Careers in Media

The terrific growth and development in the field of communication and technology has made the world a small place to live in. Be it the Academy Awards in Hollywood, Tôhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, or the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the media ensures that you are provided with the latest updates on the happenings around the world. Not just through radio, newspaper, magazines, books, documentaries, or television, information is also spread through the more recently online media called internet as well, such as blogs, forums, etc. This tremendous and unbelievable achievement has given rise to challenging and highly rewarding career opportunities to explore in the vast field of media. This industry is responsible for communicating unbiased and objective information and generating public opinion on the same. Further, the privatization of this industry has opened doors for creative minds and innovative skills to utilize to the best. The expansion of the media industry owes a lot to the interactive nature and technological innovations. Individuals with futuristic ideas, technical knowledge, and willingness to adapt to changes, have promising and lucrative career options to explore in media.

Course Details
Media education covers a wide spectrum of courses. Before stepping into the industry, one has to be clear and specific about the choice of career. Different aspects of media require specific course of training. For instance, editing requires a specific type of training. Similarly, in order to become a reporter (electronic or print), a degree in journalism is mandatory. One can also choose to pursue a professional course after completing 10+2. Options of diploma and degree programs are also available at graduation as well as post graduation levels. For undergraduate courses, 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board is required, while for post graduate courses, graduation in any discipline from a recognized University is compulsory. Short-term courses of 3-4 months in specific fields and extensive research PhD programs are also available. The courses provide brief outline of media industry - how different forms of media work, organizational 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
There are ample prospering career opportunities for creative and talented people in the field of media. Numerous reputed media organizations/groups, like Times Group, UTV, Adlabs, Sony, Sahara Group, and Mukta Arts recruit competent and trained media professionals. Options to become an RJ, anchor, news reporter, or VJ are also open. Besides, advertising offers a number of job options in media planning department, client-servicing, or creative team.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
The phenomenal growth in media industry in the recent past has made professional education and training of media courses popular, especially among the youth. Numerous institutions all over India impart quality education in various streams of media studies. Some reputed media institutes include: Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA), Mumbai; Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore; Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi; Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi; Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune; Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM), Kottayam; Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal; 9.9 School of Convergence, New Delhi; Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai; Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai; and Amity School of Communication, Noida.

Remuneration
Remuneration in the media industry depends upon the field chosen by an individual and the policies of different organizations. In general, one can expect a salary of Rs. 10,000 - 15,000 per month, or even higher, in the beginning. The pay package and perks increase with experience.