Mass Media
Glare, grime & glamour
Massive is the word to describe media — not only when it comes to describing its reach or appeal but also for the sheer choice of courses and careers that it offers to a curious student. For all those who can think out of the box and are driven by a creative urge and a desire to stay out of the rut of a 9-to-5 job, this is the field to sow the seeds of their dream career.
Chhavi Garg

IF you like meeting people, talking to them and sharing experiences, have the ability to express your thoughts and a flair for writing, then mass communication is the best option you can go for.

Today is the age of sharing and interaction (courtesy social networking sites) and if you like these activities, then nothing is better than turning this skill of yours into your profession.

The field of mass communication is growing everyday and is no longer limited to just newspapers and magazines. Gone are the days when newspapers and magazines were the only options available to a student of journalism. Now there are numerous other avenues in mass communication. The expansion of print and electronic media and the emergence of online media has given many new options to the students of mass communication.

Mass communication is a field not only for students in arts and humanities streams with an interest in interacting and writing, but is a good option for students from science background also who want to do something with technology or technical knowledge. They can opt for courses dealing with the technical aspects of media like those for sound recordists, lighting experts, media engineers, technical directors etc.

And to pursue mass communication, one need not wait for master’s degree, as a number of colleges and universities these days are offering courses in mass communication right after Plus II.

There are numerous career options after mass communication courses. One can go for editing, writing, public relations, advertising and journalism and with the expansion of every media, be it radio, television, newspapers, online media, these fields can be pursued in any specific medium.

Content writing

Content writing for websites is becoming increasingly popular among students as online media is growing tremendously with the spread of Internet connectivity. In this field one has to create or write content for a website, generally these websites are niche websites like the ones relating to health issues or fashion etc. Students can opt for websites according to their own interests.

Scriptwriting is another area that offers a number of options to students with a flair for writing. With the coming up of FM channels, there are opportunities for scriptwriting for radio shows. Most programmes being youth-oriented make young graduates appropriate scriptwriters as they can connect easily with their target audience. The launch of 24-hour entertainment television channels has also opened up a new market for scriptwriting.

Copywriting

Copy writing is another field which can be taken up by students after mass communication. Advertising having emerged as a fully developed profession and an essential part of media — be it print, electronic or online — has thrown up demand for a good number of copywriters. In this, writers have to write the copy (text) of advertisements, including attractive punch lines and jingles. So if you can play with language, this field is for you.

Editing

Editing is not limited to newspapers and magazines in media today. Editing website portals have emerged as a lucrative career option for students. Almost every newspaper and magazine has an online edition along with other specialised websites or online portals.

Radio/video jockeying

Radio jockeying has also gained popularity among those with the gift of the gab. If you have a good voice and spontaneity then you can enrol for a course in radio jockeying. Opening up of a number of FM channels has multiplied opportunities in this field. Similarly, if you feel comfortable before camera, then you can also go for video jockeying.

Public relations

Public relations is a field that has grown exponentially in the past five years or so. These days, every organisation requires a public relations officer who can deal with media or other publics of the organisation. If you can impress others with your talk then public relations is an area for you to explore. Even corporates require corporate communication managers who deal with media and earn goodwill for the company and acceptability for its products.

Designing

Design has become an important area in media whether it is in newspapers/magazines or in the electronic media or websites. Today, media industry needs designers, graphic artists, sound and lighting designers, visualisers etc. So put on your creative hats and shoes`85and jump into the sea of opportunities which mass communication offers.

— Chhavi Garg is a JRF Research Scholar, School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh