MA Journalism: Admissions, Top colleges, Syllabus, scope, Jobs 2023

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Sounak Banerjee

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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.

See Also: MA Journalism Top Colleges

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.

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
Admission Process

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: 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, 2023- 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 here
SUAT Check here
PUCET Check here
SIMC MA (MC) To be announced

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: 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.
Syllabus

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
- 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
What is it about?

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?

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.
Top Colleges

MA Journalism: Top Colleges 

Some of the top Colleges in India offering Master of Arts Journalism their location and fee are given below

Course Comparison

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: 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

Job Prospects

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 

Annual Salary
Future Scopes

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.
FAQs

MA Journalism: FAQs 

Ques. Is it worth doing post graduation in journalism and mass communication through distance education?

Ans. If possible, it is advisable to pursue the program in regular mode. Otherwise, one can pursue the program through distance mode and there are many colleges that offer the program in distance mode. It is always better to have a PG degree to land up in better job profiles.

Ques. What is the difference between MA mass communication and MA journalism?

Ans. MA mass communication program contains coursework that tends to educate students about delivering messages to a mass audience and focuses much on theory and research. MA journalism is designed to develop effective storytellers with the skills necessary to convey information to the public through various reporting techniques. MA journalism is more concerned about developing applied skills among the candidates.

Ques. What are the top recruiting areas of M.A. Journalism degree holders?

Ans. MA Journalism degree holders are recruited in the following areas namely TV channels, Journals advertising agencies, Newspapers, News agencies, Photography companies, television, radio, etc.

Ques. Which are the best colleges offering MA Journalism in India?

Ans. Many reputed colleges in India offer MA Journalism. Here is a list of some of the reputed colleges.

  • 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?

Ans. There are many universities that offer MA in journalism in India via distance education. Here is a list of them.

  • 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?

Ans. There are many subjects during the course duration of MA in journalism. Some of them are:

  • 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?

Ans. The course fees of MA in Journalism ranges between INR 80,000 - INR 7,97,000 LPA

Ques. What is the range of average annual Salary after completing MA in Journalism?

Ans. Different scopes of MA in Journalism have different salary packages. The average ranges between INR 3,00,000 LPA to INR 5,00,000 LPA.

Ques. What is the basic eligibility criteria for a student to pursue MA in Journalism?

Ans. Candidates should have completed a valid under-graduation course from any recognized educational institute with a minimum of 50% marks to apply for the MA Journalism program.

Ques. What are the different entrance exams that students need to qualify to get admission to a college offering MA Journalism program?

Ans. The different entrance exams are, CUCET, SUAT, 2023, SIMC MA (MC), PU-CET (PG), etc. Out of these many entrance exams, students need to qualify any of these entrance exams in order to get admission to a good college.

Master of Arts [MA] (Journalism) : 3 answered questions

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Ques. Can I take journalism in M.A without any entrance exam in Calcutta University?

● Top Answer By Prashant Gupta on 22 Mar 23

Ans. No, You cannot take M.A. in Journalism at Calcutta University without an Entrance Examination. Admission is through counseling based on the marks obtained in Calcutta University Entrance Exam. The eligibility criteria for MA in Journalism at Calcutta University are as follows Students have to qualify for Graduation with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized college or university. 5% relaxation is given to those students belonging to the Reserved Category Students from any stream can apply No receptacle is accepted in any subject. Students should be fully qualified in every subject. Some colleges or universities have different eligibility criteria as a common entrance test for admission. To get admission to the course, students are required to clear entrance exams conducted by respective colleges and universities. Calcutta University too conducts its own entrance exam and unless you clear that, you cannot get admission to MA Journalism.Read more
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Ques. How is the MA in Journalism and Mass Communication distance learning course in Swami Vivekananda Subharti University Meerut? Does the degree hold any value?

● Top Answer By Rohit Kapoor, on 08 Nov 21

Ans. It is important to know that doing Journalism and Mass Communication as a Distance learning course is mostly theoretical. This course requires hands-on learning and is majorly dependent on practicals. Theories here have a 20-30% importance overall. You should opt for a university that offers a regular course. By studying there you will be able to interact with others which will eventually help to make connections and gather experience. After this you could opt for internships in several places and mediums like print or publishing or Audio-Visual.Read more
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Ques. Is St. Xavier College Ranchi good for a master’s in mass communication in Ranchi?

● Top Answer By Amrita Guha on 29 Jan 22

Ans. Yes, St. Xavier College Ranchi is a good option for pursuing a master’s degree in Mass communication. It has one of the best infrastructures in the state. The panel of professors is quite good. Most of the professors are well-experienced and reputed among students. If you are okay with the strict rules regarding attendance you should consider this college. Read more
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Master of Arts [MA] (Journalism) Colleges IN INDIA

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