In today’s time, we are always connected to the rest of the world. Information is rapidly disseminated through various types of mass media forms such as newspapers, television and the internet. Mass media studies is a broad field that educates students about the history, use and impact of the different collective communication methods and tools that cater to the public. The student also gets an in-depth understanding of communication theories and nurtures an analytical eye towards how mass media is used.

There is often a confusion between the terms mass media and mass communication. They are interlinked but different. Mass media includes the diverse forms of media used to reach out to the people whereas mass communication is the act of communication to the masses. It deals more with the message. Mass media courses include a strong theoretical and cultural approach in communication sciences, mass communication and communication studies.

A mass communication career can be immensely rewarding as it offers several interesting streams within the field. Contrary to popular belief that mass communication predominantly creates journalism careers, a degree in mass communication also offers a bright future in video & audio production, marketing, advertising, event management and public relations, to name a few. 

Eligibility:

To pursue a career in mass communication after 12th, you must pass your 12th board exams in any stream from a renowned board with a minimum of 50-60% score or as the concerned university specifies. Candidates must also be a minimum of 17 years of age or more. For those wishing to pursue a postgraduate degree, you must have graduated from a reputed university with a minimum percentage of 50-60% without any backlogs.

Choosing the right college and course:

Since mass communication types vary, you will be eligible for a range of jobs that will necessitate skills in writing, editing, broadcast, online media, public relations and more. If you have a flair for one or many of these skills, you should find a relevant course that aligns with your career interests and skills.

There are mass media courses available for those wishing you pursue their undergraduate, postgraduate or diploma courses. Mass communication best colleges in India colleges conduct entrance exams to test your pre-existing skills. Here is a short list of the top undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma courses in mass communication:

UG:

  • BA in Journalism
  • BA Hons Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC)
  • BA Hons Multi Media & Mass Communication (BMMMC)
  • Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM)
  • BA Hons in Hindi Journalism & Mass Communication (BHJMC)
  • B.A. Film Making and Mass Communication

PG:

  • M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication

Diploma:

  • Diploma Course in Development Journalism
  • Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Diploma in Media Studies
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Business Journalism & Corporate Communication (DBJCC)
  • P.G. Certificate Course in Hindi Journalism
  • P.G. Diploma in Hindi Journalism

After your masters, if you are still interested in continuing your education, you can opt for Ph.D. in Mass Communication. The above mentioned courses are the most common and sought-after mass media courses. However, instead of pursuing a course for its popularity or scope, you should evaluate whether the course is in accordance with your interests and skills. For example, if you are interested in video production, instead of opting for an undergraduate courses in mass communication and learning every branch within it, you can directly study short term courses after 12th that specialise in video production. 

Career prospects after graduation:

After completion of your undergraduation, you can pick one of two options. You could continue your education with master’s degree or a diploma where you can decide which branch or mass media you wish to focus on or you can start looking out for mass communication jobs. Trust us when we say this: sky’s the limit. Not only is there an abundance in jobs but also incredible variety which will allow you to choose a path that you find most appealing and adherent to your skill set and interests. 

Here are the top three options if you are looking for a career in mass media:

Journalism: If you have an interest in writing and have an analytical eye, consider taking up journalism as career. You have the choice between traditional news and reporting for online platforms, thus widening the horizons of mass communication careers. The stream also presents employment for sound technicians, camerapersons and editors.

Public Relations: To become a public relations officer, you need to be sort of an all-rounder. You must be comfortable with writing, editing, marketing. Being an excellent communicator is mandatory. You will be putting forth the message to the public with press releases, story pitches and video footage shared by news outlets and events for the members of the media.

Corporate Communications: Every company needs to communicate to its stakeholders and most importantly their customers. They need mass communication graduates to create the message in different forms such as client presentations, annual reports, speeches etc. 

Other career prospects include media planning, broadcast production, market research, social media management, content creation etc.

Importance of career counselling:

The world of mass media and communication is vast. For students trying to find their true calling, choosing the right career path can be quite intimidating. It is very common for students to pick a stream in mass media and then realise that it is not their cup of tea. This is why career counselling should be encouraged while making career decisions. The primary objective of career counselling is to find out what the student finds interesting, the skill set they possess and their psychological traits. 

The importance of career counselling is well-comprehended by a majority of students but they often correspond with guidance centers that provide them only with information about various colleges and courses. They do not help students decide which course and college would be a good fit for them. For maximum results, career counselling for students should include two primary steps: analysing the student’s interests, aptitude and personality and identifying the right path based on the findings.

VedAtma breaks the practise of  conventional career counselling methods and provides a new approach to guiding students towards personal and professional fulfillment. We start off by discovering the student’s unique natural potential with the help of globally-renowned career assessment tools such as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) and Strong Interest Inventory® (Strong). On completion of this analysis, we move on to providing career options that would suit their potential in our one-on-one sessions with our certified practitioners. To know more, check out our process here: https://bit.ly/2FlAMsg 

Contact Vedatma to become your best!