Career in Media

Reach, accessibility, impact and versatility have made media as one of the most powerful and influential industries in India. The country has bestowed mass media with the status of “Fourth Pillar of Democracy”. Disseminating unbiased and objective information and generating public opinion is the prime responsibility of the industry. Recent changes, privatization and advent of new media (online media) have completely transformed media industry and have opened doors for people who have creative skills, at the same time, sense of responsibility as a citizen. At present, media industry is not restricted to one field. Instead, it includes broadcasting- documentaries, television, radio, online media (including blogs, forums, etc) and print- newspapers, magazines, books, journals, etc. All the fields have witnessed incredible growth. Interactive nature and technological innovations have contributed a lot in the expansion of the media industry. A person, who is a visionary, creative and possesses good technical knowledge, can expect a highly rewarding career in media.

Course Details
Media education covers a wide spectrum of courses. Before stepping into the industry, one has to be very clear and specific about the choice of career. Different aspects of media require specialized training. For instance, editing requires specific training. In order to become a reporter (electronic or print), a degree in journalism is preferred. One can also opt to pursue professional course after completing 10+2. Options of diploma level and degree level courses are also available at graduation as well as at post graduation level. For undergraduate courses, 10+2 in any stream from a recognized Board is required, while for post graduate courses, graduation in any discipline of a recognized University is mandatory. Short-term courses of three to four months in a specific field and extensive research, Ph. D level course are also available. The courses provide brief outline of media industry- How the different forms of media work, organization structure, work pattern, etc. The curriculum of the courses, specific for a particular stream, is designed in such a manner that it covers each and every aspect of the particular discipline.

Career Prospects
Lucrative career opportunities are there for creative and talented people, in the field of media. Numerous reputed media organizations/groups like Times Group, UTV, Adlabs, Sony, Sahara Group, Mukta Arts, absorb competent and trained media personnel. Option of becoming RJ, anchor, news reporter, VJ is also there. Advertising also offers lucrative job opportunities. One can work in media planning department, client-servicing personnel, or in creative team.

Institutes Offering
The boom in media industry has made the professional education and training popular, especially among the youth. Numerous institutions all over India impart quality education in various streams of media. Following are few reputed media institutes - Zee Institute of Media Arts (Mumbai), Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (Bangalore), Dayawanti Academy of Media Centre (DAMC Institute) (New Delhi), Jamia Milia Islamia (New Delhi), Xavier Institute of Communications, (Maharashtra), Amity School of Communication, Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Asian College of Journalism (A.C.J.), Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Specific course oriented institutes are also there.

Remuneration
Remuneration in media depends on the specific field chosen by the individual and policies of organizations. Generally, one can expect a salary around Rs. 10, 000 – Rs. 15, 000 per month (or even higher) at the beginning stage. The salary and perks increase with experience