BA Journalism and Mass Communication 

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication is a three-year undergraduate program equipping students with the technical skills and social understanding to write about and convey information - to the general public - involving business, history, culture, budget issues, governmental matters, entertainment, and sports, through the means of mass communication such as TV, radio, and web-based social networks. As the field of journalism is established on truth, autonomy, and transparency, the course provides a holistic knowledge at both theoretical and practical level.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Course Highlights

Why Study BA Journalism and Mass Communication?

- The program equips students with the knowledge and skills required for working in many media organisations with different apparatuses used in mass communication.

- Students may acquire problem-solving, interviewing, investigative and reporting skills, in addition to an analytical approach to issues and trends, research aptitude, and networking skills.

- The course helps students learn about the underlying principles of mass communication, and study about the recent emerging trends and issues of media, current technological trends and innovations in journalism.

- Graduands get an exposure to various dimensions of print, electronics, and new-age media, and numerous technologies involved in mass communication such as computer applications, and software and hardware applied in print, radio, TV, and internet.

- Students develop competency in conceptualization, creativity, designing, and strategies in high-quality media content for TV, radio, films, and various digital platforms like social media.

- Since, this degree program helps in refining skills to gather, interpret, transmit, and deliver information to a large audience, one's career is more revamped in non-metro cities and small towns due to the exceptional emergence of regional media, and the proliferation of new media businesses and formats.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Admission Process 2024

Most varsities offer admission to a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication through the merit-based system.

1) Direct Entrance - The students are admitted directly based on the marks they received in class boards exams. The details are mentioned below:

• Candidates are selected on the basis of merit. They must make sure that they fit into the eligibility criteria before applying.

• Students can apply for colleges managing merit-based entrances through online or offline applications, where the mode of payment is the same as that of application respectively.

2) Exam-based Entrance - The students are made to sit for an entrance exam organized by the college to take in students:

* Only a few institutions conduct an entrance exam for a candidate to be enrolled in BA Journalism and Mass Communication.

* In order to appear for exams, students have to register and make payments through the online mode.

* Institutes accepting entrance exam scores follow a common selection procedure, though the cut-off mark set depends on the institutions.

* Relaxation of a fixed percentile is allowed to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories.

Selection procedure consists mainly of three steps-

1.    Shortlisting:

Candidates are shortlisted depending on their accepted entrance exam score and by their academic records.

2.    Personal Interview (PI):

After being shortlisted, aspirants get into the Group Discussion/Personal Interview (PI) round, where their competence, critical thinking and communication skills are tested.

3.    Final Selection:

After the PI round, a fixed number of candidates are selected, who are now eligible to be admitted to the respective institute.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Eligibility

The BA Journalism and Mass Communication eligibility followed by colleges are mentioned below:

• Candidates who have completed their 10+2 schooling or equivalent, in any stream, with an aggregate of 50% marks are eligible to enroll for this program.

• Institutions requiring an entrance exam for admission may take into account both the entrance exam score as well as previous academic records. The cut-off mark for the examination is decided by each institution.

• Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories shall get a relaxation of 5% of marks.

• Letters of recommendation can also be favourable to the candidate.

How to get admission in a good college?

- Since most colleges enroll students on the basis of merit, candidates are advised to procure high percentages in subjects in their higher secondary schooling.

- Admission to institutions taking entrance exams into account comprises of two main steps:

 A) Exam Score:

- Scoring a percentile more than the required cut-off can help in being shortlisted right away. Students must take note of the cut-off mark decided by each college and work hard enough to achieve that score in the entrance exams.

- Practice for an entrance exam must not stop just because one has tackled some mock question papers. There is still room for improvement and candidates must keep practicing consistently.

 B) Personal Interview (PI):

- Students must upgrade their communication skills, critical thinking and current awareness, as these are some of the criteria being tested during this round.

- Participation and certification in various extra-curricular activities such as clubs, sports, and NGO volunteering can be an addendum to the list of merits.

C) Other suggestions:

- Be updated about the dates of registration and examination, and apply before the deadline.

- Prepare well and in advance for the entrance exams.

- Always be aware about current affairs.

- Make sure to exercise the necessary skills for the interview/group discussion held after the exams.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Syllabus

The following table shows the semester-wise curriculum followed for a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication:

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Jobs

A wide range of careers awaits those who have graduated in BA Journalism and Mass Communication. Jobs in both private and public sectors can be obtained after graduation, though candidates who have finished higher studies find it easier to get a job.

Various popular employment sectors are:

Some of the top recruiting companies include:

- Star India

- NDTV Network

- The Pioneer

- Times of India Publication

- India Today Group

- India TV

- Indian Express

- Balaji Telefilms LTD

- ABC News

- Sahara One Media and Entertainment LTD.

- Big Entertainment

- HT Media

- BBC

- Hindustan Times Group of Publication

- Zee TV Network

- Malayala Manorama

- Jagran Prakashan Group

- CNBC

- AIR (All India Radio)

- TV 18 Group

- Outlook

- Guardian

- Viacom

Brief descriptions of some jobs/careers are given in the table below:

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Scope

* Students may go for higher education after BA Journalism and Mass communication. Some of the options are mentioned below:

* Graduates interested in gaining more knowledge in journalism and mass communication can do so by pursuing a master's in Journalism and Mass Communication or any of its specializations, and then proceeding to M.Phil. and PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication.

* Graduates can also enter the academic profession and/or contribute to the vast expanse of knowledge of Journalism and Mass Communication through research in a relevant aspect.

* Candidates may look into studying other disciplines related to journalism and mass communication such as Theater and Film Studies, Literary Studies, Graphic Designing, Media Management, and other fields like Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Economics, and Religion.

* Students who want to proceed in a different route can take up an MBA and build a career in Management. 

* Aspirants have better chances of acquiring a job in this field in comparison to other fields as the world of media is emerging even in remote areas day-by-day.

* Candidates may enroll as a freelance writer, photographer or a junior reporter as a start, and build their careers through experience, or startup their own blog or studio.

Conclusion

 In conclusion, a career in mass communication is a highly dynamic and exciting field that offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals with a passion for storytelling, creativity and the ability to connect with audiences.