Master of Journalism is a postgraduate degree with a duration of two years. Various universities and colleges offer this programme revolving around various concepts related to Journalism including writing, reporting, editing, and media. It opens the doors to various career opportunities in news channels, media houses, print media, broadcasting media, new media, advertising agencies, PR firms, offering job profiles such as reporting, content writing, editing, news anchoring, event managing and many others.
M.J.( Master of Journalism)-Overview
Degree Type |
Master |
Name |
M.J. |
Full Name |
Master of Journalism |
Duration |
2 years |
Examination Type |
Semester based |
Eligibility |
Graduation in Journalism stream (though some university admit students of other streams as well) |
Mode of Admission |
Entrance and Merit-based |
Course Fee |
Around INR 50,000 to 3 lakhs |
Average Package |
INR 3 lakh - 12 lakh annually |
Career Opportunities |
Reporting, Anchoring, Writing, Radio Jockey, Video Jockey, Photographer, Videographer, Advertising, PR |
Advantages of Master of Journalism
Specialisation- Once an individual goes for a masters degree he or she can choose a field of specialisation. Having a specialisation opens several opportunities for a student. Not only that he or she is able to gain in depth knowledge in the chosen area of specialisation.
Better communication skills- Having a degree in the field of journalism helps a student in enhancing his or her communication skills. Pursuing a Master of Journalism will enable a student to work and improve his or her communication skills even better.
Discipline- Journalism is about providing news in time. Therefore, deadlines are extremely important in the field of journalism. A masters degree helps a student in being more disciplined and delivering news in time.
Types of Master of Journalism
M.J. is the Master of Journalism, a degree in the field of Journalism dealing with various aspects like editing, news writing, and reporting. The degree is of 2 years duration. Types of M.J. include:
Master of Journalism (Core)
Master of New Media Journalism
Master in International Journalism studies
Master in Journalism and Social Communication
M.J. Courses
Here is a list of various Master of Journalism courses available. Students can go through the list mentioned below:
S.No |
Course |
1 |
Communication |
2 |
Press Ethics and Laws |
3 |
Photo Journalism |
4 |
Video Journalism |
5 |
Radio Journalism |
6 |
Broadcasting Media |
7 |
Print Journalism |
8 |
Advertising & PR |
9 |
Editorial |
10 |
Writing |
Master of Journalism Specializations
Aspirants seeking to build their careers in Journalism and media streams can go for various specializations offered for Master of Journalism. The specialisations range from radio journalism, tv journalism, advertising and photojournalism. These specialisations vary from one institute to another. Master of Journalism specialization will decide the direction in which the career will lead. The students have to make a decision whether they want to pursue their career in radio or tv or print media or new media. They have to choose their specialization according to their interest in the respective field. The popular M.J. specializations include:
Radio and TV Journalism
Print Journalism And New Media
Photojournalism
Digital Journalism
Data Journalism
Event Management
Social Media
Advertisement and Public Relations
M.J. Syllabus
Aspirants can go through the Master of Journalism syllabus to have a fair knowledge of the units and topics that are covered in the course. Some of the units along with topics of M.J. syllabus are mentioned below:
Semester 1 M.J. Syllabus |
Semester 2 M.J. Syllabus |
Basic Principles of Communication |
Communication Development |
History and Development of Mass Media |
Media Management |
Media Laws and Ethics |
Media and Society |
Computer Applications for Media |
Advertising and Public Relation |
Reporting and Editing |
Electronic Media (Radio and TV) |
Professional Writing |
Advertising (Practical) |
Communication Theory |
Photography |
Print Journalism Practice |
PR & Corporate Communication |
Semester 3 M.J. Syllabus |
Semester 4 M.J. Syllabus |
International Communication Rural Communication |
New Media |
Reporting and Editing for Electronic Media |
Media and Human Rights |
Internship |
Environment Communication |
Intercultural Communication |
Study Tour & Reporting |
Radio and TV Production |
Communication Research |
Media Management |
Media Laws and Ethics |
Scope of M.J.
The Scope of Master of Journalism is excellent as it opens the door to various career opportunities in print journalism, broadcasting journalism, media houses, advertising agencies, PR Firms,. After completing a Master of journalism, one can opt for a career like a reporter, correspondent or broadcast news analyst. They might be required to research and write news articles or broadcast the news on television. Job opportunities are also available in New Media, Event management companies.
Careers Opportunities After M.J.
