Types of Journalism: Which is Right For You?
Want to pursue a career in journalism? There are different types of journalism one can study. Learn all about the types of Journalism courses and specialisations offered at various institutes and universities in India.
Journalism
Types of Journalism: A journalist's job entails gathering information about a certain topic and then communicating findings and conclusions to a larger audience. The basic goal of Journalism is to investigate and report on events that have an impact on people's lives and society in various ways. Journalists use platforms like the newspaper, electronic media (radio, television), social media, and digital media. The types of journalism can be classified based on these platforms and the stories that are being covered. Aspirants who wish to build a career in journalism must be able to identify its various types.
In this article, we will discuss the various types of journalism and some courses that help accelerate students' knowledge about the field. Learn all about the types of journalism further in the article.
- What is Journalism?
- Different Types of Journalism
- Other Journalism Types
- Most Popular Journalism Courses: UG, PG, Diploma
- Popular Journalism Colleges
- Top Journalism Entrance Exams
- Skills Required for Journalism
What is Journalism?
Journalism is a profession in which a journalist turns facts into stories that matter. It involves gathering information, checking its credibility, and truth behind the information collected, and sharing it in a way that keeps people informed about what's happening around them across the globe. A journalist acts as a bridge between the audience and the event happening. They talk about what's happening in politics, sports, culture, or society by presenting the information in a way that everyone can understand.
Journalism is not just about reporting facts; instead, it is also about uncovering truths, asking questions on behalf of society, giving a voice to the people, and highlighting diverse perspectives. Journalism comes with great responsibilities and requires a person to be bold enough to challenge the power, whenever and wherever required.
Also Read: How to Become a Journalist?
Different Types of Journalism
There are several ways in which journalism can be classified into its types. Some of the most widely accepted avenues include classifying journalism by content, by medium, and by style. Hard news, soft news, investigative journalism, sports journalism, political journalism, business journalism and entertainment journalism are some types based on the content or subject matter of what is being covered. When it comes to distinguishing journalism based on the medium, we talk about print journalism, broadcast journalism, digital journalism, photojournalism, etc. Other types of journalism include opinion journalism, feature journalism, citizen journalism, etc., which are based on the approach or style. Some of these types are explained in the space below.
1. Print Journalism
Print media is the most traditional type of Journalism. It involves reporting news and related material through newspapers and magazines. There are many types of newspapers, such as daily, weekly, and evening newspapers, etc. Before independence, newspapers were the most powerful medium to raise a voice on the issues prevailing in society, and they remained the medium of news for a long time. In Print Journalism, you can work as a reporter, columnist, copy editor, news editor, designer, etc. With the spread of the Internet, newspapers also launched their digital editions, through which people can read e-papers anywhere through their mobile phones or laptops.
2. Broadcast Journalism
Broadcast Journalism uses an electronic or radio platform to broadcast news. For this, news bulletins, documentaries, and other factual programs are produced and broadcast on TV or radio. TV broadcasting in India first started in 1959. At that time, news bulletins were broadcast only for a short time. Gradually, this medium became so popular that news bulletins were replaced by news channels. Today, there are news channels in regional languages apart from Hindi and English news channels. Working in Broadcast Journalism can be tiring and stressful, as you have to be prepared for news coverage all the time. Some career profiles in this media domain are similar to those of Print Journalism, such as editor, copy editor, correspondent, etc., while some newer profiles are also included, such as news anchor, cameraperson, producer, video editor, graphics designer, sound recorder, sound mixer, etc.
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3. Digital/ Online Journalism
The increase in internet usage has changed almost every aspect of our lives. The field of journalism is no exception to this. Along with print and broadcast journalism, online or digital journalism has also carved a strong niche for itself. Many news websites provide news to people with just one click. This type of Journalism is also called new media. This form of media has brought many benefits to journalism as it not only democratised the flow and distribution of information between different media but also added new advances in editing and recording techniques, and reduced the cost of production. Some of the job profiles present in this emerging field of media are – Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist, Content Curator, Digital Journalist, Content Writer, SEO Team, etc.
4. Photo Journalism
Photojournalism is the use of the visual medium to effectively present issues or stories. This medium of Journalism can bring forth the issues in a new perspective and in a thought-provoking manner. It is not just a medium of reporting, but also highlights the good and bad aspects of humanity. Travel holds a very important place in the life of a photojournalist as they have to travel to any part of the world to bring out those neglected aspects of society that need a voice to reach out to the world. You can make a career in photojournalism through various photography courses.
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5. Tabloid Journalism
In this, certain news stories are exaggerated or sensationalised with photos to attract the readers' attention. It can also be called a type of gossip news, as Tabloid Journalism is usually celebrity-centric. Earlier newspapers contained crime stories and gossip in a single column, but their popularity among gossip seekers grew so much that it developed into a full-fledged media outlet broadcasting news for entertainment. Tabloid journalism promoted paparazzi culture and has now become one of the major forms of media.
