Overview
There has been a vast and constant growth in the world of Media across the globe. Not only has Media as an industry witnessed the growth, but consumption levels as well. And this growth has no end, all age groups consume Media in some form or the other. Media is a medium to communicate any kind of information to the masses, in other words, Mass Communication.
Mass Comm. holds endless opportunities as a field of studies and career; it has various industries within, like film, television, advertising, public relations, journalism, radio, social media and so many more. And each of these industries has various segments. It is one such industry in which you do not need to be a professional at one skill, you can keep learning and exploring as you go on; dab into any field you want. The only skill set required is the ability to communicate, your thoughts, ideas and imagination, clearly. Thus, language (any language) proficiency is a mandate.
Confusion
Journalism is merely a fraction of Mass Comm., not the same as it. Journalism has a purpose; which is to communicate news; informative and meaningful matter that could or has impacted the lives of people. Whereas, the umbrella under which all kinds of mediums of communication fall is Mass Comm. It can be meaningless, imaginative, fictitious matter, just being shared for the purpose is entertaining, educating, sharing and informing.
Their purpose might be the same, but content and intent differ. Journalism comprises of news reporting through newspapers, magazines and television news channels, while mass communication is a much broader field encompassing radio, graphics, films, television, online media, documentary, events, advertising, corporate communications and so on.
Education Sector
Mass Communication, as a course, is not just about media studies; it also includes knowledge about other factors surrounding us. As Mass Communication is not about self, but about the masses it is important to possess general knowledge about everything.
Besides that, History of communication and how these mediums of communication came to being is extremely important, along with Film Analysis, Theatre Studies and Personality Development. Media students need to be just as dynamic as the Media Industry, thus, courses for basic understanding of all departments of the Industry are included.
Eligibility Criteria for Courses in Mass Communication differs from University to University, but a few basics are the same:
Undergraduate Diploma/Degree in Mass Communication:
It only requires completion of school till class 12, from any board. It is a foundation course in Mass Media, where basics of all industries are touched upon. Specialized courses and curriculums vary from college to college.
Post Graduate Diploma/Degree in Mass Communication:
Requires a Bachelors degree in any field and has an age limit of 30 years; work experience is appreciated. It is more specialization oriented; students are given a more refined direction.
Scope
The various Industries and their giant companies that fall under the huge umbrella of Mass Communication are:
- Films: Dharma Productions, Excel Entertainment, Phantom Films, so on.
- Television: Viacom 18, Balaji Telefilms, Endemol, Big Synergy, so on.
- Photography: National Geographic, The Wedding Filmer, Dabboo Ratnani, The House of Pixels, so on.
- Radio: Radio One, Mirchi, Fever 104, All India Radio, Red FM, Radio City, so on.
- Journalism: Times of India, the Hindu, Times Network, NDTV, Outlook, India Today, so on.
- Public Relations: Adfactors, Genesis Burson Marsteller, Edelman India, Perfect Relations, so on.
- Advertising: JWT, Ogilvy & Mather Pvt Ltd, DDB Mudra, Glitch, so on.
Preview
These Industries have the following departments:
- Films
- Direction
- Production
- Cinematography
- Scriptwriter/ Screen playwright
- Art Direction
- Editing
- VFX
- Animation
- Sound and Music
- Make-up and Costumes
- Critiquing
- Film Studies
- Dubbing
- Behind the scenes
- Television
- Direction
- Production
- Cinematography
- Scriptwriter/ Screen playwright
- Art Direction
- Editing
- Sound and Music
- Dubbing
- Make-up and Costumes
- Distribution
- Photography
- Wildlife
- Fashion
- Stop Motion
- Food
- Architectural
- Candid
- Documentary
- Nature
- Conceptual/Fine Art
- Sports
- Portraiture
- Radio
- Radio Jockey
- Radio Producer
- Podcast Producer
- Broadcast Assistant
- Programme Controller
- Radio Reporter
- Journalism
- Newspaper
- Bureau Chief/ Editor
- Reporter
- Columnist
- Section/ Copy/ News Editor
- Final Reader/ Gatekeeper
- Graphics/ Artists
- New Channel
- News Anchor
- Reporter
- Producers
- News Director
- News Writer/ Editor
- Camera Operator
- Broadcast Technician
- Audio Engineer
- Web Master/ Social Media Manager
- Magazine
- Editor-in-Chief
- Writers/ Researchers
- Creative Director/ Art Editor
- Picture Editor
- Copy Editors
- Newspaper
(There are several types of magazines as well, for instance, wildlife, fashion, political, so on)
- Photo Journalism
- Sports Journalism
- Tabloid Journalism
- Meteorological Journalism
- Radio Broadcast Journalist
- Public Relations
- Celebrity Management
- Corporate PR
- Media Relations
- Event Management
- Spokesperson
- Employee Relations
- Community Relations and Philanthropy
- Advertizing
- Television
- Radio
- Social Media
Tips
The one thing these job roles have in common is, they demand high amounts of hard work and dedication, you must be ready and available round the clock, as Production is a time-consuming process. The only parameter judged in this field is experience; therefore, internships and independent projects hold utmost importance. You must forget about your individuality and status as everyone is equal and a team. Always remember, in this field, patience and persistence is the key to success.