Job opportunities are available right after the completion of the programme. Prominent institutions find recruiters making a beeline to hire students from campus. A recent industry trend also suggests inclination of companies in hiring Journalism students for various job profiles. Media organizations like Aaj Tak, Times of India group, Zee network and news agencies like PTI have also been into hiring freshers as reporters, news analysts, writers, anchors.
Corporates recruit fresh Master of Journalism students from campuses. Journalism graduates get an edge because of the existent curriculum and exposure to varied subjects. A career in journalism offers immense growth to the aspirants as demand for professionals is always on a high. What matters at the end of the day is whether one has an inclination for it. One should have discipline, commitment and focus to carve a niche in this ever-growing domain.
Some of the job profiles available as career opportunities after Master of Journalism are mentioned below:
Reporter- A reporter’s job revolves around researching, writing and reporting the events and happenings around. It involves doing research, conducting interviews, and describing news and events. Reporters can find a job in various organizations like news channels, newspapers, magazines in different beats such as politics, law, sports, entertainment, education and lifestyle.
Writer- A journalism student can opt for writing jobs in news channels, newspapers, magazines, media houses, advertising agencies or any other corporate company. Writing jobs are available in various profiles as a content writer, creative writer, news writer, desk writer, copywriter, screenplay writer etc.
Correspondant-This job profile is almost similar to that of a reporter. But there is a huge difference that a correspondent is specialised in the field in which he/she reports. Also, a correspondent is usually based out of the city or country to report major news events.
Editor- The job of an editor comes with the responsibility of creating a plan for the content, review, edit the written content as well as what will go live. He/she is the person whose decision is considered as a final decision.
Photojournalist- A photojournalist aims at telling stories through his photographs. He/she is responsible to click the photographs, edit them, relate them with the stories or maybe write a well describing but brief caption for the photograph.
Columnist- A columnist is responsible to write the particular section in a magazine or newspaper. The columnist’s blog mostly features weekly.
News Anchor- Also known as news broadcaster, the job involves presenting stories directly on radio or television news.
Video Journalist- Video journalism or video journalism is a job profile of journalism, where the person has to shoot, edit and also presents his or her own video material. In this job profile, an individual has to present a story in the form of video.
Event Manager- The job of an event manager revolves around planning, creating, organizing and managing an event which could be a business event, charity event, entertainment event, fundraising event, wedding.
Advertising Agency job- Students can also get a job in one of the advertising agencies as a copywriter, analyst.
Radio Journalism- In this sector, various job profiles are available like Radio Jockey, news reader, scriptwriter, editor.
Research Jobs- Various jobs involving research are also available for Journalism students.
The Master of Journalism eligibility requires the minimum marks in graduation. Mentioned below is the basic eligibility of Master of Journalism:
Candidate should have completed his/her graduation from a recognised college or University with the required minimum marks.
Most universities and colleges demand graduation in Journalism (Bachelor of Journalism) related streams.
Some colleges or universities admit students having their graduation in other streams.
Apart from this, candidates having good communication skills, both verbal and written are preferred by the colleges during the selection process.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for a Master of Journalism (MJ) program:
Here are some additional tips:
Why this Course?
I chose to pursue a Master of Journalism because I am passionate about telling stories and informing the public. I believe that journalism is a powerful tool that can be used to hold people in power accountable, to educate the public about important issues, and to connect people with each other.
I am excited to learn from the experienced faculty at this program and to gain the skills and experience I need to be a successful journalist. I am also excited to meet other students who are passionate about journalism and to collaborate with them on projects.
I believe that this program will prepare me to be a successful journalist in today's ever-changing media landscape. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gain will allow me to tell stories that matter and to make a difference in the world.
Here are some of the specific reasons why I chose this course:
The admission process for a Master of Journalism (MJ) program varies from school to school. However, there are some general steps that most programs follow.
Candidates preparing for the Master of Journalism. admissions must go through the list of the top Master of Journalism exams. Though most of the universities and colleges provide degrees in Masters of Journalism and Mass Communication, there are some universities and institutes providing Master of Journalism degrees. Some of the top M.J. exams are mentioned below:
IIMC Entrance Test-The IIMC entrance exam or IIMC test is held for offering admissions to eligible candidates in postgraduate diploma programmes in many specializations of Journalism across its 6 campuses.
IPU CET- The entrance exam is conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University to admit students for the Journalism course.
BHU UET- This exam is conducted by Banaras Hindu University.
Jamia Millia Islamia University Test- The entrance test is conducted by Jamia Millia Islamia University for admissions in the Journalism courses.
Delhi University- Delhi University conducts its own entrance test for admissions.