Masters of Arts in Journalism is a full-time 2-year postgraduate program for graduates seeking a career in the media and communication industries.
MA in Journalism prepares the candidates by challenging them with coursework and real-time experiences in journalism. Students are trained to acquire strategic communication skills, industrial competence, and a greater standard of writing and editing skills during the program.
Candidates who have passed the under-graduation program are eligible to apply for the Master of Arts in Journalism program.
Admission to the program is usually based on the marks scored in the entrance exam. Master of Arts in Journalism course is available in distance mode also.
Some of the top colleges offering Master of Arts Journalism are Sharda University, Mahatma Gandhi Mission College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Panjab University, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Amity School of Communication, Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT), etc. The average tuition fee ranges between INR 50,000 to INR 3,50,000 per annum
MA Journalism Subjects like Photography, Print Media, Current Affairs, Radio, and TV Production techniques are handled during the course.
After completing Master of Arts Journalism candidates can begin their careers as editors, writers, media consultants, and faculty members of journalism at educational institutions.
The average salary for MA Journalism Jobs is around INR 3,00,000. They get recruited in the following sectors: News channels, newspapers, publishing houses, PR and Media Management Agencies, television, radio, Periodicals, and Magazines.
Table of Content
- MA Journalism: Course Highlights
- MA Journalism: What is it about?
- Why Study MA Journalism?
- MA Journalism: Admission Process
4.2 Entrance Exams
5.1 Important Books
MA Journalism: Course Highlights
Course Level | Post Graduation |
Full-Form of (M.A.) in Journalism | Master of Arts in Journalism |
Duration | 2 years |
Examination type | Semester |
Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree with an aggregate of 50% marks and above from a recognized university. |
Admission Process | Merit Basis / Entrance Exam Scores |
Course Fee | Ranges between INR 50,000 to INR 3,50,000 |
Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
Top Recruiting Sectors | News channels, newspapers, publishing houses, television, radio, Periodicals, and Magazines |
Top Recruiting Organizations | Microsoft, MetLife, Nokia, Google, The Times Of India, SpiceJet, Adobe, HDFC, IBM |
Top Job Profiles | Editors, writers, media consultants, and faculty members of journalism at colleges, Fashion Photographer, Cartoonist |
MA Journalism: What is it about?
- MA in Journalism prepares the candidates by challenging them with coursework and real-time experiences in journalism.
- Focuses on various perspectives of print journalism such as writing, the study of modern media, editing, and reporting.
- Imparts theoretical as well as practical training of page layout and designing for magazines and Newspapers.
- Field Trips and educational tours of various press and media houses are conducted at regular intervals. Weekly discussions/seminars from media experts enhances the knowledge of the candidates and helps them to be in touch with the latest trends in journalism.
Why Study MA Journalism?
- After completing a Master of Arts in Journalism, candidates have great earning potential and ample career opportunities in the field of broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, and online publications.
- They become competent professionals with thorough theoretical as well as practical knowledge of journalism.
- The candidates can opt to become public information officers for government agencies or work for research laboratories, medical centers, or businesses.
- They have the career option of becoming technical writers and find ample opportunities in various organizations or work as freelancers.
MA Journalism: Admission Process
Admission to the Master of Arts in Journalism program is usually offered on a merit basis or based on the marks scored in the entrance exam. Candidates are required to submit the required documents during the application process. The admission process might vary depending on the colleges and the candidate can refer to the admission procedure at the official websites of the colleges.
See also: Journalism Courses
Merit-Based Admission
- Registration: The interested candidates can apply online through the admission portal on the official website with the required documents.
- Personal Interview / Group Discussion: If required, the students might be called for a personal interview (PI) or Group Discussions (GD) as per the individual colleges’ admission guidelines.
- The admission of the candidate to the course depends on the candidate’s previous academic performance and his/her performance in the GD/PI.
Entrance-Based Admission
- The colleges will send the admit card to the applicants and the entrance exam will be conducted. The exam date will be intimated to the applicants through Email and will also be notified on the official website.
- If the college has PI/ GD as part of the admission process, then the selected candidates will be called for PI/ GD based on the scores obtained in the entrance exam.
- The candidates will be selected based on the overall performance in the entrance exam, PI/GD.
MA Journalism: Eligibility Criteria
- Should have completed a valid under graduation course from any recognized educational institute.
- Graduates from any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks are considered eligible to apply for the Master of Arts Journalism program.
- If the college the candidate has applied for, conducts an entrance exam, then the candidate should have appeared for the exam.
- The eligibility criterion for Foreign Nationals/ NRI students for admission to the Master of Arts Journalism program is a minimum of 50% in the qualifying examination and should have studied the pre-requisite subjects.
MA Journalism: Entrance Exams
- CUCET- Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) is a computer-based test conducted by the Central University of Rajasthan to provide a single-window opportunity for candidates to get admitted in the Participating Universities (PU) across the country.
