Journalism

A career in Journalism can be a high-paying job. It depends on the specific role and the publication or the media house. According to different salary aggregators, the maximum average salary package for the initial 2-3 years is INR 5-6 Lakhs per annum. 

First of all it is about the interest and the zeal to make a career in journalism. The first eligibility criterion is your own “will” to pursue a course in journalism. Once you have figured out and are serious about making a career in journalism, the next step is meeting the minimum educational qualification which is 10+2 to appear in any mass communication entrance exams conducted by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication or the Jamila Milia Islamia or the Delhi University etc. Students who qualify in any of these entrance exams are eligible to pursue a course in journalism.

The minimum eligibility criteria required to appear in any journalism course is 10+2. Many mass media colleges or institutes ask for a 10+2 qualification certificate during the admission process. As far as the age is concerned it ranges around 17-18 years which is the common age for students who are in their 12th. Students who are in their 10th and want to pursue a course in Journalism are suggested to qualify 12th. Although there are a lot of Diploma courses available, but having a degree in journalism gives an upper hand as compared to a Diploma course. Short-term Diploma courses can be pursued after completing graduation.

Yes, it is a high-paying job but only after you have gained a sizeable experience of say 10-15 years or more. This is when you become a senior journalist with a reputation attached to your name. At the start, fresh joiners earn a salary of approximately INR 3-5 Lacs per annum for the initial 1-2 years, with experience and switching to better roles and profile their salary gains an increment. Many famous journalists in India earn around INR 3-4 crores as part of their salary package apart from various other perks like accommodation, chauffeured driven vehicles, shares of the company, and much more.

To join journalism after 12th it is best to start with the basics, that is appear for the mass communication entrance exams after successfully qualifying the 10+2. Major media institutions conduct their entrance exam such as the IIMC, JMI, etc. Appear in these exams and crack them. Once you crack any of these exams, you will be eligible to appear in their counselling process from where you can choose a course as per your interest and rank. Get enrolled in the course to start your journalism studies.

Before choosing any course related to journalism it is always suggested to go through its syllabus in detail. Any course whose syllabus covers subjects like Indian Politics and Governance, Introduction to Journalism, Media Laws and Ethics, Print Journalism, Communication Theory, Newspaper Editing and Production, Writing for Media, Media Histories, Political Science or Sociology as well as the Language - English/Hindi, is best for doing journalism.

Many colleges offer journalism courses after 12th, it depends upon which one you want to go with - government colleges or private colleges. Here are some of the best colleges for both:

• Government Colleges such as the IIMC, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (Jamia Milia Islamia), IGNOU Delhi (For Distance Learning), etc.
• Private Colleges such as St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Madras Christian College, Chennai, St. Paul's College, Bengaluru, Amity School of Communication, Noida, SJC, Bengaluru, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata etc.