How To Become a Journalist & Mass Communication Professional In 2025

While communication involves the exchange of information between two parties, mass communication is a form of communication that entails dissemination of information from one party to multiple receptor parties, usually in the form of a large audience. Journalism, a subset of mass communication, revolves around the creation of news materials and preparing them for broadcast. 

The career of journalism and mass communication through media channels has always been a central piece for the effective communication of information, awareness, opinions etc. to the masses. As a result, this is a well-developed career domain in India, and is a well-suited option for those individuals possessing exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and willing to create societal impact through their profession. 

Journalism and mass communication, often abbreviated as JMC is a diverse field with multiple career options, opportunities for growth, appealing compensation as well as the opportunity to impact the society. Hence, many individuals each year turn to journalism, mass communication  and media studies each year to develop a career in this field. In this blog, we shall deep dive into the education and career options surrounding the field of JMC. 

Why Choose a Career in Journalism & Mass Communication?

While being a well-developed career domain, journalism and mass communication as a domain comes with its own challenges. Be it odd hours of working, needed availability round-the-clock to cover latest news and trends, the social implications of becoming a public figure as a journalist, JMC as a field entails its own challenges.

However, there are some key aspects of this field which make it a worthy option for those looking to reach the masses through their professional work:

Here are a few of the crucial reasons for you to take up journalism and mass communication as a career option:

• Diverse Career Opportunities: JMC as a field is an umbrella domain encompassing diverse career opportunities including the likes of content writing, media writing, journalism, direction, photography and videography, social media management, digital communication and so on. Hence, the opportunities in this field are diverse and an aspirant may explore multiple roles to identify the one aligning best with their career goals. 

• Creative Freedom & Storytelling Opportunities: In a field like JMC, creativity is a highly valued skill. With the ability to influence the masses, this career domain brings forth opportunities to put one’s storytelling and communication skills to use in a creative manner. 

• Ability to Create Social Impact: If you as a professional deeply care about social issues and wish to spread social awareness through your work, then journalism and mass communication brings forth an opportunity to do the same as it helps your voice reach the masses. 

• Gateway into the Show Business: For many individuals who aspire to enter the buzz world or show business, entering into the field of JMC, especially in roles like news anchor, reporter, fashion or sports journalism and so forth may become the stepping stone to further their career. 

• Dynamic Learning Opportunities: Given the highly evolving and inherently fast-paced and dynamic nature of the field, JMC provides innumerous learning opportunities and vast exposure to professionals starting right off from initial years. Resultingly, the potential for career growth in JMC is appealingly high.  

Roles & Responsibilities of a Journalist or Mass Communication Specialist

Some of the key roles and responsibilities that a professional venturing into the field of journalism, media and mass communication must handle, have been enlisted below. 

Indulging in thorough research to gather information about current events, trends, news pieces etc:

• Checking gathered all the available information to ensure their factual accuracy and reliability. 
• Creation of unique, comprehensible and engaging content in various formats like video, audio, print etc. 
• Proofreading and editing content before it is published, especially in the print format. 
• Interviewing individuals and gathering necessary information through the same for events, incidents etc. 
• Utilising multiple channels of communication, including but not limited to print media, digital media, audiovisual formats, mobile media etc. 
• Upholding the requisite ethical and legal standards in journalism. 
• Working in collaboration with other media professionals such as writers, editors, photographers etc. to create impactful and engaging content. 
• Being attuned to audience demands, sensitivity of certain social topics, new trends etc, to maximise audience engagement. 
• Managing multiple deadlines and timelines of various projects to deliver the key targets effectively. 

Thus, journalism and mass communication as career options have varied roles and responsibilities. These responsibilities are likely to get more specified and nuanced as one works their way up in their career in this field and specialises more in a particular domain of journalism with experience. 

Key Skills Needed for Journalism & Mass Communication

To succeed as a journalist or mass communication specialist, one must possess a repertoire of certain key technical and soft skills or interpersonal skills. Such a skillset adds to the competence of the person in performing their job and hence contributes to their thriving in the domain. Elaborated below are a few of these skills. 