- SUAT, 2024- SUAT is a single admission test for all courses conducted by Sharda University, Greater Noida.
- SIMC MA (MC)- It is a university-level entrance exam conducted by the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication. This exam is mandatory for candidates seeking admissions for MA Journalism in SIMC.
- PU-CET(PG)- PUCET is an entrance exam conducted at the university level through offline mode once a year. The exam is conducted by the Panjab University, Chandigarh to secure admission to various postgraduate courses including MA Journalism.
Entrance Exam | Exam Date |
---|---|
CUCET | Check CUCET Exam Dates |
SUAT | Check SUAT Exam Dates |
PUCET | Check PUCET Exam Dates |
SIMC MA (MC) | To be announced |
MA Journalism: How to get Admission to a Good College?
- Prepare well for the entrance exams according to the difficulty level displayed by previous year sample papers.
- Always keep your basics and concepts clear as they make up the most important part of any questionnaire.
- Some exams also test the candidates for English and the Aptitude as well. They can practice using previous years papers for a better score.
- Stay informed about the deadlines and dates of the exams so that you don’t miss out on them.
- Also, being clear in mind beforehand as to which college you want to go helps a lot in achieving it.
- Lastly, compiling your goals and working hard to achieve them accordingly is the only belief that will help a candidate in getting into a good college.
MA Journalism: Syllabus
The course duration of 2 years is further divided into semesters each with a duration of 6 months. The subjects handled in each semester are tabulated below.
SEMESTER-I | SEMESTER-II |
---|---|
Mass Communication Theory and Practice | Marketing Management |
Writing Analysis for Print | Development Communication: Theory and Practice |
Visualization and Media Design | Media Ethics Laws and Governance |
Photography Concepts and Practice | Investigative Journalism |
Professional communication | Behavioral Science |
NA | Marketing Management |
SEMESTER-III | SEMESTER-IV |
Media Research and Application | Dissertation |
New Media and Digital Technology | Media, CSR and Sustainable development |
Advertising and Promotions | Digital Marketing |
Public Relations and Events | Political Communication |
Data Journalism | Gender, Human Rights and Media |
Financial Journalism | Dissertation |
Basics of Video Editing | Media, CSR and Sustainable development |
Professional Ethics | Digital Marketing |
MA Journalism: Important Books
Some of the best reference books from renowned authors are given below:
Title of the Book | Author |
---|---|
Mass Communication in India | Keval J.Kumar |
Communication Studies | John Comer and et. al |
Media Now | Straubhar, Larsoe |
The encyclopedia of photography (3rd edn.) (1993) | Richard Zakia, LeatieStroebel |
Newspaper writing and reporting for today’s media(2001) | D.bruce |
Communication today and tomorrow | Y.K.D’souza |
MA Journalism: Top Colleges
Some of the top Colleges in India offering Master of Arts Journalism their location and fee are given below
College Name | Average annual fees |
---|---|
Sharda University, Greater Noida | INR 1,26,000 |
Mahatma Gandhi Mission College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aurangabad | INR 80,000 |
Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication | INR 7,97,000 |
Amity School of Communication, Noida | INR 4,68,000 |
Chandigarh University | INR 1,72,000 |
SRM University, Chennai | INR 1,00,000 |
MA Journalism: College Comparison
Sharda University, Greater Noida Vs Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication Vs Amity School of Communication, Noida
Parameter | Sharda University | Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication | Amity School of Communication |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | Sharda University located in Greater Noida is part of the Sharda Group of Institutions. It was founded by P.K Gupta in 1996 with campuses in Agra, Mathura, and Greater Noida. | Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication Pune a private institute located in Pune is one of the reputed universities in India to offer the Master of Arts Journalism. | Amity School of Communication is a premier mass communication institute that offers professional courses and provides the most modern and sophisticated learning environment. |
Outlook ranking | - | 4 | 8 |
Location | Noida, Uttar Pradesh | Pune, Maharashtra | Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
Admission Process | Entrance based | Entrance based | Entrance based |
Average Fees | INR 1,26,000 | INR 7,97,000 | INR 4,68,000 |
Average Salary Package | INR 2,50,000 | INR 4,11,000 | INR 9,00,000 |
Top Recruiters | Aaj Tak , Amazon.com, Dish Tv, and Sahara | Amazon.com, Balaji Telefilms, BARC, CNN IBN, DNA, DY Works, ESPN, Google, Hindustan Times | Bennett and Coleman, CMC Ltd., Zee Telefilms Ltd., Ogilvy and Mather, ITC Hotels, Time of India |
MA Journalism: Distance Education
- Candidates can also pursue M A Journalism through distance mode while working and some colleges offer the program in distance mode.
- The course material for distance mode is crafted in keeping in mind the busy working schedule for working professionals.
- Some of the colleges offering the program, location, and annual fees are tabulated here.
