In today’s era of communication and technology, people want to be aware and it is the role of the mass media to spread information about every relevant happening in the world. Newspapers, radio, television and internet are various means of spreading information, and journalists have a very significant role to play in this practice. Politics, business, art, culture, economics, history, sports, entertainment and many other areas are covered by journalists. If you have talent and can work hard you can choose journalism as a career and this will endow you with a good salary and perhaps even fame. With the growing importance of the media today, there are numerous opportunities in this field and the job is also very demanding at the same time.
As a journalist, you may find yourself:
- Interviewing people.
- Writing copy for publication.
- Building contacts and sources for use in future stories.
- Fact-checking the information given to you by a source.
- Creating blog publications.
Career Prospectus
Journalism is divided into two categories - Print and Electronic. Journalism in the print media consists of newspapers, magazines, journals, digests and news agencies. On the other hand, journalism through the electronic medium consists of radio, television and the internet. The career options in these fields vary.
Print Journalism
- Newspapers
Newspapers are the most popular forms of print media, it spread literacy. The advertiser in this case can choose from a daily newspaper to a weekly tabloid. Different types of newspaper cater to various audiences and one can select the particular category accordingly. Advertisers then design press advertisements where in the size is decided as per the budget of the client. The career options available in this area are as follows:
- The Associate Editor – The associate editor has a very important role in the editorial review process for Operations Research. Preparation of news, featured articles and critical reviews will be the job of an associate editor.
- Editor- Editor ensures consistency and continuity of the newspaper or magazine. The job as an editor is to present the newspaper in an attractive manner.
- Sub-editor- Sorting the contents of the material to be printed, rewriting articles to ensure that they fit into the assigned space, improving the language and giving appropriate and attractive headlines will be the job of a sub-editor.
- Proof Reader- Proof Reader compares proofs with the edited copy. The work of the proof reader is to check the customer’s copy and instructions, for this he/she must have detailed knowledge of grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Independent/Special reporter- To become a special reporter you must have detailed knowledge in a single field like politics, economics, sports etc. You must have the ability to explain the news on the basis of your knowledge and awareness.
- Reporter- The job of the reporter is to report the news with speed, clarity and accuracy to the newspaper, magazine, radio, television channel and news agency.
- Writer: The job of a writer involve choosing subjects and themes, conducting researches and assembling the material to write.
- As a writer the Specific responsibilities include, write clear, write to video and other graphic elements, act as producer as necessary, assist in the training of coworkers as required, maintain familiarity with local, national and international current events, important issues and newsmakers.
- Feature writer- The Job of the feature writer is to write detail of the circumstances and atmosphere.
- Leader writer: These writers express their ideas and views on news topics through editorial columns.
- Critic: In order to be a critic, you will have to be well-read and experienced. Be it film, literature, drama, art or any other topic, you must have comprehensive knowledge in the subject.
- Columnist: A columnist writes for specific segment in the newspaper or magazine. Your column would project your view concerning any topic that you know about like fashion, politics, finance, technology, parenting, sports, music, humor, household hints, gossip, gardening, films, etc.
- Cartoonist- The jobs of a cartoonist involve commenting on public figures and events in a comical or satirical manner through sketches.
- Photojournalist- Photojournalists are a visual reporter who creates images in order to tell a news story. In order to be a photojournalist, you must be quick and willing to work in difficult conditions and should be aware of the technical aspects of photography.
Electronic Journalism
Electronics journalism also known as e-journalism it refers to new practices in TV, radio and online news . The television and the internet ensure that you get comprehensive details of all that is happening in the world with speed and accuracy.
Work Activities of a Journalist
- Take interview of people in different circumstances.
- Building contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.
- Attend many events, such as council meetings, magistrates' court proceedings, press conference, tournaments, talent contests, etc.
- Report and write stories for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or the internet.
- Collect and interpret facts about news events through interviews, investigations, and observation.
- Create and upload news content for the newspaper website.
Education requirement
Education requirements for a journalism career is different, it is depending on what type of media an aspiring journalist hopes to work in. These professionals should be very articulate and able to communicate effectively, however, no matter what type of media they work in. Because of this, most journalists will take several English, language, and writing courses. Degrees in journalism, English, or communication skills are usually required in order to get started with a journalism career. While earning their degrees, most future journalism students will also be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as writing for college newspapers or working at their universities television station. These types of activities help prepare future journalists for their upcoming career by allowing them to gain valuable work experience.
You can do a course in journalism right after you pass your senior secondary examination (10+2). You also have the choice of doing a professional degree after the completion of your undergraduate course in any subject. A background in humanities is usually preferred.
Remuneration
As a trainee you can expect a salary of Rs. 15000/pm approx. The Average salary for all journalists is Rs. 24500/pm approx. Editors draw a salary of Rs.34000/pm approx. Perks like housing and travelling that add up to a bulky amount are also provided.