Technical Skills & Knowledge to Succeed as a Journalist or Mass Communication Specialist

While soft skills and interpersonal skills lie at the heart of this career domain, there are certain  technical areas too where a professional’s expertise is required for better job performance. A few such areas have been mentioned below for reference. 

Key Skills	Specifications
Writing & Editing Skills	The ability to write impactful pieces in long and short formats calls for effective skills in media writing as well as strong editing skills.
Research & Facts Checking	Understanding the facts, scouring for accurate information from multiple sources, fact-checking to ensure the credibility of one’s information etc. are important in order to thrive as a journalist or media specialist.
Photography & Videography	Journalism calls for working skills in handling and photographic and videographic devices, understanding of lighting, framing etc.
Digital & Social Media Skills	With the field of JMC diversifying into social media journalism and digital medium of communication, knowing the algorithms, functioning and use of these platforms has become imperative in recent years.
Content Management Systems (CMS)	Knowledge of content management and publishing platforms is essential for editors, media writers and content writers.
Multimedia Proficiency	Being proficient in handling various media devices and creating original and impactful content across these media such as visual, audio, video, written media etc. is a desirable skill in this career domain.
Mobile Journalism	With the use of mobile technology and communication gaining rise, mobile journalism or (MoJo) is coming up as a desirable skill in journalists and mass communication specialists.

Soft Skills to Succeed as a Journalist or Mass Communication Specialist

Considering that a significant chunk of a journalist’s work and a mass communication professional’s work includes closely working with other people and impacting their perceptions and opinions, having proficient interpersonal and soft skills is central to the role. Elaborated below are a few of the key skills to possess as a professional in this field. 

Key Skills	Specifications
Communication Skills	Impressive communication skills both in verbal and written media along with non verbal communication skills are crucial to the field of JMC which includes the dissemination of information to the audience through various media.
Creativity	Being able to generate unique and impactful ideas and pieces as well as finding innovative solutions to problems are crucial in this career domain.
Time Management & Organisation	Given the unpredictable and highly fast-paced nature of the field of journalism, a professional in this career must be adept in meeting deadlines and managing their schedules.
Interpersonal Skills	Requiring frequent interaction with other individuals including key stakeholders, target audience, interviewees, sources etc, journalists and media professionals must possess strong interpersonal skills.
Adaptability	Given the highly agile and dynamic nature of this field, being able to flexibly and efficiently adapt oneself to changing situations and meeting the demands of the circumstances are important to thrive as a journalist.
Problem-solving Skills	Effective problem-solving in addition to creativity are important to manage the dynamic needs of the field of journalism and mass communication.
Critical Thinking	The field of journalism and mass communication requires the professional to possess a critical perspective so as to identify one’s own biases, those of the audience, the authenticity of received information and so on.
Empathy	Being able to empathise with the sensitive topics that one may often be presenting and understanding the audience’s psyche and perceptions about social issues is important for being an ethical journalist.

What are the Career Opportunities in Journalism & Mass Communication (Types of Options available in Journalism & Mass Communication)

Added to the dynamic and versatile nature of the field of JMC is the vast number of subfields one can choose to specialise in this domain. For instance, there are a number of fairly compensated fields in this domain relating to writing and publishing, audio and voice-over domains, news reporting, public relations (PR) management, media management and strategic planning, advertising and so on. 

While the compensation in journalism and mass communication-related fields are in a moderately high bracket initially, with years of professional growth and exposure, the salaries one can bag soars significantly. Enlisted below are a few of the prime roles available for a qualified journalist or mass communication specialist. 

Job Role in JMC	Average Salary in India (Per Annum)
Content Writer	INR 3,05,827
Public Relations (PR) Specialist	INR 5,74,000
Advertising Specialist	INR 5,04,000
Journalist	INR 3,96,000
Newspaper Editor	INR 3,91,000
Social Media Manager	INR 3,52,000
Digital Marketing Specialist	INR 3,91,000
Radio Jockey	INR 6,50,000
Social Media Influencer	INR 3,50,000
News Reporter	INR 3,02,000
Sports Journalist	INR 4,50,000
Fashion Journalist	INR 5,00,000

Career Analysis: What is the Salary & Demand for Journalism & Mass Communication?

