What are the skills required to do well in this career?
Mass Communication is a medium of dispersing information to a large number of people. It includes areas like journalism, film direction & production, event management, public relations, advertising, corporate communication etc. Candidates seeking to make a career in Mass Communication should be high on creativity and innovation. They should be able to think in a lateral and unorthodox manner. Good communication and inter-personal skills, coupled with critical thinking, courage and sense of social cause, are some other vital facilitators to do well in this career. Ability to research, interpret and present data, is also a desirable skill for this field.
What are the various professional paths in this career?
Mass Communication has emerged as a major area of interest and has immensely contributed to the development & empowerment of society. As an academic discipline, it has rapidly acquired importance and become a major attraction for students. The information technology revolution has significantly contributed to the expansion of mass media. Professionals get opportunities to produce newspapers, create radio broadcasts, prepare TV news bulletins, run public relations campaigns, make video films, and work on social media platforms, to evolve as responsible reporters, editors, broadcasters, correspondents, columnists, and commentators. Students can pursue careers in Print Media, Journalism (Print and Electronic), Radio and TV production, Films, Integrated Marketing, Event Management, Brand Management, Advertising (Print, Electronic and Digital), Social Media etc.
Which are the top institutes to study Mass Communication?
Delhi University
Delhi University offers following undergraduate Mass Communication Courses:
BA (Hons.) in Multi Media and Mass Communication (BMMMC): offered only in Indraprastha College for Women and is quite popular amongst aspirants considering it trains students for various sectors in the media.BMMMC is open to students from all streams. Candidates are required to have a minimum best of four aggregate of 60%. The college considers English marks with best three academic subjects or two academic subjects and one vocational subject while calculating the aggregate.Admission is on merit based on 10+2 marks.
BA (Hons) Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC): This course is offered by seven colleges namely, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Kamala Nehru College, Kalindi College, Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Bharati College and Institute of Home Economics. Admission is on merit based on 10+2 marks.
Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication (SCMC, Pune)
SCMC offers a three-year undergraduate course in B.A. in Mass Communication. The programme offers specialisation courses in Data Journalism, Print/Broadcast Journalism, Digital Films and Television, Radio, Digital Advertising and Branding, Advertising Planning, Screenwriting, Copywriting, Public Relations & Corporate Communications.Applicants who have completed their 10+2 (or 10+3 Diploma approved by State Board of Technical Education) in any discipline, from any recognised Board / Council / University, with a minimum of 50% (45% for SC/ST) aggregate marks, or equivalent grades, are eligible to seek admission.Admissions to SCMC are conducted in two rounds:
In the first-round candidates appear for the Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET). SET is a common objective, written test held in several cities across India on the first Saturday of May every year. The shortlists for the second round are based on the SET test scores. Structure o SET is given below:
Candidates shortlisted for the second round are required to appear at SCMC for a 3-4-hour assessment consisting of a test of writing abilities, studio test, personal interaction and document verification.
St. Xavier’s College (University of Mumbai)
The institute offers a three-year undergraduate course in Bachelor of Mass Media (B.M.M.). The areas of specialization in the Third Year are Advertising or Journalism. In the summers between the Second and the Third year, students are facilitated to take up internships in media industries.A candidate in order to be eligible for admission to the B.M.M. degree course shall have passed the 12th Std. Examination conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Higher Secondary Education or its equivalent examination or Diploma in any Engineering branch with two or three or four years duration after passing the Secondary School Certificate (S.S.C.) examination conducted by the Board of Technical Education, Maharashtra State or equivalent examination.Admission for B.M.M. course is through an entrance test, and is based on60 % weightage to entrance test & 40 % weightage to Class XII aggregate marks. Structure of the entrance test is given below:
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (IP University, Delhi)
IP University offers a three-year undergraduate course in Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BAJMC) at 16 affiliated colleges. A Candidate must have passed in 12th Class of 10+2 of CBSE or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate* and must also have passed English (core or elective or functional) as a subject, in order to apply. Admission is based on the merit/rank in the Communication Entrance Test (CET). Structure of CET is given below:
School of Communication- GD Goenka University (Gurugram, Haryana)
It offers the following courses:
B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication: is a three-year undergraduate course designed to offer comprehensive fundamental training in various fields of mass communication.
B.A. in Film & TV Production: is a three-year undergraduate course catering to various elements of film and television production from conceptualizing to writing, producing, shooting and editing fiction as well as documentary films.
Eligibility for both the programs is 10+2 from CBSE or equivalent examination. In addition, candidates also have to successfully complete a Goenka Aptitude Test for Admission (GATA) and appear for a personal interview.
Times School of Media, Times of India Group (Noida, U.P)
It offers a three-year undergraduate course in B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication. Eligibility is Class 12or equivalent examination (from any recognized board) with minimum 40% aggregate marks in five specified subjects. Admission is based on the performance of a candidate in an entrance test to check proficiency in English language.
Chitkara University (Rajpura, Punjab)
The institute offers a three-year undergraduate course in B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication. Admission to the program is on the basis of 10+2 marks and a personal interview.
What are the prospects in this career?
The Indian Mass Communication industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Its various segments Film, Television, Advertising, Print and Digital have witnessed a tremendous growth in the last few years. The industry is highly driven by strong consumption in non-metro and small cities, intense emergence of regional media and burgeoning new media businesses and formats.Itprovides the right stepping stone towards a career in leading Advertising Agencies, Design Houses, Media Houses, Public Relations Firms and Event Management Companies. Some of the rolesprofessionals can take up in this field are:
