Mass Communication & Media Subjects List 2025: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus
Parul ThapaAssistant Manager
Mass communication is one of the popular media courses that attracts countless individuals every year. It is related to journalism and also has other fields like news reporting, anchoring news channels, movie direction, advertising, and event management. Bachelor-level, masters, and PG diploma courses are available when it comes to the discipline of mass communication. The eligibility criteria and syllabus of these courses differ accordingly. Apart from theoretical subjects, internships, seminars, study trips, etc., are a part of the curriculum.
List of Subjects in Mass Communication
Typical Core Subjects in Mass Communication are tabulated below:
|
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to Mass Communication |
The basic communication models, key issues, characteristics of mass communication, etc. are discussed in this subject. The mass media evolution, mass media ethics, media content processes, etc. are also discussed in this subject. |
|
The structure of newspapers, editing news sections, reporting and writing, and related concepts are covered in this subject. The basic elements of newspapers, page layout, proofreading, etc., are also covered in this subject. |
|
|
Radio Journalism |
Understanding radio as a means of journalism, radio news reporting, compiling a radio bulletin, and other formats of radio journalism are discussed in this subject. |
|
TV Journalism |
Understanding TV as a news medium, developing a news sense, acquiring skills to handle TV news reporting, writing and editing news, presenting news, understanding TV news as a visual medium, etc., are the key objectives of this subject. |
|
Online Journalism |
The use of the internet as a news medium, multimedia tools to update news, open-source journalism, the role of social media in the news, ethics and laws of online journalism, and related concepts are covered in this subject. |
|
Advertising |
Types of advertisements, the advertisement industry in India, copywriting, different advertising media, planning and executing advertisements, and other concepts are covered in this subject. |
|
Maintaining public relations in corporate and government departments is the core objective covered in this subject. |
|
|
Current Affairs |
A deep insight into current affairs and its impact on geopolitics and economy is given through this subject. |
Elective Subjects in Mass Communication are as follows:
|
Subject Title |
Subject Description |
|---|---|
|
Entrepreneurship Development |
The key concept of entrepreneurship development in the mass communication sector and different aspects associated with it such as finance, rules, etc., are discussed in this subject. |
|
Foreign language (German or French) |
The student can study a foreign language like German or French as an elective subject to further develop their understanding of global news and journalism. |
|
Social and Cultural History of India |
The history of India in the context of society and culture is discussed in this subject. It helps the students to understand the nature of an event or news and its impact on the society. |
|
Organisational Behaviour |
The code of conduct to be followed while working in any mass media organisation and the value of ethics are discussed in this subject. |
|
Human Resource Development |
The development of human resources in the field of mass communication and the role played by human resource teams in news channels, newspapers, and other related fields are discussed in detail in this subject. |
|
Fashion Communication |
The recent trends and developments in the fashion industry, the life of fashion celebrities, etc., are some key areas of interest for the students who choose Fashion Communication as an elective subject. |
|
Leadership Development & Team Building |
The meaning of a true leader, their role in team development, the roles and responsibilities of a leader in a crisis, and several other related concepts are covered in this subject. |
Detailed Syllabus for Mass Communication
The syllabus for mass communication differs from one programme to another. Though the core subjects remain the same, the optional subjects might be different according to the programme chosen by the students. An overview of the detailed syllabus for the PG diploma in Mass Media is given in the below table:
|
Paper |
Core/Elective |
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper-1 |
Media Communication |
Introduction to Communication |
The basic concepts of communication, role of mass media in democracy, news as a genre, mass communication as an academic discipline, mass media ethics, right to respond in a democracy, investigative journalism, and related concepts are discussed in this subject. |
|
Paper-II |
Print Journalism |
Print Journalism |
The structure of a newspaper, editing news topics, proofreading news, feature writing and writing style, newspaper design, and related concepts are discussed in this subject. |
|
Paper-III |
Radio Journalism |
Radio Journalism |
Understanding the medium of radio as a news channel, understanding the impact of news, news reporting, how to write a radio news, compiling a radio news bulletin and presenting it, and various other concepts are covered in this subject. |
|
Paper-IV |
TV Journalism |
TV Journalism |
Understanding the medium of TV for presenting news, visual medium, news values and cultivating news sources, TV news reporting, editing and writing news, and other concepts are discussed in this subject. |
|
Paper-V |
Online Journalism |
Online Journalism |
Understanding the internet as a medium of news, online journalism basics, e-newspaper, content management system and tools, dynamics, strengths, and weaknesses of social media, cyber law and crimes, and various other concepts are explained via this subject. |
|
Paper-VI |
Advertising |
Advertising |
The major ad agencies in India, Indian advertising from social and cultural perspectives, ethics and social responsibility of advertising, role of advertisements in marketing, types of advertisements, etc. are covered in this subject. |
