110067 | Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai |
| Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal | Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune-411004 |
| AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025 | Asian College of Journalism, Chennai |
