BA Journalism and Mass Communication: Syllabus, Courses, Scope, Fees, Online, Salary, Distance

BA Journalism and Mass Communication is an undergraduate programme that prepares students for careers in the media, including newspapers, television, radio, and the internet. It also educates students on the various technologies, equipment, and software used in the media industry.

The course lasts three years and is broken down into six equal semesters. BJMC is an excellent career option for those who have always been curious and inquisitive about current events and issues around the world. They should be able to write well and report on events to a large audience using various media outlets. Candidates in this category should be able to write well, including editing and web writing, and have strong communication and analytical skills.

Overview of BA Journalism and Mass Communication Course

Course Level	Graduation
Full Form of Course	Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
Duration of Course	3 years
Examination Type	Semester-based
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 education or equivalent, in any stream, with a minimum score of 50%
Process of Admission	Merit-based/Entrance-based
Average Course Fee (INR)	2,000 – 5 Lakh
Average Salary Package (INR)	4-10 LPA
Top Recruiting Companies	NDTV Network, Star India, BBC, Hindustan Times Group, Zee TV Network, TV 18, Outlook, India TV, CNBC, Indian Express
Job Position	Feature Writer, Illustrator, News Reporter, Fashion Critic, Video Jockey (VJ), Copywriter, Editor, TV Correspondent, Food Critic, Photojournalist, Anchor, Public Relations Officer

Eligibility Criteria for BA Journalism and Mass Communication

The BA Journalism and Mass Communication eligibility criteria is listed below:

• This programme is open to candidates who have completed their 10+2 schooling or equivalent in any stream with a minimum of 50% in each subject.
• Institutions that require an entrance exam may consider both the entrance exam score and previous academic records when making admission decisions. Each institution determines the examination’s cut-off mark.
• Candidates from the SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories will receive a 5% mark relaxation.
• Letters of recommendation can also be in the candidate’s favour.

Admission Process for BA Journalism and Mass Communication

Most universities use a merit-based admissions system to admit students to journalism and mass communication programmes.

Direct Admission: Students are admitted directly based on their grades in the class board exams. The following are the details:

• Candidates are chosen based on their qualifications. Before applying, they must ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements.
• Students can apply to colleges that manage merit-based admissions through online or offline applications, with the payment method being the same as the application.

Exam-based Entrance: Students are required to sit for an entrance exam organised by the college in order to be admitted.

• Only a few institutions require a candidate to take an entrance exam before enrolling in a BA Journalism and Mass Communication programme.
• Students must register and pay for exams online in order to take them.
• Institutes that accept entrance exam scores use a standard selection process, though the cut-off mark varies by institution.
• Candidates in the SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories are allowed to relax a fixed percentile.

Selection Procedure

The selection procedure is divided into three steps:

• Shortlisting: Shortlisted candidates are chosen based on their accepted entrance exam score and academic records.
• PI (Personal Interview): Aspirants move on to the Group Discussion/Personal Interview (PI) round after being shortlisted, where their competence, critical thinking, and communication skills are assessed.
• Final Decision: Following the PI round, a set number of candidates are chosen, and they are now eligible for admission to the respective institute.

Document Required

After a student has been granted admission to a university, they must submit the following documents to the school’s administration:

• Six passport size photographs.
• Marksheets of grade X and XII.
• Character certificate
• Reservation certificate (if any).
• Migration certificate
• Self-attested copies of various identity verification documents.
• The corresponding entrance exam admit card, score card and rank letter.
• Domicile certificate
• Demand Draft

Benefits of Pursuing a BA Journalism and Mass Communication

• The programme provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in a variety of media organisations and with various mass communication apparatus.
• Problem-solving, interviewing, investigative, and reporting skills, as well as an analytical approach to issues and trends, research aptitude, and networking skills, may be acquired by students.
• Students will learn about the fundamentals of mass communication as well as recent emerging media trends and issues, as well as current technological trends and innovations in journalism.
• Graduates are exposed to a variety of print, electronic, and new-age media, as well as a variety of technologies used in mass communication, such as computer applications, software, and hardware used in print, radio, television, and the internet.
• Students learn to conceptualise, create, design, and strategize high-quality media content for television, radio, films, and various digital platforms such as social media.
• Due to the exceptional emergence of regional media and the proliferation of new media businesses and formats, this degree programme helps in refining skills to gather, interpret, transmit, and deliver information to a large audience, one’s career is more revamped in non-metro cities and small towns.

Entrance Exams for BA Journalism and Mass Communication

Various entrance exams are held by the central government, which are widely accepted, as well as by various Indian states and universities. Different schools may take a look at the results of their chosen exams. The following are the most common / national-level entrance exams:

• IPU CET: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) conducts the IPU CET once a year to offer admission to various UG and PG courses offered by GGSIPU and its affiliated colleges.