6. Mobile Journalism
News in Mobile Journalism is covered through smartphones. It mainly uses smartphones to create and edit images, audio, and video. In this journalist is capable of executing both production and distribution from the same device, i.e. smartphone. This medium of Journalism has revolutionised the use of smartphones. This Journalism not only allows new forms of raising issues but also supports more inclusive approaches to Journalism.
Types of Journalism
Other Journalism Types
You can pursue journalism courses in many specific areas. These areas are based on hard news and soft news. You can choose a specific area based on your interests and knowledge. Reporting on a particular area not only enhances your knowledge in that domain but also allows you to become an expert. Some such specific areas of Journalism are given below:
- Sports Journalism: Sports Journalism includes coverage of sporting events for TV, digital platforms, or newspapers. As a sports reporter, you can interview any sports team or player and also do coverage of any league or tournament. In Sports Journalism, you have to make sure that your news is authentic and factual.
- Entertainment Journalism: Entertainment journalists cover cultural and social programs for newspapers, magazines, television, and other media. They write news related to films, TV shows, theatre plays, etc., interview film and TV actors, and cover programs like film festivals.
- Political Journalism: Students who are interested in politics, are keen to know how policies affect individuals and societies and want to participate in political discussions, can become political journalists. Political journalists can write articles on topics assigned by their editor and according to their own choice. They analyse documents and data, attend press conferences, briefings, and other government events, interview politicians, and cover elections. Political journalists have to develop relationships with sources to collect the necessary information for their articles.
- International Journalism: It includes coverage of international affairs. Such journalists cover international events, seminars, and bilateral talks at home or abroad and analyse the internal status of a country. They also get the opportunity to travel internationally for coverage of events abroad.
- Security Affairs Journalism: This is related to defence matters. It includes reporting on defence deals, activities on the country's border, and the functioning of various departments of the security forces. Security affairs journalists need to develop relationships with reliable sources for reporting, and their reports should be accurate and with facts.
- Investigative Journalism: In this journalism, information is collected closely by investigating news related to crime, corruption, scams, and wrongdoings, so that the truth can come out. A story is explored in a detailed manner, and the key elements are detected to go into the depths of matter. Generally, investigative journalism is related to an important event, such as the murder of a famous person or an event that is of utmost importance and of public interest.
- Crime Journalism: As the name suggests, it involves coverage of crimes. A crime reporter often has to keep in touch with the police to get information about the incident. Arriving at the crime scene with the police, reporting the crime, and uncovering various aspects related to the case are some of the major tasks of a crime reporter.
- Business Journalism: Business Journalism includes coverage of big corporate houses, economic deals, decisions taken by the Ministry of Finance, etc. It also includes industry-specific news for products such as oil, metal, and agriculture, as well as business sectors such as travel and healthcare. A business reporter also gives information to people about the market conditions.
- Science Journalism: It includes the coverage of research, inventions, and innovations in the field of science and the country's space missions. If you are interested in science and want to bring new scientific methods to the world, then it is the right area for you.
- Lifestyle Journalism: A lifestyle reporter covers fashion, food, sports, travel & tourism, books and magazines. Lifestyle reporting is a soft form of Journalism in which ideas are gathered and presented to the readers in a relaxed and entertaining manner.
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Most Popular Journalism Courses: UG, PG, Diploma
You can pursue Journalism at the Diploma, PG Diploma, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate levels. Although the eligibility criteria are different for all the courses. While a class 12 pass in any stream is a must for undergraduate-level courses, a Bachelor's degree in any discipline is mandatory for PG diploma, Diploma, and postgraduate-level courses. Some of the popular Journalism courses are given below:
| Top Journalism Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Journalism | Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) | BA Journalism, Film and Television Studies |
| Diploma in Documentary Photography | Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) | BA (Hons) Photojournalism |
| Diploma in Photojournalism | Bachelor of Mass Media | Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) |
| Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication | Master of Journalism | |
| PG Diploma in Journalism | Bachelor's in Sports Journalism | Master's in Mass Communication |
| PG Diploma in Radio and TV Journalism | Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) | MA Broadcast Journalism |
Popular Journalism Colleges
Numerous colleges in India offer Journalism courses. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Asian College of Journalism
- Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Madras Christian College
- National Institute of Mass Communication and Journalism
- Chandigarh University
Top Journalism Entrance Exams
Some institutes also conduct entrance exams to give admission to Journalism courses. Some of the popular entrance exams are:
- AIMCET/GMCET
- FTII JET Entrance Exam
- IIMC Entrance Exam
- JMI Entrance Exam
- ACJ Entrance Exam
- MASCOM Entrance Exam
Skills Required for Journalism
Students making or planning to make a career in journalism must know the skills required to be a good journalist. Below is the list of some of the basic skills required:
| Skills of a Good Journalist | |
|---|---|
| Communication Skills | Digital Literacy |
| Writing Skills | Persistence |
| Research Skills | Problem-solving Skills |
| Fact-Checking Skills | Objective & Critical Thinking |
| Journalism Knowledge | Journalism Ethical Knowledge |
| Interviewing Skills | Networking Skills |
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