MJ (Master of Journalism) - Course, Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Exams, Scope, Career Growth

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. The course teaches candidates to write, broadcast, and publish news related to global topics and events. Around 71 top colleges are offering Master of Journalism in India, out of which 52 are private and the remaining 19 are government.

The Master's Degree in Journalism is the branch of media that creates various career opportunities in news channels, media houses, print media, broadcasting media, new media, advertising agencies, and PR firms, The course can be pursued after completing the Bachelor of Journalism. MJ graduates can work as Writers, Editors, Correspondents, and more.

What is MJ Full Form?

MJ full form is Master of Journalism, or MJ degree is a two-year-long postgraduate media degree programme. After completing the Bachelor of Journalism degree programme, students can opt for the MJ or Master of Journalism, degree programme to get a specialisation in their chosen branch of media.

Highlights - M.J.( Master of Journalism)

Master of Journalism Fees Structure

MJ fees vary depending on various factors, one of the most important factors being the university or college that students choose to attend. Before enrolling in any college, students need to check the Master in Journalism fees structure. The fee ranges between Rs. 3 Lakhs - Rs. 12 Lakhs.

Why Choose a Master of Journalism?

Once an individual goes for a master's 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 can gain in-depth knowledge in the chosen area of specialisation. 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.

Journalism is about providing news on time. Therefore, deadlines are extremely important in the field of journalism. A master's degree helps a student be more disciplined and deliver news on time.

Master in Journalism Eligibility

The Master of Journalism eligibility requires the minimum marks in graduation. Mentioned below is the basic eligibility for 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 a graduation degree in other streams.
• Apart from this, candidates having good communication skills, both verbal and written are preferred by the colleges during the selection process.

Skills Required For Master of Journalism

Students need to have certain skills to get the most out of their MJ degree programme. After earning an MJ degree programme, a student requires the following skill sets to advance in their career:

• Patience
• Critical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Communication Skills

Master of Journalism Application Process

In the MJ programmes, educational institutions offer admission only on the result of the admission examination. To receive an MJ degree, applicants must have a thorough understanding of the entrance examination.

• Candidates need to apply for the NEET PG entrance examination by filling out the application form with all the details.
• They need to appear for the entrance examination and qualify for it.
• Candidates then sit for the counselling process and finally submit all the documents to complete the process.

Top Master of Journalism Entrance Exams

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, some universities and institutes are providing Master of Journalism degrees. Some of the top M.J. exams are mentioned below:

Master of Journalism Cut Off

Master of Journalism or MJ cut-off determines the student's merit for admission to the MJ degree programme. For an MJ degree programme, CUET PG cut off is the main criterion that almost every media college accepts for the MJ admission process. Master of Journalism or MJ cutoff is based on the number of students appearing for the entrance examination, and the difficulty level of the question paper.

Master in Journalism Subjects/Syllabus

Master in Journalism Subjects/Syllabus

Aspirants can go through the Master in Journalism syllabus to have a fair knowledge of the units and topics covered in the course. Some of the topics in the 1st year syllabus of the Master in Journalism degree include Communication, History of Mass Media, and Media Management.

Master of Journalism second-year subjects are Media and Human Rights, Media Management, and Study Tour & Reporting. In the table below we have shared the 2nd year subjects of the MJ Degree.

Master of Journalism Specializations

Aspirants seeking to build their careers in Journalism and media streams can go for various specializations offered for a Master of Journalism. The specializations 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 decide whether they want to pursue their career in radio TV 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

What after Master of Journalism?

The Scope of a Master of Journalism is excellent as it opens the door to various career opportunities in print journalism, broadcasting journalism, media houses, advertising agencies, and 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 articles or broadcast the news on television. Job opportunities are also available in New Media and event management companies.

Careers Opportunities After Master of Journalism

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 the inclination of companies to hire 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 hiring freshers as reporters, news analysts, writers, and anchors.

Corporates recruit fresh Master of Journalism students from campuses. Journalism graduates get an edge because of the existing curriculum and exposure to varied subjects. A career in journalism offers immense growth to the aspirants as demand for professionals is always high. What matters at the end of the day is whether one inclines it. One should have discipline, commitment, and focus to carve a niche in this ever-growing domain.

Some of the Master in Journalism jobs are shown in detail here:

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 jobs in various organizations like news channels, newspapers, and 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 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, reviewing, and editing 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 for clicking the photographs, editing them, relating them with the stories, or maybe writing a well-describing but brief caption for the photograph.

Columnist- A columnist is responsible for writing a 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 present his or her video material. In this job profile, an individual has to present a story in the form of a 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, or wedding.

Top Recruiters

Some of the top recruiters that hire MJ postgraduates are mentioned below:

• Times of India Group
• Reliance
• HT Media
• Dainik Bhaskar Group
• India Today Group

Salary after Master of Journalism

The average Master of Journalism salary varies gradually. The variation may differ due to the firm and sector of employment and the candidate's dedication plus experience in the workplace. Below, we have mentioned the salary after MJ degree:

Source: Payscale

Top Private Master of Journalism Colleges in India with Fees

In India, there are several private MJ colleges. Private universities are significantly more expensive than public universities. Some of the top private colleges and fees are discussed below:

Top Government Master of Journalism Colleges in India with Fees

Attending a government-run college is less expensive than attending a private college. These colleges are well known for their high academic standards throughout India. The following are some of the best government colleges and fees:

Master in Journalism course duration which is a postgraduate degree programme is 2 years after which candidates can work at an executive level or management level in areas like public relations, advertising, media relations, and journalism.,