B.A. in Journalism And Mass Communication About

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication is a three-year undergraduate program equipping students with the technical skills and social understanding to write about and convey information - to the general public - involving business, history, culture, budget issues, governmental matters, entertainment, and sports, through the means of mass communication such as TV, radio, and web-based social networks. As the field of journalism is established on truth, autonomy, and transparency, the course provides a holistic knowledge at both theoretical and practical level.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Eligibility

The BA Journalism and Mass Communication eligibility followed by colleges are mentioned below:

Candidates who have completed their 10+2 schooling or equivalent, in any stream, with an aggregate of 50% marks are eligible to enroll for this program.

Institutions requiring an entrance exam for admission may take into account both the entrance exam score as well as previous academic records. The cut-off mark for the examination is decided by each institution.

Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories shall get a relaxation of 5% of marks.

Letters of recommendation can also be favourable to the candidate.

Why Study BA Journalism and Mass Communication

The program equips students with the knowledge and skills required for working in many media organisations with different apparatuses used in mass communication.

Students may acquire problem-solving, interviewing, investigative and reporting skills, in addition to an analytical approach to issues and trends, research aptitude, and networking skills.

The course helps students learn about the underlying principles of mass communication, and study about the recent emerging trends and issues of media, current technological trends and innovations in journalism.

Graduands get an exposure to various dimensions of print, electronics, and new-age media, and numerous technologies involved in mass communication such as computer applications, and software and hardware applied in print, radio, TV, and internet.

Students develop competency in conceptualization, creativity, designing, and strategies in high-quality media content for TV, radio, films, and various digital platforms like social media.

Since, this degree program helps in refining skills to gather, interpret, transmit, and deliver information to a large audience, one's career is more revamped in non-metro cities and small towns due to the exceptional emergence of regional media, and the proliferation of new media businesses and formats.

BA Journalism and Mass Communication Admission Process

Most varsities offer admission to a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication through the merit-based system.

Direct Entrance - The students are admitted directly based on the marks they received in class boards exams. The details are mentioned below:

Candidates are selected on the basis of merit. They must make sure that they fit into the eligibility criteria before applying.

Students can apply for colleges managing merit-based entrances through online or offline applications, where the mode of payment is the same as that of application respectively.

Exam-based Entrance - The students are made to sit for an entrance exam organised by the college to take in students:

Only a few institutions conduct an entrance exam for a candidate to be enrolled in BA Journalism and Mass Communication.

In order to appear for exams, students have to register and make payments through the online mode.

Institutes accepting entrance exam scores follow a common selection procedure, though the cut-off mark set depends on the institutions.

Relaxation of a fixed percentile is allowed to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories.

Selection procedure consists mainly of three steps-

Shortlisting:

Candidates are shortlisted depending on their accepted entrance exam score and by their academic records.

Personal Interview

After being shortlisted, aspirants get into the Group Discussion/Personal Interview (PI) round, where their competence, critical thinking and communication skills are tested.

Final Selection:

After the PI round, a fixed number of candidates are selected, who are now eligible to be admitted to the respective institute.

After a student is entitled to be admitted in a university, they are expected to submit the following documents to the management of the school:

Marksheets of grade X and XII.

The corresponding entrance exam admit card, score card and rank letter.

Six passport size photographs.

Character certificate

Reservation certificate (if any).

Migration certificate

Self-attested copies of various identity verification documents.

Domicile certificate

Demand Draft 

Syllabus of B.A. in Journalism And Mass Communication

Year 1: Foundation

Semester 1

Introduction to Mass Communication

Overview of media, history, and basic principles.

Journalistic Writing

News writing, features, and editing techniques.

Communication Theory

Fundamental theories and models of communication.

Media and Society

The role of media in shaping societal norms and issues.

Introduction to Media Laws and Ethics

Basics of media laws, regulations, and ethical considerations.

Semester 2

Print Journalism

Techniques and practices specific to print media.

Radio and Television Journalism

Fundamentals of broadcasting and production techniques.

Advertising and Public Relations

Concepts and practices in advertising and PR.

Digital Media

Overview of digital platforms and new media.

Research Methodology

Introduction to research methods relevant to media studies.

Year 2: Core and Specialization

Semester 3

Reporting and Writing for Print Media

Advanced reporting techniques and feature writing.

Television Production

Techniques in video production, scriptwriting, and editing.

Radio Production

Creating and managing radio content and programs.

Media Management

Principles of managing media organizations and departments.

Development Communication

Role of media in social change and development.

Semester 4

Photojournalism

Techniques and ethics in photojournalism.

Online Journalism

Writing and multimedia production for online platforms.

Media Economics

Economic aspects of media industries and business models.

International Communication

Global media systems and cross-cultural communication.

Project Work/Internship

Practical experience in a media organization.

Year 3: Advanced Topics and Application

Semester 5

Investigative Journalism

Techniques and ethics of in-depth reporting.

Media Laws and Ethics

Advanced study of legal and ethical issues in media.

Broadcast Journalism

Advanced skills in news production for radio and television.

Public Relations and Corporate Communication

Strategies and practices in PR and corporate communication.

Dissertation/Research Project

A research project or dissertation on a topic of interest.

Semester 6

Media Planning and Buying

Strategies for media planning and purchasing ad space.

Cultural and Gender Studies in Media

Analysis of media representation of culture and gender.

Emerging Media Technologies

Study of new technologies and their impact on media.

Entrepreneurship in Media

Basics of starting and managing media ventures.

Final Project/Internship

A comprehensive project or extended internship to apply skills learned.

Future Scope of BA Journalism and Mass Communication 

Students may go for higher education after BA Journalism and Mass communication. Some of the options are mentioned below:

Graduates interested in gaining more knowledge in journalism and mass communication can do so by pursuing a master's in Journalism and Mass Communication or any of its specializations, and then proceeding to M.Phil. and PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Graduates can also enter the academic profession and/or contribute to the vast expanse of knowledge of Journalism and Mass Communication through research in a relevant aspect.

Candidates may look into studying other disciplines related to journalism and mass communication such as Theater and Film Studies, Literary Studies, Graphic Designing, Media Management, and other fields like Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Economics, and Religion.

Students who want to proceed in a different route can take up an MBA and build a career in Management. 

Aspirants have better chances of acquiring a job in this field in comparison to other fields as the world of media is emerging even in remote areas day-by-day.

Candidates may enroll as a freelance writer, photographer or a junior reporter as a start, and build their careers through experience, or startup their own blog or studio.