Journalism
In today’s era of communication and technology, people round the clock want to keep themselves abreast of the latest change and developments happening around them. And it is the role of the Journalism to spread information about every relevant happening in the world. Newspapers, radio, television and more recently the new media-internet has completely revolutionized the way news used to broadcast. Journalists have a very significant role to play in this practice.
Today a career in journalism stands not only for a prestigious profession but also for a challenging career option. Journalists play a key role in the growth of any nation. The core purpose of journalism is to inform, educate and enlighten the masses on various issues revolving them.
As the new world has time and again, verified the saying that the pen and the camera is mightier than the sword, numerous opportunities for journalists have been generated all around the globe. Today straightforward reporting of events is no more adequate, more specialization and professionalism in journalistic practices is being required. Therefore today, a wannabe journalist does specialize in diverse areas, such as politics, finance and economics and the like.
Eligibility & skill-sets
Educational Qualification: for bachelor degree in journalism, generally the minimum eligibility is set at 10+2 certificate and for Post graduate degree courses a graduate degree in journalism is required. Some institutes and private educational player also offer one year certificate courses in journalismfor which eligibility is 10+2. There are also courses in specialized areas ofjournalism like sports, television, photo, press law etc. one must keep the fact that no course or training can claim to make somebody a qualified journalist. The courses can only educate persons in the technical aspects only. For this profession one must have a nose for news in addition to an ability to write and produce news stories in correct, concise and appealing style.
Personal Attributes: one should have an curious mind, will power, an aptitude for presenting information in a precise, concise and effective manner. He/she should also be able to arrange thoughts and express them clearly in both forms of communications- written as well as oral. Moreover, a journalist has to be diplomatic, confident and structured while interviewing public and celebrities. Journalists must have the skill of filtering relevant facts from the irrelevant ones. The capability of accepting criticism and keenness to do considerable rewriting are also crucial in this profession.
Journalism is largely divided into two categories - Print and Electronic.Journalism in the print media consists of newspapers, journals, magazines, digests and news agencies. On the other hand, journalism through the electronic medium consists of television, radio and the new media-internet.
Career options with the print media:
Reporter: As a reporter of a newspaper, magazine, news agency, radio or television channel, your job will be to report with speed, clarity and accuracy. The intellect to distinguish a story and objectivity will be very important in this role.
Correspondent/Special reporter: To be a reporter for a particular purpose, you must have thorough knowledge in a particular field like politics and sports etc. You must also have the ability to read between the lines and explain the news on the basis of your understanding.
Feature writer: A feature writer’s job revolves around writing in-depth stories and observations on specific topics.
Leader writer: They are concerned with putting across their views on news topics through editorial columns only.
Proof Reader: Proof Reader’s job is to evaluate and compare proofs with the edited copy. For this job one must possess skills in grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Editor: Editor is the key head whose chief responsibility is to ensure uniformity and continuity of the print media. He/she presents the newspaper in an eye-catching fashion.
Columnist: As a columnist, one writes for a particular segment in the newspaper or magazine. Your column would highlight your viewpoint concerning any topic under the sun like fashion, politics or films and the like.
Critic: In order to be a critic, you will have to be well-read and experienced. Irrespective of the field one must have comprehensive knowledge in the subject concerned.
Photojournalist: To become a successful Photojournalists or in simple words, visual reporters one must be swift in taking pictures which represent a news-story and willing to work in difficult conditions. Furthermore, He/ she should have the skills of writing appropriate captions and knowledge of the technical aspects of photography.
Cartoonist: you have to artistic and humorous to get recognition as a cartoonist. A cartoonist comments on public personalities and other happenings in a satirical manner.
Career options with the Electronic media:
Researchers: Researchers job revolve around doing the research work for the channel or the site. To be a researcher, you must be creative and inquisitive.
Broadcast Reporters: a broadcast reporter must have good communication and presentation skills coupled with a nose for news.
Presenters: Good communication skills, command over speech, diction and language, general knowledge, intelligence and the ability to be composed in stressful conditions are essence for this job. Additionally, presenter must also have a control over words and a good quality of face expression to convey the right tone of the news.
The emergence of new media: web media
The Internet as a global electronic community, interconnecting millions of peoples is f ast emergi ng as an influential medium to change viewpoints. It has many USPs over other media forms ofjournalism. It provides updated news content at no cost. The web journalist has to make the news sharp and interesting. Here, editing and presentation of the news is the most important activity since many web surfers te nd to s can the pages and not read them entirely. Further, eye-catching captions and key facts are necessary. Hence in order
to become a web journalist one must be capable of writing precisely and concisely.
You can expect to start off with a salary of Rs.6000-Rs. 10000 as a trainee. As a reporter, you can expect to make Rs.12000 - Rs.18000. Editors draw a salary of Rs.20,000-Rs.35,000 besides Perks like housing and traveling concessions are also provided.