|
Paper-VII |
PR |
Public Relations |
Developing a basic understanding of PR, differences between advertising and PR, the role of PR in various sectors, PR tools, understanding media relations as a PR function, and related concepts are covered in this subject. |
|
Paper-VIII |
Current Affairs |
Current Affairs |
History of India post-independence, political parties in India, the rise of regional political parties after independence, international affairs, recent developments and news, etc., are covered in this subject. |
|
Paper-IX |
Internship |
Internship |
An internship of over 15 days has to be completed towards the end of the course. A written report of at least 1000 words on the internship activities should be submitted by the students before the final exam date. |
|
Paper-X |
Study Tours |
Visits to Media Institutes and Social Organisations |
The students must complete a minimum of 5 visits comprising three media institute visits and two visits to social organisations. |
|
Paper-XI |
Journal Writing |
Experimental Journal |
The students are expected to create at least two experimental journals where they need to showcase their skills as a news reporter, writer, and sub-editor. The number of journals might vary from one university to another. |
Specialisations offered in Mass Communication
Mass communication offers different specialisations for covering the vast topics and concepts in journalism, broadcasting, PR, advertising, and mass communication media. Though there are numerous specialisations offered by mass communication, some universities and colleges might introduce unique specialisations of their own. Some of the popular mass communication specialisations are given in the below table:
|
Specialisation |
Subjects |
Subject Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Journalism |
|
Types of news, the basic job of a journalist, news presentation, and related concepts are covered through this specialisation. |
|
Broadcasting |
|
This specialisation sheds light on various broadcasting channels like radio, TV, internet, social media, etc. It also talks on the history of broadcasting in India and how news should be broadcasted from the nation and abroad. |
|
Public Relations |
|
The role of PR professionals in maintaining public relationships, how to build a positive image of a company, and related aspects of PR are covered in this specialisation. |
|
Event Management |
|
Different types of events ranging from political rallies to college festivals are discussed here. Along with that, the role of event management groups in different sectors like logistics, budget maintenance, etc. are discussed in this specialisation. |
|
Advertising |
|
Different aspects of advertisements, advertisements ethics and rules, the role of advertisements in marketing, and associated concepts are explained through this specialisation. |
Books and Authors related to Mass Communication
There are several books that the students can refer to gain a wider perspective of mass communication studies. These are the top 10 books that will help them understand the different concepts and theories with ease:
|
Subject |
Book Title |
Author |
Book Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mass Communication |
Dynamics of Mass Communication - 12th Edition |
Joseph R. Dominick |
The objectives of mass communication studies, the role of social media, etc. are discussed in this book. |
|
Mass Media Writing |
Writing for the Mass Media - 9th Edition |
James G. Stovall |
The writing skills required to work in mass media are discussed in this book. |
|
Mass Media |
Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication |
University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing |
Types of mass media, internet and social media, ethics of mass media, etc., are covered in this book. |
|
Media and Culture |
Media & Culture 2016 Update |
Richard Campbell |
The role of media in the upbringing of the culture and society is discussed in this book. |
|
Mass Media |
Mass Media in a Changing World - 4th Edition |
George Rodman |
The history, controversies, and trends in the mass media industry are explained in this book. |
|
Mass Media |
Gender, Race, and Class in Media |
Gail Dines and Jean McMahon Humez |
New genres in mass media and other sophistical theories and concepts related to mass media are covered in this book. |
|
Mass Communication |
Media Essentials: A Brief Introduction |
Richard Campbell |
The evolving scene in the media industry and the major concepts are explained in this book. |
|
Mass Communication |
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World - 6th Edition |
Ralph E. Hanson |
It covers all the basic concepts of mass communication in an interesting and conversational manner. |
|
Mass Media |
Media Literacy - 8th Edition |
James W. Potter |
What does media literacy mean and how important it is for the society are explained in this book. |
|
Mass Media |
Converging Media |
John V. Pavlik and Shawn McIntosh |
The change in the ways people communicate with each other are highlighted in this book. |
FAQs on Mass Communication Subjects
Q. What are the types of journalism?
A. The main duty of a journalist is to find the truth on the basis of logic, evidence, questioning, and observation. The types of journalism are given below:
-
Investigative journalism
-
Watchdog journalism
-
Development journalism
-
Advocacy journalism
-
Data journalism
-
Alternative journalism
-
Yellow journalism
-
PR journalism
-
Citizen journalism
-
Non-profit journalism
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Entrepreneurial journalism
Q. Which are the practical assignments included in the mass communication syllabus?
A. When it comes to practical assignments, the students need to master news writing skills and generate news ideas. Collecting news materials, researching on a particular news, interviewing people, preparing a lab journal, etc., are also parts of the practical assignments. Around 30% weightage is given to the practical assignments in the yearly exams.
Q. What is visual communication in the mass communication syllabus?
A. Visual communication is the way of delivering content or news through visual media like videos and photographs. Visual journalism is an essential component of journalism and holds weightage in the Television Journalism paper. Some of the concepts related to visual communication include:
-
Tools and principles of visual communication
-
Visual creativity
-
Visual manipulation and ethics
-
Basics of videography
Q. Which are the objectives of the Television News Reporting and Bulletin Production syllabus?
A. The objectives of the Television News Reporting and Bulletin Production syllabus include:
-
Acquainting students with various types of news beats.
-
Making the students aware of various types of news such as sports news, technology news, political news, and international news.
-
Help the students develop their interest in a particular specialisation.
-
Help the students develop and write news in their areas of interest.
Q. What is lifestyle reporting?
A. Lifestyle reporting includes reporting on tourism, food, culture, and fashion. It involves developing stories on these topics and also interviewing people and organisations to research various news and stories. It helps the students to tackle challenges and find opportunities when it comes to reporting on news related to lifestyle.
Q. What is conflict reporting?
A. Conflict reporting is finding a conflict, the reasons behind it, and its implications on society. The journalism that is done during wars, emergencies, and disasters comes under conflict reporting. Therefore, the topic of conflict reporting helps the students understand the role of conflict reporting and their responsibilities while delivering such news.
Q. Which are the objectives of crime reporting?
A. The objectives of crime reporting are given below:
-
Understanding the role and duties of a crime reporter.
-
Features and implications of crime reporting.
-
Understanding IPC, police system, and criminal investigation.
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Finding sources for crime reporting and collecting evidence to cross-check the crime news.
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Interviewing, researching, and investigating crime news.
Q. Which are the core objectives of radio news reporting?
A. The objectives of radio news reporting are explained below:
-
Structuring radio news and creating reports.
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Finding sources for news stories.
-
Understanding the roles and duties of a radio journalist.
-
Reporting press conferences.
-
Reporting sports news on radio.
-
Understanding how news interviews are taken on radio.
Q. What does the syllabus of citizen journalism and social media contain?
A. The citizen journalism syllabus includes the concept and meaning of citizen journalism along with case studies, blogs, and other news material. The syllabus of social media in mass communication is given below:
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Social networking via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media channels.
-
Collaborating through social channels.
-
Understanding different mediums of social media news reporting such as Whatsapp, YouTube, Skype, etc.
Q. How many elective subjects do the students need to choose for an MA in mass communication course?
A. The students need to choose any three electives in the 3rd semester, and any two electives in the final, i.e. fourth semester of the MA mass communication course. The elective subjects might be different from one university/college to another. However, some of the popular electives for MAMC are given below:
-
Advanced Television Programming
-
Specialised Photography
-
Digital Multimedia Project
-
Graphics and Visual Special Effects
-
Advanced Screenplay, writing, and direction
Q. Why is animation an important part of news presentation?
A. Animation is required to make the news presentation more appealing to the audience. It also helps the news reporter present the facts and details with ease. Moreover, animated content helps the reporter to focus on the key aspects of the news or event. It also gives a better perspective of the news or event to the audience.
Q. How are social media and PR linked?
A. These days, brands focus heavily on social media marketing as it helps them improve their brand image. PR based activities conducted through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages help the organisations to maintain public relationships. It also helps them address an untoward situation immediately to save the image of the brand.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
Hi.
Most of the colleges have photograpgy course.
Some colleges lists are-
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- National Institute of Photography (NIP) (Mumbai): One of
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 3 days ago
Hi.
Yes the degree programme at AAFT School of Cinema include specialisation options like direction, cinematography, editing or acting.
- Acting
- Cinematograp
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 3 days ago
Hi.
Yes students can specialize in social media, marketing, SEO, content or performance marketing from AAFT .
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 3 days ago
Hi.
Yes AAFT curriculum cover digital PR, influencer marketing and experiential events.
- Digital PR & Social Media Strategy: The curriculum emphasizes corporate communication, brand storytelling across various media, and strategic use of social media for public relations.
- Influencer Marketing: Influence
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 5 days ago
Hi.
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 5 days ago
Hi.
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 5 days ago
Hi.
