Mass Communication & Media

Yes, Practical subjects form an important part of the BMC curriculum. These subjects provide students with the hands-on experience and skills needed to deal with the complexities arising in real-time work situations. These practical experiences prepare them to become better professionals in the future. We have mentioned some of the common practical subjects in the field of Mass Communication. To get a better understanding of the same, keep reading the answer.
     1. Reporting and News Writing: It includes writing news pieces, conducting interviews, and learning how to structure news stories efficiently.

2.     Editing and publication: Students can gain practical experience by editing news stories, producing layouts for newspapers or magazines, and learning the publishing process.

3.     Broadcast Journalism: In this practical course, students will learn how to develop scripts for radio or television broadcasts, operate cameras and other equipment, and present news stories.

4.     Photojournalism: This course teaches students how to capture and edit images for journalistic objectives, as well as how to grasp photojournalism's ethical implications.

5.     Digital Media Production: With the rise of digital media, practical subjects in digital media production may involve multimedia content creation, social media platform management, and comprehending online publishing.

6.     Media Ethics and Law: Practical components of media ethics and law may include case studies, simulations, and real-life scenarios to help students comprehend the ethical and legal responsibilities of media professionals. 

A professional course in mass communication opens doors for a career in print media, digital media, films & television, public relations, journalism, copywriting, production and more. In short, courses or subjects covered under the mass communication programme widen the horizon of career options for an individual. 

• Journalist: The main role of a journalist is to find news through various sources such as research and interviews, report it, document it, and present it in an honest and ethical way via any mass medium – newspaper, TV channel, or online news.
• TV Anchor: A TV anchor gathers information, writes his/ her own stories, and reads them out to the audience. The job role of a TV anchor also includes reading stories written by other reporters.
• News Editor: One of the main responsibilities of a news editor is to decide which story is worthy to be covered. A news editor also assigns work to reporters, checks for the accuracy of the news, and writes headlines. 
• Video Jockey: A Video Jockey or VJ is basically an announcer who introduces music videos on different music TV channels. Sometimes, a VJ also conducts interviews with TV personalities.

While discussing a news station, it is necessary to highlight its foundation. To become a news anchor in India, students can pursue a Bachelor of Journalism,  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication),  or MJMC degree. To become a news anchor, you typically need a combination of education, skills, and experience. Here are some steps you can take to pursue a career as a news anchor:

1.     Earn a Bachelor's Degree: While a specific degree is not always required,  a bachelor's degree in journalism, mass communication,  or a related field can provide you with a solid foundation in news reporting, broadcast journalism, and media ethics. It equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills for the profession.

2.     Develop Strong Communication Skills: News anchors must have excellent verbal communication skills, including clear diction, proper pronunciation, and the ability to convey information effectively. Work on improving your public speaking, voice modulation, and presentation skills.

Some of the common job profiles after Bachelor of Journalism course are:

Desk Writers: This is mostly the entry-level job profile of companies that function under the ambit of print or broadcast journalism. In this job profile one needs to write stories/ news pieces on major happenings of the day across different beats.

Correspondent: A correspondent is an on-the-scene reporter or a journalist who contributes reports to a newspaper, radio, television or internet. 

Reporters: In this profile, an individual has to get information regarding local, national or international events. Reporters work across different beats such as politics, law, lifestyle, entertainment, sports, education, etc.

Journalist: In this job profile an individual is expected to work under different beats such as Politics, Sports, Crime, Education, Entertainment etc. A Journalist is expected to research, write, edit and present the events/ news in an honest, unbiased and ethical way.