• SPPU Entrance Exam: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) administers an entrance exam for admission to UG, PG, integrated, and interdisciplinary courses at the university.

• MH CET: The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai, conducts the MH CET once a year to offer admission to various UG and PG programmes in Engineering, Pharmacy, Arts, and Science.

• JET: JET is a programme run by Jain University that allows students to apply for admission to a variety of undergraduate and graduate programmes.

Tips to get Admission to a Good College

Because most colleges admit students based on their academic performance, candidates should aim for high grades in all subjects during their senior year of high school.
There are two main steps to getting into a school that takes entrance exams into account:

Exam result: Shortlisting can be aided by scoring a percentile higher than the required cut-off. Students must be aware of each college’s cut-off mark and work diligently to achieve that score on the entrance exams.
Practice for an entrance exam should not end just because some mock question papers have been completed. There is still room for improvement, and candidates should continue to practise on a regular basis.

PI (Personal Interview): Because these are some of the criteria being tested during this round, students must improve their communication skills, critical thinking skills, and current awareness.

Participation and certification in extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, and volunteer work for non-profit organisations can be added to the list of accomplishments.

Other tips include:

• Keep up to date on registration and examination dates, and submit your application before the deadline.
• For the entrance exams, prepare thoroughly and ahead of time.
• Always keep up with current events.
• Make sure you practise the skills you’ll need for the interview or group discussion after the exams.

Syllabus For BA Journalism and Mass Communication

The semester-wise curriculum for a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication is shown in the table below:

For Semester 1

Fundamentals of Communication Skills	English Literature I
Fundamentals of Computers	Reporting-Theory
Reporting-Practical	Fundamentals of Journalism

For Semester 2

Writing for Media-Theory	Writing for Media-Practical
English Literature II	Introduction to Indian Constitution
Editing-Theory	Editing-Practical
History of Media	—

For Semester 3

Radio Broadcasting-Theory	Radio Broadcasting-Practical
Photojournalism-Theory	Photojournalism-Practical
TV Broadcasting-Theory	TV Broadcasting-Practical
Introduction to Cinema	—

For Semester 4

Advertising-Theory	Advertising-Practical
Magazine Journalism-Theory	Magazine Journalism-Practical
Public Relations-Theory	Public Relations-Practical
Internet & New Media-Theory	Internet & New Media-Practical

For Semester 5

Environment & Media	Media Criticism
Media, Society & Development	Basic Media Research
Semester VI
Information Society	Media Law & Ethics
Organizational Behavior & Media Organization	Project

Top Colleges for BA Journalism and Mass Communication

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved the following colleges to offer a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication:

Name of College	City	Average Course Fee (INR)
Savitribai Phule Pune University	Pune	72,275
Amity University Noida	Uttar Pradesh	8,07,000
University of Kashmir	Srinagar	25,000
Banasthali Vidyapith	Rajasthan	2,49,500
Guru Nanak Dev University	Amritsar	1,45,635
Lovely Professional University	Punjab	6,03,000
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	Maharashtra	18,941
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University	Delhi	2,01,000
Jain University	Karnataka	1,32,000
NITTE	Mangalore	1,82,000

Specialization in BA Journalism and Mass Communication

BA Journalism and Mass Communication offers a number of specialisations that can help you get a job in a variety of fields of journalism faster, as well as a variety of research opportunities.

Advertising, public relations, event management, journalism, digital media, and broadcasting are some of the most well-known specialisations in journalism and mass communication.

Following is a brief description of a few specialisations:

Specialization	Journalism	Public Relations
Overview	Focuses on the news and media industry, gaining expertise in a variety of journalism-related equipment as well as knowledge of politics, society, culture, computer applications, and electronic media in order to become accurate and ethical news reporters.	Involves the principles behind the delivery of information from an organization or public figure to a specific audience effectively in order to develop important relationships.
Duration	3 years	3 years
Average Course Fee (INR)	20,000 – 4.5 Lakh	50,000 – 3 Lakh
Average Placement Package (INR)	3.5 – 6 LPA	2-8 LPA
Job Positions	Editor, Journalist, Reporter, Photojournalist, Screenwriter, Business Editor, Columnist, Correspondent, Investigative Journalist, Feature Writer	Public Relations Officer, Communications Officer, Press Secretary, Research Analyst, Media Relations Officer, Director of External Affairs, Development Director

