Overview of B.A. Journalism

Reading Prime Time news while sitting in an air-conditioned studio and living a glamorous life is not exactly what a journalist does. No doubt that glamor is a part of a journalist’s life but, it takes a lot of hard work. In fact, it comes after having spent half of your life chasing stories which made (or did not) it to their final destination.

B.A. (Journalism) is a three-year program offered by several DU colleges. In many colleges, it comes up with a combination of Mass Communication where Journalism is just a subject in one semester.

A degree in B.A. Journalism provides students an opportunity to learn and develop their skills in communication, research, computer and technology, editing and writing. Students can hone their writing and multimedia skills, and they’re usually expected to complete internship and practicum hours related to the field.

Fields in B.A. Journalism

• Broadcast Journalism

The title might make you think about famous TV anchors but broadcast journalism has many different facets, both in front of and behind the camera like local news anchor jobs, traffic and weather reporters, and production crew. You may also like the limelight and have the desire to work for a national or international networks which have a huge impact and reach.

• Investigative Journalist

Investigative journalists have a very important role to play in this field. It’s usually questioned if Investigative journalism still exists or not since most of the “out of journo-school” students The reporters do research on a single topic of their interest and create reports / shows based on it. Equality, fairness, honesty and grit determination are the qualities which you need to make a career in this field.

• Photojournalism Career

This field of journalism was once the least explored arena. The job of a photojournalist is that of a “visual storyteller” since “photos speak louder than words”. These images combine with other news elements to make facts relatable. One can either be a freelancer or work with the company but freelancing is the most preferred choice. Timing plays a very crucial role for a photojournalist and one also needs a good eye to grab that split-second opportunity.

• Sports Journalism

Growing up, many of us dreamed about a career in professional sports. They are required to attend several tournaments which take place in the different parts of the country and report on the same. But one needs to have a keen interest in sports else the job can be very boring because it requires one to attend tournaments and meet (and interview) several sportspersons hailing from not only different parts of the country but also the world.

• Communications Careers

Communication career is recommended for those who have good communication skills since it requires you to communicate effectively. Whether in writing or speaking, the ability to effectively communicate ideas, concepts, and influence is unduly powerful. A communications degree will help to build awareness as to how to communicate at a large scale which specific business goals in mind.

Higher Study Options After B.A. Journalism

• Master of Arts in Journalism
• Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism Master of Arts in Convergent Journalism
• Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism Master of Arts in Mass Communication
• Master of Arts in Media and Communication Master of Arts in Photo Journalism
• Master of Arts in Public Relations
• Master of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication Master of Science in Mass Communication
• Master of Science in Mass Communication and Journalism
• Master of Science in Mass Communication, Advertising and Journalism Master in Development Journalism and Mass Communication
• Master of Journalism and Mass Communication
• Master in Mass Communication, Advertising and Journalism Master of Arts in Hindi and Journalism
• MJMC (Journalism and Mass Communication)Doctor of Philosophy in Journalism and Mass Communication
• Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism
• Post Graduate Diploma in Print Journalism
• Post Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology Journalism Post Graduate Diploma in Business Journalism
• Post Graduate Diploma in Defense Journalism Post Graduate Diploma in Oriya Journalism
• Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Communication

Career Options After Pusrsuing B.A. Journalism

Aspirants who complete degree in B.A. Journalism can look for numerous job openings in several fields in the media industry. They can work in a lot of job profiles in this industry like

Journalist, Film Director, Feature Writer, Freelance Writer, TV Correspondent, Correspondent, Cartoonist, Photojournalist, Editor, Production Worker, Producer, Proof  Reader, Sound Engineer, Special Correspondent, Video Jockey (VJ).

They can work in any of the following areas:

Advertising Agencies, Radio Telecasting Companies, AIR – All India Radio, Periodicals and, Magazines, Central Information Service, Legal Affairs Department, TV Channels

The remuneration will depend on the chosen job profile and also on the firm in which they are working.

Typical Course Structure of B.A. Journalism

• Communication and Mass Communication: This topic deals with the process of how information is exchanged on a large scale to a wide range of people.

• History of Communication: How communication and media came into existence.

• Indian State and Democracy: This paper examines the relationship between states and democracy.

• IT and Online Journalism: Online journalism is a contemporary form of journalism where editorial content is distributed via the Internet as opposed to publishing via print or broadcast.

• Indian Business and Economics: Status of Indian businesses, how the economy is affected etc. are covered in this topic.

• Broadcast Journalism: Broadcast journalism is a type of news reporting presented to the public electronically or by radio instead of being published in newspapers.

• Media Laws and Ethics: Media ethics is the subdivision of applied ethics dealing with the specific ethical principles and standards of media, including broadcast media, film, theater, the arts, print media and the internet. The field covers many varied and highly controversial topics, ranging from war journalism to Benetton advertising.

• International Politics: The field studies relationships between political entities such as states, sovereign states, empires, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs), and the wider world-systems produced by this interaction.

• Advertising and Public Relations: Advertising is creating paid announcements to be promoted through different types of media. PR is a strategic communication process that builds a relationship between organization and public.

• Reporting and Editing for Broadcast Media: Goal is to introduce the mediums of audio and video, the characteristics of radio (sound) and Television (video). Apart from that it will teach the basics of camera (framing, composition, visual language etc.), microphones, sound effects and sound recording for Radio.

• Media Industry and Management: This field helps the students to understand how the media ecosystem works and the relation between different organizations in media.

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