MA Journalism: Top Colleges for Distance Education
College Name | Annual Fee |
---|---|
SRMIST - SRM Institute of Science and Technology | INR 16,000 |
IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University | INR 25,000 |
School of Distance Education, Bharathiar University | INR 15,800 |
Amity Directorate of Distance and Online Education | INR 1,00,000 |
Directorate of Distance Education, Alagappa University | INR 10,000 |
MA Journalism: Course Comparison
MA Journalism Vs MA Mass Communication
Parameters | MA Journalism | MA Mass communication |
---|---|---|
Overview | MA Journalism is a Postgraduate course with a duration of 2 years and deals with the art of reporting and journalistic techniques. | MA Mass Communication is a Postgraduate course with a duration of 2 years and deals with methods and technical aspects of mass communication. |
Duration | 2 years | 2 years |
Eligibility | Graduation with a minimum of 50% marks in any stream | Graduation in any stream from a recognized college. |
Admission process | Merit-based/ Entrance exam | Merit-based/ Entrance exam |
Top colleges | Sharda University, Panjab University, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Amity School of Communication, Asian Academy of Film and Television | Banaras Hindu University, Symbiosis International, Jamia Millia Islamia, St. Xavier’s University, etc |
Job roles | Editors, writers, media consultants, and faculty members of journalism at colleges, Fashion Photographer, Cartoonist | Client Servicing Manager, Fashion Photographer, Assistant Technical Officer, Public Relations Officer, Broadcast Assistant, Deputy Manager, etc. |
Average fees | Ranges between INR 50,000 to INR 3,50,000 | INR 50,000 to INR 500000 |
Average salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 5,00,000 | INR 4,78,000 to 6,00,000 per annum |
Top recruiting organization | Microsoft, MetLife, Nokia, Google, The Times Of India, SpiceJet, Adobe, HDFC, IBM | HSBC, Mahindra & Mahindra, MICROSOFT, Hindustan Times Digital, Amazon, etc |
MA Journalism: Job and Career Prospects
MA Journalism transforms the candidate into industry-ready trained professionals in the field of journalism. MA Journalism degree holders can find employment opportunities in various sectors of media and journalism. Some of them are listed here:
- News channels
- Newspapers
- Publishing Houses
- Television
- Radio
- Periodicals
- Magazines
Candidates can kick start their career in the unpredictable and amazing world of journalism and find a lot of opportunities as
- Editor
- Associate or Assistant Editor
- Sub-Editor
- Reporter and Correspondent
- Freelance Journalist
- Columnist
- Commentator
- Magazine Journalist
- Political analyst
- Copywriter
- Sports Journalist
- Photojournalist
- Public Relation Officer
- News Anchor
- Indian Information Services
MA Journalism: Job Profiles
Job Profile | Description | Average salary package |
---|---|---|
Reporter | To report various events happening and to conduct interviews for magazines and newspapers. | INR 1,68,000 LPA |
Editor | To validate and edit the news snippets. To Finalize the layout of a newspaper, magazine, etc. | INR 3.3 LPA- INR 6.5 LPA |
Website Content Writer | To explain the topics clearly and optimize content according to SEO. | INR 2.5 LPA- INR 8 LPA |
Journalist | To collect information about the current scenario, and to present the actual news to the audience through news channels. | INR 1.5 LPA- INR 2.5 LPA |
Public relation officer | To plan strategies and techniques to manage the reputation of the company, writing and editing the topics related to the company. | INR 5.5 LPA- INR 7 LPA |
Investigative Journalist | An Investigative Journalist’s job is to research and bring out hidden facts about a single topic such as corporate corruption, crimes, etc. | INR 2.5 LPA |
Salary Graph Trend
MA Journalism: Future Scopes
- After completing the degree in MA Journalism, students can also opt for an M.Phil degree in Journalism.
- They can continue to pursue the Ph.D. program in Journalism, or opt for other PG diploma courses in Journalism and Public relations.
MA Journalism: FAQs
Ques. Is it worth doing post graduation in journalism and mass communication through distance education?
Ques. What is the difference between MA mass communication and MA journalism?
Ques. What are the top recruiting areas of M.A. Journalism degree holders?
Ques. Which are the best colleges offering MA Journalism in India?
- Sharda University,
- Panjab University
- Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication
- Amity School of Communication
- Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT)
Ques. What are the universities offering MA in journalism in India via distance education?
- Guru jambheshwar University Hisar, Haryana
- Indira Gandhi distance education University, New Delhi
- Maharshi dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana
Ques. What are the subjects taught in MA in journalism?
- Mass Communication Theory and Practice
- Writing Analysis for Print
- Visualization and Media Design
- Photography Concepts and Practice
- Media Ethics Laws and Governance
- Investigative Journalism
- Behavioral Science
Ques. What is the range of average annual fees of different Institutes or colleges offering MA in Journalism?
Ques. What is the range of average annual Salary after completing MA in Journalism?
Ques. What is the basic eligibility criteria for a student to pursue MA in Journalism?
Ques. What are the different entrance exams that students need to qualify to get admission to a college offering MA Journalism program?
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