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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.