Course Comparisons

1. BA Journalism and Mass Communication vs. BA English Literature

Parameter	BA Journalism and Mass Communication	BA English Literature
Qualification	Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication	Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
Duration of Course	3 years	3 years
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 education or equivalent, in any stream, with a minimum score of 50%	10+2 education or equivalent, in any stream, with a minimum score of 50%
Course Objective	Equip students with the technical skills and social understanding needed to write about and communicate information to the general public about business, history, culture, budget issues, governmental issues, entertainment, and sports using mass media such as television, radio, and web-based social networks.	Teach students about English literature, English history, and Indian literature, as well as the postulates of journalism, American literature, and women’s writing, and how to interpret them in social, historical, and political contexts.
Average Course Fee (INR)	2,000 – 5 Lakh	18,000 – 1.5 Lakh
Average Placement Package (INR)	4-10 LPA	2-5 LPA
Job Positions	Feature Writer, Illustrator, News Reporter, Fashion Critic, Photojournalist, Anchor, Video Jockey (VJ), Copywriter, Editor, TV Correspondent, Food Critic, Public Relations Officer	Editor, School Teacher, Copywriter, Proofreader, Writer, Journalist, Translators, Technical Writer, Researcher, Tourist Guide, Bank Clerk, Public Relations Officer, Instructional Designer

2. BA Journalism and Mass Communication vs. BA Journalism

Parameter	BA Journalism and Mass Communication	BA Journalism
Qualification	Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication	Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Duration of Course	3 years	3 years
Eligibility Criteria	10+2 education or equivalent, in any stream, with a minimum score of 50%	10+2 education or equivalent, in any stream, with a minimum score of 50%
Course Objective	Equip students with the technical skills and social understanding needed to write about and communicate information to the general public about business, history, culture, budget issues, governmental issues, entertainment, and sports using mass media such as television, radio, and web-based social networks.	In order to become accurate and ethical news reporting professionals, take a specialised course focusing on the news and media industry and gain expertise on many of the equipments used in journalism, as well as knowledge of politics, society, culture, computer applications, and electronic media.
Average Course Fee (INR)	2,000 – 5 Lakh	20,000 – 4.5 Lakh
Average Placement Package (INR)	4-10 LPA	3.5 – 6 LPA
Job Positions	Feature Writer, Illustrator, Photojournalist, Anchor, News Reporter, Copywriter, Editor, TV Correspondent, Fashion Critic, Video Jockey (VJ), Food Critic, Public Relations Officer	Editor, Journalist, Reporter, Columnist, Correspondent, Business Editor, Photojournalist, Screenwriter, Investigative Journalist, Feature Writer

Job Profiles in BA Journalism and Mass Communication

Those with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication can pursue a variety of careers. After graduation, candidates can find work in both the private and public sectors, though candidates who have completed higher education find it easier to find work.

The following are some of the most popular job sectors:

Advertising Agency	Business Sector	Digital Media Companies
Radio Telecasting Companies	Press Information Bureau	Food Channels
Telecasting Companies	Journals and Blogs	Fashion Industry
Central Information Service	Photography Companies	Research and Educational Institutes
News Agencies	TV Channels	Printing Firms
Broadcasting Corporations	Legal Affairs Department	Circulations and Public Relations
Periodicals and Magazines	Newspapers	Publishing Companies

In the table below, brief descriptions of some jobs/careers are provided:

Job Position	Description	Average Salary Package (INR) PA
Feature Writer	Writers for magazines, newspapers, and blogs cover topics and write features by conducting research.	4,80,000
Photojournalist	Captures, edits, and displays images in a storytelling manner for publication in various organisations around the world or on their own publishing company.	4,18,385
Radio Jockey	Work at private and internet radio stations, where they discuss a wide range of topics including music, sports, movies, and current events.	3,72,000
Public Relations Officer	To build strong public relations with stakeholders, the media, and the general public, develops strategies and campaigns and prepares press releases and promotional materials.	5,02,140

Top Recruiters

• Hindustan Times Group of Publication
• Zee TV Network
• Sahara One Media and Entertainment LTD.
• AIR (All India Radio)
• India TV
• India Today Group
• Big Entertainment
• ABC News
• Times of India Publication
• Jagran Prakashan Group
• BBC
• TV 18 Group
• The Pioneer
• Viacom
• Guardian
• NDTV Network
• Balaji Telefilms LTD.
• HT Media
• Doordarshan
• Indian Express
• Outlook
• CNBC
• Star India
• Malayala Manorama

Scope of BA Journalism and Mass Communication

After completing a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication, students may pursue further education. The following are some of the possibilities:

• Graduates who want to learn more about journalism and mass communication can get a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication or one of its specialisations, then go on to get an M.Phil. or a PhD in journalism and mass communication.
• Graduates can also pursue a career in academia or contribute to the vast body of knowledge in the field of journalism and mass communication by conducting research in a relevant area.
• Candidates may consider studying theatre and film studies, literary studies, graphic design, media management, and other fields such as sociology, political science, anthropology, psychology, economics, and religion, all of which are related to journalism and mass communication.
• Students who want to take a different path can enrol in an MBA programme and pursue a career in management.
• Aspirants have a better chance of getting a job in this field than in other fields because the world of media is expanding every day, even in remote areas.
• Candidates can begin their careers as a freelance writer, photographer, or junior reporter and work their way up, or they can start their own blog or studio.

Frequently Asked Questions