Mass Communication
The world has witnessed a phenomenal and unprecedented explosion in communication technology and media. All boundaries have been transcended, and the entire global community seems to have been brought together into one unified whole. And it is here that mass-communication, as a stream of study, and as a career, becomes so important and enviable. Mass Communication and Journalism are often offered as one degree.
However, Mass Communication is not limited to journalism alone. To a great extent mass media is a modern reality which covers all aspects of human life. Moreover, a great change can be observed in the concept of people working in mass media. Careers in Mass Communication are not only high paying but also bring in a great deal of job satisfaction and expression of creativity.
Journalism is concerned with collection and dissemination of news through the print media as well as the electronic media. This involves various areas of works like reporting, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting or cable casting news items.
Journalism is classified into two on the basis of media- (i) Print Journalism and (ii) Electronic (Audio/ Visual) Journalism. Print Journalism includes newspapers, magazines and journals. In print journalism one can work as editors, reporters, columnists, correspondents etc. Electronic journalism includes working for Radio, Television and the Web. In the web, skilled people are required to maintain sites by web newspapers (which cater only to the web and do not have print editions) and popular newspapers and magazines who have their own web editions. In electronic journalism one can be a reporter, writer, editor, researcher, correspondent and anchor.
Eligibility:
The minimum eligibility to go for a degree in Mass Communications or Journalism at the graduate level is 10+2 in any stream. Various courses are offered by different colleges such as Journalism, Mass Communications, Media studies etc.
Entrance Tests:
There is no national level entrance test for Journalism or Mass Communications. Most colleges offering an undergraduate degree in Journalism or Mass Communications have their own entrance exams:
1. Symbiosis Entrance Exam or SET
Symbiosis offers a Bachelor of Media Studies for which you have to write the common Symbiosis Entrance Exam or SET which is held on the first weekend of May each year. The subjects covered are General English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness and Analytical & Logical Reasoning.
2. Manipal University Online Entrance test or MU-OET
The Manipal University Online Entrance test is held for entry into Manipal University’s Manipal and Jaipur Campuses. The Dubai and Malaysia Campuses have a different procedure for admissions. MU-OET is an online test wherein five dates or slots are given to the candidates and they may book any date according to their convenience.
3. Combined Journalism Entrance Test or CJET
CJET is a combined entrance test for admission into five colleges of Delhi University offering a B.A. (Hons.) in Journalism. These are Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Kamala Nehru College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Kalindi College and Maharaja Agrasen College. CJET is held at the end of May/beginning of June each year and covers areas like English Comprehension and Grammar, Politics, Media Issues & Social Issues.
4. Christ University
Christ University does not have an entrance test for Mass Communications. Admission is on the basis of plus two marks, group discussion and personal interview.
Job prospects & Career Options
The following are some of the fields you can get into with a Mass Comm degree.
Pure Journalism:
Mass Comm/Journalism graduates can find employment with newspapers, periodicals and magazines, central information service, press information bureau, websites, AIR and TV channels like Doordarshan, ZEE TV, Star TV etc. At the same time they can do freelancing. One can also take up this career as a part time employment along with any other field of work.
Journalists can work as editors, reporters, columnists, correspondents, staff or freelance writer, photojournalists, proofreaders, news analysts etc. in print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic (Radio, Television and Web) media.
Content Writing
Everything written in form of text you’re seeing on a website is web content or in simple words it is called content. Writing of web content or content is called content writing. The main purpose of content is to let the user know in what is in a website, what services they provide, credibility of service provider and all other related information.
Content is the soul of any website. The increasing use of the internet is demanding more and more websites which has in turn led to the demand and popularity of web content and web content writing.
Good content can multiply the profit of the business over night, while on the other hand bad content can doom the business in hours. This is the importance of content writing in this era. All big entrepreneurs depend upon content writing and content writers to make their business successful and profitable. The reason is that it is only engaging content that makes visitors buy a particular product or some service while they are visiting the website.
Good content writers are in scarce supply and demand a high price in the market, especially if they write technical content.
Event Management
Event management, the most profound form of advertising and marketing, is a glamorous and thrilling profession. It provides an opportunity for unleashing one’s creative potential to a very high degree. It demands a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time offers enormous scope.
Event management is a process of organizing a professional and focused event, for a particular target audience. It involves visualizing concepts, planning, budgeting, organizing and executing events such as fashion shows, musical concerts, corporate seminars, exhibitions, wedding celebrations, theme parties, product launching etc. It is a good career option which does not require much investment and offers a lot of independence and flexibility. No formal degree or qualification is required, but the person should have a genuine passion for conducting events, have very good organizing ability and be flexible to work for long hours. However, a Mass Comm. degree will go a long way in helping to secure good jobs with reputed event management companies.
Corporate Communications
Corporate communication is the communication process that is mainly used for corporate or business purposes which takes place within and beyond the organization. The term is widely used to describe a variety of management functions related to an organization’s internal and external communications. Internal corporate communication refers to the communication within an organization that may include group discussions, motivational activities, business meetings, conferences, presentations etc. A conducive work atmosphere between the employees and the productivity of an organization can be increased by the internal corporate communication. External corporate communication is the communication of the business or corporate organization with its investors, customers and other corporate entities by means of marketing and advertising. It is by the external corporate communication that a company portrays its brand identity to the entire corporate world. Various kinds of advertisements, promotional events, and business proposals can be included in the external corporate communication.
Public Relations
Public Relations is a management function that involves monitoring and evaluating public attitudes and maintaining mutual relations and understanding between an organization and its public. Public could include shareholders, government, consumers, employees and the media. It is the act of getting along with people we constantly come in touch with. PROs ensure internal cohesion in the company by maintaining a clear communications network between the management and employees.
Its first objective is to improve channels of communication and to establish new ways of setting up a two-way flow of information and understanding.
Public relations as a separate career option has came into existence when lots of private or government companies and institution felt the need to market their product, service and facilities. Public image is important to all organizations and prominent personalities. The role of public relation specialist becomes pertinent in crisis situations when the correct and timely transmission of information can help save the face of the organization.
Advertising Industry
Advertising is the art of conveying a message to the masses. A career in advertising is a lucrative employment option that one can choose in the rapidly growing Indian economy. Advertising agencies generally prefer highly creative and talented individuals who can think independently and at the same time work as excellent team players. If you are interested in pursuing a career in advertising, you must be highly target oriented and willing to work in a pressure cooker like environment. Since this industry is very competitive, you must be willing to give your best at all times to make a successful career.
Advertising firms employ people with different educational backgrounds in various departments at various levels. Possessing a professional Degree or Diploma in a particular field of study can give you a head start in this industry. Further, flair for language and excellent communication skills are other factors essential for breaking into the realm of the advertising business. If you want to get into the Media or copywriting, a Journalism or Mass Communication degree is the right way to go.