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Scholar-Level 17
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Hi.
- Certificate in News Anchoring (3 months)
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 5 days ago
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- Certificate Courses (3-6 months): The fees ra
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered 5 days ago
Hi.
Yes
- Educatio
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Scholar-Level 17
Answered a week ago
Any promotion of products or services or brand communication on social networks, including Instagram, X aka Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, is social media marketing also known as SMM.
Businesses use social media platforms to grow followers, interact in real-time, post engaging content, mo
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
The eligibility criteria for all the course are as follows:
3-Month Certification: Min. 10th Pass
1-Year Photography Certification course: Min. 12th pass
BA in Still Photography: Min 12th Pass
MA in Still Photography: Min. Graduation
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 weeks ago
Well, photography is one of the top domain to make career in Photography. It is the field which gives you the complete freedom to unleash your creativity.
Photography in the long run is a very lucrative career. The amount of career options you have after undergoing a Photography course from AAFT is
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 4 weeks ago
The following specialisations are offered under the BA course at Jain Deemed-to-be University, SDMCA:-
- Communication Design
- Fashion Design
- Film and Media, etc.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
The eligibility criteria of BA at Jain Deemed-to-be University, School of Design Media and Creative Arts requires the candidates to pass Class 12 in Science or Commerce and submit the marksheet for the same.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
No, generally getting direct admission in Jain Deemed-to-be University School of Design Media and Creative Arts is not possible. Candidates must appear for the JET exam to take admission in any of the courses offered by the college and achieve a valid aggregate in the same.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Fine Arts at Chandigarh University is not just about painting or sketching. The programme also focuses on skills that can help in films, like visual design, animation, and creative production. Students get a chance to learn about how movies are made and what kind of art work is needed. The universi
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
After graduating from CU's Fashion Design program, student can explore media and blogging careers as part of the Fashion industry.Skills in styling, trend analysis, photography, and digital design allow graduates to manage fashion page, contribute to online magazines, or even work as freelance blogg
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Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 months ago
The BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme offered by Chandigarh University comprises subjects such as Introduction to Mass Communication, Communication Skills, Print Media Reporting and Editing, and Digital Media. Students undertake Media Laws and Ethics, Fundamentals of Public Relations an
M
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
At Chandiharh University, the teaching style is mixed with industry learning. Students get to use TV studio, camera setups, and news production rooms. They do hands-on traning that is close to real newsroom life. Along with that, students also write for newsletters and design their own media project
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 months ago
Media Studies at Chandigarh University (through the University Institute of Media Studies, UIMS) is pretty good if you're into journalism, film, digital content, advertising etc. The curriculum is well-designed: you'll take subjects like News & Contemporary Issues, Broadcast Media, Digital Content C
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Absolutely! One of the coolest things about doing Journalism at Chandigarh University is that you actually get to work in the TV studio. The studio has cameras, lighting, microphones, and even green screens, so you can practice reporting, anchoring, and creating news content. Students often shoot sh
A
Guide-Level 11
Answered 2 months ago
For admission to the Certificate course at Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV, students need to fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria in the first place. The selection criteria for this course are merit-based, and candidates must pass Class 10.
L
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
In order to get admission at Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV, candidates must keep certain documents ready. Students can check the list of documents below:
- Scanned Class 10 marksheet
- Leaving Certificate
- Aadhaar Card
- Passport-size photograph
- Signature
Note: The list of documents mentioned abov
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV offers Certificate and Advance Diploma courses. Students are selected based on merit. Candidates can check the table below to know the detailed course eligibility and selection criteria:
| Course Name | Eligibility | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Class 10 | Merit-based |
| Advance Diploma | Class 10 | Merit-based |
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates who have completed their Class 10 are eligible to apply for Certificate and Advance Diploma courses at Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV. The selection criteria for admission are based on merit.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV admits students based on Class 10 scores. The institute admits students based on merit. The institute offers Advance Diploma and Certificate courses.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
To secure admission at Global Elite Fashion Management and Media TV, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria set by the college. Aspirants can check the points mentioned below to know more:
- The application process is an offline process
- Fee can be paid online/offline
- Students are selected based on
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
It is possible. Journalism students from Chandigarh University can also apply for the Walt Disney Cultural Program. The programme is designed for students of different streams. It is more about skills, discipline, and readiness than just the course.
To join, students must maintain good CGPA and atten
P
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 months ago
Honestly, the Journalism and Mass Communication course at Chandigarh University is very practical. You spend most of your time working on real projects—creating news reports, shooting videos, editing, running radio shows, and managing digital content. The labs and studio sessions let you experience
P
Contributor-Level 6
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