Mass communication opens up plethora of opportunities

Namya Kapadia - Televisionpoint.com | Mumbai
A degree in mass communication opens up a plethora of exciting work opportunities. Experts say that whether you acquire a degree in mass communication or not, the real journalist has to be inherent in you. The field commands immense dedication and hard work.

From working during the odd hours and constant traveling to maintaining high levels of creativity and pleasing personality despite a toll on your adrenaline system, this job is definitely not for the conventional people. You have to have that "I can do it!" factor in you to be able to conquer in this field.

Careers in mass communication can be either traditional in nature like the print, radio station, television channel or an advertising firm. More contemporary forms of careers can range from working in a public service firm to being a disc jockey. A degree in mass communication is going to instill the professional touch to your intrinsic ability to communicate to the masses.

Print Journalism
You can work as editors, reporters, columnists, correspondents, writers or as marketing professionals with any of the newspaper daily. While to don the role of the editor is the most prestigious and authoritative job, there is also a high level of responsibility on your shoulders.

After all any hiccup in the content and you may be in big trouble. To be a creative writer one not just needs to gauge the imagination into words but also be able to deliver up to the exact reader's expectations.

Working as freelancers is a desirable option if you love to multitask. Space selling is another option for the people who have extraordinary convincing skills. Getting ads and cracking deals would be the major role, which makes this a high paying job.

So you could be working with a giant fashion magazine or a newspaper daily if you excel in your chosen field.

Electronic Journalism
This includes television and the web. The careers are vast in these segments. Depending upon your creative juices you can choose to be a radio jockey, content co-coordinator at the radio station, anchors, website designer, reporter, writer, editor, researcher or a correspondent.

In anchoring, there are multiple options from being business news anchor, entertainment journalist or a sports anchor. Today, with the small screen having direct effect on to the consumerism levels and lifestyle patterns of people, television has taken a transition from the past.

With spurring news channels, entertainment and sports channels, the career prospects of aspiring candidates have become stronger. The key lies in your ability to be able to communicate in a manner where people notice you and like to follow you. Cyber journos can also make their mark by writing and managing content on the web.

Advertising
Advertising is all about creativity and how well you can make the product talk. A degree in Mass communication from a reputed college can land you in good agencies. The careers in advertising range from client-service executive, copy-writers, researcher, or the producer. For entry level jobs, one can join as management trainee also.

The major responsibility of the client servicing executive is to "feel the pulse" of the client, communicate the same to his creative team and make sure it is delivered within the crazy time lines. Fluent communication with the ability to pitch and crack deals effectively holds the key to success. Copy-writers are the engine of ideas.

To deliver that idea into a workable concrete solution of punch lines, bill board graphics and film making, efficiently can make you the jack of the ad world. If every time you see an ad or read a punch line and the critique in you bounces out, its time you know that this crazy world is calling you for those "out-of-the-box" ideas.

Public Relations
As a PR agent you would be playing the role of a make-up artist in the corporate set up, government organization or even the banks and hotels to alter, remake or create a positive brand of the firm.

Today the PR executive's demand has intensified and also includes building the image of politicians, actors and models. The ability to establish and maintain contacts outside the organization plays the main part for a PR agent in a way that brings more business at the end of the day.

Cine Media
Career prospects in films need no introduction. From onscreen careers like actors, musicians and dancers to behind the camera ones like director, producer, editor, script writer, and cinematographer and so on.

The film industry basks on the creamy roll of emotions where you need to have a heart of gold and be "the god's favorite child" to tell your story in Bollywood. To outshine in this field a degree from a top-notch institute is essential. The quintessential is the strong appetite to communicate to the people and craving to be part of the positive change in the society.