Imagine a world in which there are no news outlets to which you may turn for updates, including radio, television, periodicals, and blogs. It sounds incredible, doesn’t it?
You may get a sense of the importance of journalism and mass communication as an industry by seeing this fairly frightening image. It is difficult to think how people would have been amused, educated, or even lived, for that matter, if specialists in these professions had not been impulsive, receptive, and enthusiastic enough.
However, the majority of us still lack a thorough comprehension of each of these topics. Many individuals confuse journalism with mass communication, not realizing that the two are not the same, despite their close association.
This blog is for you if you’ve ever wondered how journalism and mass communication vary from one another.
What are Mass Communication and Journalism all about?
As the term suggests, mass communication affects large numbers of people. Any medium that is used to disseminate news, opinions, entertainment, and messages to a broad audience falls under the category of mass communication, including radio, television, periodicals, the Internet, social media, and movies.
On the contrary, journalism is primarily concerned with informing the public about news from all fields, including politics, economics, business, science, sports, and entertainment.
There are three easy stages that journalism follows: collecting information or news, editing it, and verifying it with facts and images before disseminating it to the general public via print and digital media.
What is the Difference between Mass Communication and Journalism?
To some extent, journalism and mass communication are two distinct facets of the same entity. In other words, mass communication is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a variety of disciplines, including journalism, public relations, event management, and advertising.
The remaining distinctions between them may be broadly divided into two groups:
a. Course and curriculum variations
b. Disparities in job prospects
Courses and Colleges
Numerous courses are available to provide you with the information and foundation you need to pursue a career in journalism or mass communication.
You may pursue whatever career you choose with many of these degrees, which are similar to those in journalism and mass communication. There are several more degrees that concentrate on either pure journalism or pure mass communication.
The following are some of the most popular journalism and mass communication courses:
a. BJMC- Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication
b. BMMC- Bachelor of Multimedia & Mass Communication
c. BMC- Bachelor in Mass Communication
d. B.A (Mass Communication)- Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
e. BJ- Bachelor in Journalism
Depending on the college or university, the degrees have different names.
Some Top Colleges in India for Journalism are:
Here is the list of some top colleges in journalism:
a. Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi
b. Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication, Pune
c. Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore
d. Christ University, Bangalore
e. University of Delhi, New Delhi
f. Madras Christian College, Chennai
g. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Some Top Colleges in India for Mass Communication
a. Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal
b. Whistling Woods International
c. IP College for Women, Delhi University
d. Wilson College, Mumbai University
e. Hinduja College, Mumbai University
f. Jai Hind College, Mumbai University
Please take note that these lists of institutions are not all-inclusive and do not represent rankings.
Differences in Course Structure and Career Opportunities
The way that journalism and mass communication courses are structured, as well as the professional paths that lead to them, are important areas of distinction.
Typical subjects covered in journalism courses include an overview of journalism, its history, the different news media (such as newspapers, magazines, radio, and the internet), news gathering, news reporting, writing, and editing, as well as how news is circulated while taking into account current events and trends.
Various kinds of job opportunities in this domain include: TV News Reporter, Newspaper Reporter News Editor, Proofreader, Content Developer, Digital Media Journalist, News Presenter, Photojournalist, Translator, and more.
Some top recruiters in this domain include: News channels like NDTV, Aaj Tak, CNN, BBC, etc. Newspapers like The Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express, The Hindu, etc. Magazines like India Today, Outlook, Frontline magazine, etc. Journals like The Wall Street Journal, The Free Press Journals, etc, and more.
By contrast, courses in mass communication cover a wider range of topics, including advertising, public relations, journalism, content writing, communication mediums, event management, the fundamentals of television and radio, politics, and socioeconomic standing, among other topics.
Career opportunities in mass communication include: Event Management, Wedding Planning, Creative Direction, Sound Mixing and Recording, Advertisement and Branding, Film Making, and more.
Some top recruiters in this field include: PR Agencies like Adfactor, Edelman India, Text100India, Value 360, etc. Digital Marketing Agencies like iProspect India, WAT Consultant, Pin Storm, and Advertisement Agencies like Ogilvy and Mather, JWT India, and more.
Conclusion
You should now understand the distinction between journalism or mass communication much better. Which of the two you choose will now rely on your life goals and desired destination?
While a degree in journalism might be beneficial if you are certain that you want to pursue a career in journalism, a degree in mass communication would be ideal if you desire a more diverse skill set.
If you want to know more about journalism and mass communication, then feel free to connect with EnrichMyCareer’s counselors for a free 15-minute call.
Visit EnrichMyCareer for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is journalism and mass communication a good career?
A career in journalism and mass communication can be a fantastic choice for you if you enjoy communicating complex ideas in an interesting way. One of the most important and vibrant industries that uses a variety of media outlets to inform and amuse people is journalism and mass communication.
2. What is the scope of mass communication and journalism?
The reach of mass communication and journalism transcends national boundaries in an increasingly globalized society. Gaining knowledge in this area helps one traverse a variety of audiences and viewpoints, comprehend cross-cultural differences, and grasp the dynamics of global communication.
3. Can I do mass communication after the 12th?
You may work in mass media after the 12th grade, yes. Many mass communication colleges need completion of the 12th grade as a prerequisite for admission, therefore after passing the test, you may apply to the entrance exam of the mass media college of your choice.
Nishant is an Internationally Certified Career Coach, a Career Counsellor, an Education Consultant, a Soft Skills Trainer, and an ardent advocate of youth empowerment through personalized guidance, mentoring, and developmental interventions. He is also an International Economic Development and Business Consultant. Over the years, he has helped many students of different age groups and working professionals in discovering their true selves, setting appropriate career goals, and walking the right career paths.
Nishant is a mechanical engineering alumnus from R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore. He has been widely featured in top media and also delivered talks at Cambridge University-UK and IIT-Guwahati among others. He has also delivered workshops at many reputed schools and colleges on various careers and skills-related topics.
