Mass Communication & Media

What is Mass Communication & Media?

Mass Communication is a medium of dispersing information to a large number of people. The term is not limited to only journalism but spreads its branches to various other media fields including newsgathering and reporting, film direction and production, event management, public relations, advertising, corporate communication, and the list continues.

In recent years, the field of mass media and communication has evolved into a partially interactive concept that touches almost every aspect of human life. And, with the sheer proliferation of media into our lives through newspaper, television, and internet the field of mass communication is gaining popularity like never before. The course offers numerous career opportunities to candidates which are not only high paying but also bring in job satisfaction and expression of creativity.

Mass Communication Required Skillset

Unlike the complex streams of engineering and medical, one does not need to have a “set formula” to succeed in the field of mass communication. However, all that one needs is the passion, drive and right skills to make it big as a mass communication and media professional. Have a look at the kind of skills and traits needed to build a career in mass communication:

Mass Communication & Media Skillset
Creativity	Confidence
Communication skills	Ability to work under strict deadlines
Networking skills	Research skills
Interviewing skills	Observation skills
Problem-solving skills	Interpretation skills
Critical thinking	Ability to work under rough conditions
Good interviewing skills	Ability to express ideas and thoughts clearly
Aptitude for presenting information in a precise and effective manner

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates can pursue mass communication and media course at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Some of the popular courses that candidates pursue at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are:

• BJMC (Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication)
• BJ (Bachelor of Journalism)
• BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication)
• MJMC (Master of Journalism & Mass Communication)
• MJ (Master of Journalism)
• MMC (Master of Mass Communication)
• PG Diploma in Mass Communication

Eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate mass communication courses offered at different institutions is mentioned below:

UG Courses: All candidates should clear Class 12^th in any stream from a recognised board with the minimum required percentage (50% - 60%) as stipulated by a university/ college. Eligibility criteria of some universities/ colleges also require candidates to be minimum 17 years in age at the time of admissions.   

PG Courses: All candidates should clear graduation in any stream from a recognised university with the minimum required percentage (50% - 60%) as stipulated by a university/ college. Eligibility criteria of some universities/ colleges also require candidates to be minimum 23 years or more in age at the time of admissions.   

Journalism and Mass Communication Specialisations

The field of Journalism and Mass Communication is vast and the options are innumerable. You can go through the top mass comm specialisations. 

Journalism

The first form of Journalism was through writing and through writing, the masses were informed. From letters to newspapers to now reading the news on your smartphone, the basic job of a journalist is to gather, assess, create and present news and information which should be disseminated to the masses. Students who opt for a Bachelor's in Mass Communication, are taught about how to write for media, the history of media, the pattern, the flare and how to produce newsworthy content. You can go on to write various beats in the news such as politics, sports, entertainment, technology and much more.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting is basically the face of Mass Communication. Through broadcast, media channels connect to the masses electronically, via radio, television and webcasting. The field of broadcasting started in the early 1900's when the radio was first introduced in 1957. Following radio, television was introduced in 1959 and the daily transmission beginning in 1965. Through broadcast media, the masses get to see and hear content i.e audio-visual content. In the field of broadcast, students who study journalism and mass communication can take up jobs in media channels (TV & Radio). You can go on to be an anchor of a leading media channel in India, or can go out to report live from abroad. If you are into the technicality arena, students can get to work with production and the camera as well. 

Public Relations

Now how does Public Relations fit in with Mass Communication? It's quite simple. Other than reporting news, you are reporting for an organisation and thusly promote the organisation you work for. Public Relations is all about building and promoting the brand image along with upholding the organisation's reputation. A PR focuses on maintaining a positive image between the public and the media. If you love communicating and want to take it up professionally, PR is the job you are aiming for. 

Event Management

If you are wondering how an event is all planned out, well it takes months in the making to host a successful event and emerge with profits. Event Management as a career requires people to plan, create and organise an event. An event which could range from a political rally to a rock concert to hosting a college fest. As a part of an event management group, people specialise in different areas in the event management sector such as logistics, creation, to handling budgets and accounts. However, the main aim of planning an event is to promote the brand and gathering the right target audience. The various types of events which are hosted are as follows: 

Awards	Parties
Launches	VIP Events
Exhibitions	Sports Events Meetings
Roadshows	Conferences
Weddings	Festivals
Concerts	Charity Events
Fashion Events

Advertising

Advertising is an art. For an art to stand out, the content needs to be creative, eye-catching and interesting. Advertising is the means of communication with a product or service through paid promotion from clients. Advertising is always present, be it paid or none paid. Be it television, radio, newspapers, billboards, the internet, the ads are everywhere. Nowadays, before you can even watch a YouTube video, an ad pops up. There are various advertising agencies that make, create and promote the idea a client wants. 

