Media and Journalism Jobs in India

India is the world’s largest democracy with freedom of the press and electronic media. India has tremendous potential in terms of media and journalism jobs. To hit upon a suitable job opening in the mass media, you can search TV jobs, radio jobs, jobs in newspaper, magazines and other print media companies, online website and Internet media job. Public relations (PR), advertising, sound, video and other multimedia jobs also form part of mass media jobs. Television industry in India is recording phenomenal growth in recent times and there has been a steady increase in the number of channels. With the technological advancements in the field of broadband, IPTV and DTH the number of channels and TV as an electronic media will further grow leading to a demand for media journalists. Moreover, as per Government of India policy, all different medias - be it a print, television, radio, films - are all open to foreign direct investment (FDI). This has further fueled growth in media expansion and concomitant job opportunities.

Apart from the traditional media sectors, Internet is also he current rage and as per the recent survey, there are about 30 million users of Internet. Internet advertising sector in India is presently about INR 1 Billion. There are many media journalism jobs in India pertaining to Internet. Earlier, journalism was classified into two areas - Print Journalism and Audio/Visual journalism, but today web journalism is the fast developing third area of journalism. You can develop into a web content writer as almost every organization has web presence and need full-time/part-time content writers. Radio with many latest FM channels is also gathering momentum and contributing to growth in media journalism jobs in India.

With the liberalization of economy and privatization of the market and growth of discerning consumers, advertising has become a huge business in India. Advertising is one of the best available means of mass communication for creating an awareness about the product and brand building. The advertising industry of India is in constant demand for highly creative personnel. Those with formal training and experience in advertising can work with advertising agencies or in-house publicity departments of front line companies. Jobs in advertising industry are manifold - account executives, advertising managers, commercials director, public relations, direct marketing, sales promotion, set designer, commercials producer, sound engineer, brand/product manager, market research analyst and creative directors. For new entrants, there are advertising jobs in copy writing, art direction, printing, visualizing, photography, illustrating, designing, make-up artist, model, voice over, typographer, stylist and associated staff.

Some of the premier advertising companies in India include O & M (Ogilvy & Mather), J Walter Thompson, Mudra Communication Pvt. Ltd., FCB Ulka Advertising Ltd., Mc-Cann Erickson India Ltd., RK Swamy Advertising Ltd., Leo Burnett India Pvt. Ltd., Contract Advertising India Ltd amongst others.

Most advertising jobs fetch high salaries across all levels and offer a lot of flexibility and exposure to the employees. An aspiring advertising professional learns much more with hands-on experience than through academic knowledge . Jobs in advertising constantly ask for creativity, it is only through creating out-of-the-box ideas that one can achieve success in the profession.

The term ‘Media’ is rather wide and includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television, films, internet, etc. Media plays a pivotal role in disseminating information. Most media organizations in India are in the private sector, while a few are owned by the government. Media organizations that are directly under the control of central government come under the ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The government media units in which one can seek jobs are: Akashvani (All India Radio), Doordarshan, Press information bureau, Directorate of advertising and Visual Publicity, Press Council of India, Song and Drama Division etc.

The Indian press, is predominantly in private hands and there is a healthy competition to give reliable quality news at affordable price. Some of the leading newspapers in India include Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu, The Statesman, Financial Times, Economic Times and Financial Express. News agencies like Press Trust of India, United News of India, Hindustan Samachar and Samachar Bharati, form the major sources for disseminating information to the public. Journalism is not merely covering the events or writing stories over different issues, but writing in a distinct creative style so that you can communicate your message to the reading public in an impressive manner.

To obtain a media job, the aspirant has to possess a basic university degree in any subject – preferably in humanities. To rise higher in the profession, it is advisable to obtain postgraduate qualification in Journalism and Mass Communication from any of the prestigious institutions like Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Xavier Institute of Communications, Pioneer Media School, Asian Institute of Journalism, Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication etc. Almost all universities in India offer postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The career path for a journalist starts from reporter to senior reporter to chief reporter to sub editor to columnist to correspondents to editors and so on. Depending on your aptitude and writing skills, you may specialize in particular areas like politics, movies, finance or economics, education, real estate, technology, entertainment, investigation, culture, sports, etc. You can expect a starting salary of Rs. 8000 to 10000 as a trainee. As a reporter, you can expect to make Rs. 15,000 to 20,000. An editor can earn a salary of Rs. 20,000 to 30,000. But the pay scales can vary from one organization to another.