Demand for Journalist or Mass Communication Specialists : Industry Trends

Journalism and mass communication industries are dynamic and fast-paced, and in the recent decades have witnessed significant technological integrations to impact the industry practices. Some of the pertinent industry trends to consider about this domain before exploring a career in it include: 

• The media and journalism industry has been estimated to be at a value of INR 2.3 trillion as of 2023,,marking a growth of nearly 8% since the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• 2024 has witnessed the rise of digital media as a leading front for journalismand mass communication, second only to television media. Youtube is among the most-used digital platform for news dissemination. 
• This growth has been accompanied by the emergence of novel and upcoming career opportunities in fields such as social media management, digital content reaction, digital marketing etc. which are lucratively compensated.
• It has been observed that the widespread rise of digital media channels has led to a decline in the demand for traditional media channelssuch as as print media and advertising. 
• The most trusted source of information and news, however, continues to be print media. This is a promising sign for the sustained relevance of written journalism and communication in the industry. Radio platforms are also a reliable source for information, especially the public radio stations such as All India Radio. 
• Some of the top employers of this industry include those like The Times of India Group, NDTV, Indian Express etc. 

Fees & Cost Involved in Becoming a Journalist or Mass Communication Specialist 

To establish oneself as a journalist or specialist in mass communication, one must either take up a degree course at the undergraduate or the postgraduate levels, which can cost approximately between INR 50,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending on the mode of education, a private or public university and so forth. Additionally, one also has the option of pursuing diploma courses in JMC at the PG or UG levels, with specialisations in various domains of journalism. The approximate fee ranges for such courses have been mentioned below for reference. 

Journalism & Mass Communication Courses	Approximate Course Fees
Online M.A in Journalism & Mass Communication	INR 2,00,000
Online B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication	INR 1,50,000
Online B.A. in English	INR 1,50,000
M.A. in Media Business Studies	INR 3,00,000
M.A. in Strategic Communication	INR 2,50,000
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism	INR 95,000
Post Graduate Diploma in Radio & Television Journalism	INR 1,70,000
Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising & Communication	INR 1,50,000
Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Media	INR 2,50,000
Diploma in Journalism	INR 2,00,000

Career Growth Trajectory of Journalism & Mass Communication

Current trends and figures surrounding careers in JMC reflect a moderate scope for financial growth in the field. The average growth in the field varies from nearly 9.11% to 13.45% in India. However, the scope for growth in the field has recently seen certain dips as latest figures indicate. A graphical representation of the career growth trajectory in the field has been shown below. 

Career Navigator: What Course to Pursue for a Career in Journalism & Mass Communication?

If you are an aspirant planning to venture into the field of journalism and mass communication, then pursuing formal education in the domain is important to receive a kickstart in your career. Some of the prominent specialisation options at the undergraduate or postgraduate levels in this domain include: 

• Journalism 
• Journalism and Mass Communication 
• Media Studies 
• Digital Media 
• Advertising and Journalism etc. 

One can explore options such as degrees at the UG and PG levels in the field. These include degrees like: 

• Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) 
• Bachelors in Arts (B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication) 
• Masters in Arts (M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication) etc. 

Other than that, one can also take up diplomas and PG diplomas with a specialisation in JMC to upskill oneself in the domain. Students and aspirants from any stream or educational background at the HSC level can take up media and JMC studies. 

A further detailed guide to starting your career in this domain is presented below:

There are a number of renowned and prestigious higher education institutions in India in both the public and private sectors that offer degree and diploma courses in journalism and mass communication. These institutions offer courses that span across the breadth and depth of learning domains in the field and provide wide exposure to the working of the industry through industry interactions, field visits, internships etc. Mentioned below are a few such institutions in India. 

Conclusion 

Journalism and mass communication have been two of the oldest and well-regarded professions that have been there as lucrative options for aspirants for decades in India. These careers are not only well-developed and well-regarded, they are also quite prospective given the transformation that is occurring in these fields with digitization. As a result, novel career pathways are opening up in this field and aspirants and professionals today have a myriad of opportunities to discover here.