Journalism is a profession which involves the reporting of various news and events of local, national as well as international level importance. Most of the journalist collects news and gathers information through different methods which includes interviews of personnel’s and also through research. After the collection of relevant information, a journalist will have to turn it in to a just and balanced story so as to telecast in television or print in various news papers or even magazines. A journalist can involve themselves in various fields. They can be writers, editors, proof readers etc.

The study of Bachelor of Journalism includes all or few of the following:-

• Basic Audio and Visual Media
• Fundamentals of Journalism
• Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations
• Media Laws and Indian Constitution

Advantages or Benefits of Bachelor of Journalism Degree

A Bachelor of Journalism course will help a student to build up journalistic proficiency in a proper and systematic way. This course will impart the ideology and moral principles which are the core basic to the profession.

The course will also enable the students to be capable of handling basic issues wisely and spread information consequently.

Eligibility Criteria for Bachelor of Journalism

As to join a Bachelor degree in Journalism course, a student needs to have successfully passed +2 from a recognized board or its equivalent. There are few institutions which offer a one year certification course in Journalism. For joining this course also +2 qualifications is a must. There are specializations offered in this course in various areas of journalism. This includes:-

• Sports
• Television
• Photo
• Press Law

Top Bachelors of Journalism Colleges in India

• A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi
• Academy , Kalkaji (Delhi)
• Academy of Media Studies, Palwal (Haryana)
• Acharya Nagarjuna University , Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
• Ajmera Institute Of Media Studies (A.I.M.S.), Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh)
• Alagappa University, Karaikudi (Tamil Nadu)

Personal Attributes

Journalism is not just a profession any one can opt for. This field requires individuals who are passionate about Journalism. One also needs to have a good intellect, strength of will, self control and also ability for presenting new happenings all around us in a precise, to the point and effectual manner. The candidate must know how to organize their views and articulate themselves unmistakably both verbal and in written manner.

A candidate who desires to pursue Journalism also has to be diplomatic, self-assured and well thought-out while carrying out interviews with people from different walks of life. They must have the aptitude to arrange related data’s from the irrelevant. Another most important features one need to have is the ability to acknowledge criticism. A good journalist must always be ready to do considerable rewriting also. A Journalists job profile includes extensive amount of travelling and therefore regular travelling attribute is also a must requirement a Journalist needs to have.

Bachelor of Journalism course curriculum

A Bachelor of Journalism course is conveniently divided in to six semesters, as this is a three year programme. During the first four semesters there will be six papers and one practical exam. In the last two semesters i.e. V and VI semester there will be only 4 papers and a practical exam.

Semester I

• Basic Economics
• Development of Journalism
• Functional English
• Hindi or any regional language
• Introduction to Mass Communication
• Political Science (Theory)
• Practical

Semester II

• Communicative English
• Creative Journalistic Writing
• Economic Development and Macro Economic
• Governance and Politics
• Hindi or any regional language
• Issues
• Understanding News
• Practical

Semester III

• Fundamentals of Computer
• Hindi or any regional language
• Indian Economy – Problem and Policies
• International Politics
• Introduction to Electronic Media
• News Gathering and Correspondents
• Practical

Semester IV

• International Trade and the World Economy
• Interview Theory & Practice
• New Media & Web Journalism
• Newspaper Editing & Photo Journalism
• Public Administration, Society and Media
• Writing for Electronic Media
• Practical

Semester V

• Advance Reporting
• Advertising and Public Relations
• Communication Research
• Media Laws & Ethics
• Practical

Semester VI

• Communication for Development
• Newspaper management
• Special Paper (any of the following)
• Parliamentary News
• Crime & Court Reporting
• Entertainment
• Art& Culture Journalism
• Sports Journalism
• Project Report
• Practical

Bachelor of Journalism Specializations

• Advocacy Journalism
• Ambush Journalism
• Celebrity or People Journalism
• Citizen Journalism
• Community Journalism
• Convergence Journalism
• Enterprise Journalism
• Environmental Journalism
• Fashion Journalism
• Gonzo Journalism
• Innovation Journalism
• Investigative Journalism
• New Journalism
• Online Journalism
• Parachute Journalism
• Participatory Media
• Professional Journalism
• Science Journalism
• Service Journalism
• Social News
• Sports Journalism
• Trade Journalism
• Video Journalism

Bachelor of Journalism Course Evaluation

The evaluation process of Bachelor of Journalism Course includes written examination at the end of the semester. In this exam, student will have to score the required marks assigned by the examination board in order to pass the exam.