Course Curriculum for Mass Communication & Media

Subjects that candidates study in mass communication and media depend on the type of course (UG/ PG/ Degree/ Diploma/ Certificate) they pursue. However, the curriculum of any course that a candidate pursues covers both theory as well as practical experience in the form of internships, study tours, seminars, etc.

Given below is the course curriculum of the two popular mass communication and media programmes – BJMC and MJMC:

BJMC Course Curriculum
Writing for Media	Introduction to Journalism (Reporting, Writing & Editing)
Indian Culture	Socio-Economic & Political Scenario
Basics of Design & Graphics	History of Print & Broadcasting in India
Print Journalism	Media Laws & Ethics
Still Photography	State Politics & Constitution
Theory of Communication	Application of Computer in Media
Development & Communication	Radio Journalism & Production
Media Management	Basics of Camera, Lights & Sound
Folk Media	Television Journalism & Production
Introduction to Advertising	Public Relations
Fundamentals of Economics & Indian Economy	National & International Affairs
Advertising Practices	Event Management: Principles & Methods
Media Research	Environment Communication
Tribal Communication	Communication Research
Media Organisation & Management	Contemporary Issues
Global Media Scenario	Value Education
MJMC Course Curriculum
Introduction to Communication	Print Media in India: Growth & Development
Print Media - Reporting & Desk	Electronic Media
Advertising	Current Affairs
Development Communication	Media Management
Media Law and Ethics	Radio & TV Production Techniques
New Media Technology	Print Media
Intercultural and International Communication	Public Relations and Corporate Communication
Media and Human Rights	Film Studies
Media and Society	Photography
Intercultural Communication	Environment Communication

To get details on curriculums of different mass communication and media courses, click on the below links:

Mass Communication and Media Course Curriculum
Mass Communication: UG courses one can study	Advertising: Courses one can study
PR: Courses one can study	Event Management: Courses one can study
Difference between PR and Corporate Communication: Course Curriculum

View Top Colleges for Mass communication by Location:

Delhi/NCR	Pune	Uttar Pradesh
Mumbai	Chennai	Karnataka
Bangalore	Hyderabad	Kerala
Kolkata	Maharashtra	All Locations >>

Mass Communication & Media: Job Profiles & Top Recruiters

Candidates successfully completing a mass communication course have ample career opportunities in various media fields. A professional course in mass communication opens doors for a career in television, films, publishing, journalism, editing, public relations, event management, filmmaking, production, scriptwriting, direction, advertising, and so on.

Depending on personal interest, a mass communication professional can choose to be a journalist, actor, radio jockey, video jockey, director, editor, screenwriter, event manager, advertising agent, copywriter, media planner, and the list continues. To know the profiles of different jobs that mass communication and media candidates can take up, click on the links below:

Mass Communication and Media Job Profiles
Mass Communication: Types of job profiles	Advertising: Types of job profiles
PR: Types of job profiles	Event Management: Types of job profiles

Some of the top recruiters in the field of mass communication and media are:

Top Recruiters for Mass Communication Candidates
Hindustan Times	Times Group
The Pioneer	India Today Group
The Hindu	Outlook
Indian Express	All India Radio
India TV	Zee Network
Network 18	Doordarshan
BBC	NDTV
Star India	Sahara One Media & Entertainment Limited
Balaji Telefilms Limited	Wizcraft Entertainment
Percept Limited	DNA Entertainment Networks
Cox & Kings	Cineyug Entertainments

Check complete profiles of the recruiters listed above by clicking the links below:

• Top companies that hire mass communication graduates
• Top companies that hire event management graduates

Top Journalism and Mass Communication Entrance Exam

Admission to a majority of colleges/ universities offering mass communication and media courses is done on the basis of candidates’ performance in the written entrance exam followed by a personal interview round. However, some institutions also offer direct admission to candidates on the basis of their performance in the qualifying exam (Class XII or graduation). Some of the top Mass Communication entrance exams are as follows: 

• Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam
• XIC OET
• IIMC Entrance Exam
• FTII JET
• JNUEE
• CUET

---