The theory paper exam is carried out to test the student’s level of knowledge and aptitude. The internal assignments will assess the learning level, proficiency, and improvement etc of the students. This internal assignment is also a way to evaluate the ability to articulate views, individual perception, and ideas.

Internal assessment will be carried out in different forms which includes

• Class Test
• Presentation
• Seminar
• Field Work
• Field Research
• Attendance
• Class Performance And Participation In Class
• Creative Inputs
• Innovative Ideas

Bachelor of Journalism Text Books

• A Practical English Grammar (Oxford India).
• ABC of Common Grammatical errors by Nigel D Turlon.
• An Introduction to modern political theory, by Narman P. Barry
• Background  to the Study of English Literature by Brijadish Prasad.
• Constitution of History of India.
• Fundamentals of political Ethics : Principles and practices, by Shiva Prakashan, Rajat Publications, New Delhi.
• Indetites and Right: Aspects of liberal Democracy in India, by Gurupreet Mahajan,
• Indian Economy, by Dr. Dutt.
• Intermediate English Grammar by Raymond Wiiliams.
• Mass Communication in India, by Keval, J. Kumar, Jaico Publishing House, Mumbai.
• Mass Communication theory, by Denis Mcquail., Sage Publication, New Delhi.
• News writing by George A. Hough, Kanishka publishers N. Delhi.
• News writing and Reporting, by James, M. Neal, Surjeet Publication.
• Principal of Economics, by M.L. Seth, Lakshmi Narain Agrawal educational, Publisher, Agra.
• The Open Society and its enemies  by Karl Popper
• The Open Society and the enemies: The Spell of plato, by Karl Popper.
• Understanding Mass Communication, by Melvin. L. Deffuer, Publishers Distributors, Delhi.
• Understanding of Media : The Extension of Man, by Marshall McLuhan.
• Usage and Abusage: A guide to Good English, by Eric Partridge, Hamish Hamilton London.
• Vocabulary by Michael Macearthy and Felicity O’ Dell.

Job and Career options for Bachelor of Journalism

Journalism is one of those careers which can brings instant fame and fortune to ones hand. This is also considered to be a prestigious profession. If one is good at this field a career in Journalism can also turn out to be one of the most lucrative profession available in the job market.

Journalists are those who work hard day and night in order to get the daily and resent happenings in the society to the general public through various medium. The job opportunities available for those who have completed this course are end less. There are diverse fields which one can specialize in. Few include:-

• Politics
• Finance And Economics
• Investigation
• Culture And Sports

Jobs are available with reputed firms like the All India Radio. Television channels are other common recruiters of Journalists. Some of the popular ones are:-

• Doordarshan
• ZEE TV
• Star TV

Journalists can also work as freelancers. One can also engage in this field as a part timer.

Some Job Types

• Editors
• Reporters
• Columnists
• Correspondents
• Staff or Freelance Writer
• Photojournalists
• Proofreaders
• News Analysts
• Critics
• Cartoonists
• Illustrators

Some Employment Areas

• Advertising Agencies
• Blogs
• Books and Novels
• Broadcasting Corporations
• Central Information Service
• Circulation and Public Relations
• Journals
• Legal Affairs Department
• Magazines
• News Agencies
• Newspapers
• Periodicals
• Photography Companies
• Press Information Bureau
• Radio Telecasting Companies
• TV Channels
• Websites

Remuneration after Bachelor of Journalism

The salary in this field will drastically vary according to the experience, skill and also the post to which one enters. A journalist’s career is quite demanding and also very much lucrative. The candidates who are associated to the print media will get comparatively lower salary than in the electronic media.

A trainee reporter will get a salary of Rs.5000-10000 p.m. in the initial stages. Special correspondents can easily get a salary around Rs.18000-30000 p.m. Salaries packages always depend on the company one is associated with. It can be anything from very lofty to very stumpy.