B.A. (Hons) Journalism and Media Studies
October 23, 2023 2024-10-09 5:27B.A. (Hons) Journalism and Media Studies
B.A. (Hons.) Journalism and Media Studies
FOUR YEARS PROGRAMME
About The Programme
The B.A. (Hons.) Journalism & Media Studies programme at JSJC is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education in journalism and media.
At JSJC, experiential learning is a key component of the programme. Students have access to state-of-the-art studios where they can produce professional-grade content under the guidance of experienced faculty members.
What is Journalism?
Journalism is a dynamic and critical field that plays a vital role in informing the public and shaping democratic societies. The B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication program is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of modern media landscapes. Core B.A. Journalism subjects cover a range of topics from ethical reporting to multimedia production.
A B.A. Journalism in India prepares students for the vibrant and diverse media industry. The B.A. Journalism & Mass Communication program often includes internships and practical experience, which are crucial for gaining a foothold in the industry.
The Concept of Journalism at Jindal School of Journalism and Communication (JSJC) Faculty Speaks
What Makes It Different at JGU
The B.A. (Hons.) Journalism & Media Studies programme at JSJC offers a modern and scientific approach to the study of journalism and the media. The curriculum takes a liberal arts approach, informed by the social sciences, and provides a holistic, experiential education where students learn to produce content for multimedia platforms. The programme also teaches students to situate their journalism and media practice within the broader context of democracy, social welfare, and human rights.
At JSJC, students benefit from interdisciplinary, experiential learning through field-based assignments and internships, and faculty mentorship by some of India's best practitioners and scholars of journalism. The programme also offers a vibrant community of students who are passionate about questioning the status quo and a state-of-the-art studio where students receive extensive training in radio and video/television-related production skills using cutting-edge equipment.
JSJC works closely with the Office of Career Services to provide internship opportunities for its students, and has partnered with leading media platforms in India, as well as international partners to facilitate study abroad and semester exchange programmes. Graduates of the B.A. (Hons.) Journalism & Media Studies programme can pursue careers in journalism, media production, advertising, public relations, and digital media, among others.
To be eligible for the B.A. (Hons.) Journalism and Media Studies at JSJC, applicants must have completed the 10+2 level of schooling or its equivalent in humanities, science, or commerce, with a minimum aggregate score of 60% from CBSE, ISC, State Boards, IB, Cambridge, or other government-recognized boards.
The admissions process for this programme is conducted through a holistic approach over three rounds, which includes evaluation of a personal statement, supplemental application, Class 10 and 12 marks, faculty interview, and a JSAT score minimum of 50% or equivalent (SAT, ACT, LSAT-India).
The BA (Hons.) in Journalism & Media Studies programme is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in journalism through core courses and electives from both the Jindal School of Journalism & Communication and other schools at JGU. In the first two years, students learn the fundamentals of print, audio-visual, and multimedia journalism, along with research, writing, and reporting skills. Students are also required to complete internships during each semester break. In the final year, students select an area for concentrated study, and complete a thesis/field report under the guidance of JSJC faculty.
The programme includes courses such as “Tools of the New Age Journalist,” “Live Radio Broadcast,” “Electronic News Gathering: Photojournalism and Video,” and “Multimedia Storytelling.” In the third and fourth years, students can choose from departmental and cross-listed electives, along with specializations in their chosen journalistic beat. The programme culminates with a capstone/industry project or dissertation in the final year.
Departmental Electives are courses offered by JSJC faculty members that help students pick up advanced journalistic skills or explore issues that concern journalists and the media. These courses are offered as per JSJC’s requirement and faculty expertise.
Some examples of Fall Departmental Electives offered by JSJC are Seminar in Data Journalism, Representation in Media: Gender, Class and Caste, Communication for Development, Contemporary World Politics, Great Books, and Investigative Journalism.
Similarly, some examples of Spring Departmental Electives offered by JSJC are Reporting Elections, The Killing Fields: Understanding and Reporting Conflict and Violence, Power Point: Governance and the 21st Century, Comparative Politics and Political Systems, The Rise of the Right, and Off-Centre Reporting.
Cross-listed Electives are courses offered by different schools, including JSJC, that students across Programmes can take. Some examples of Cross-listed Electives offered by JSJC faculty members are Media, Politics, and Post-Truth, True Crimes: Facts and Narratives, Media and Globalisation, The Monsters We Can’t See: Horror, Cinema and Political Anxiety, Censorship, and Googling the World: Data, the Algorithm and Social Justice, and Frontiers and Borderlands.
JSJC students are provided with extensive hands-on training in various production skills related to radio, video, and television. They work with cutting-edge equipment at high-definition studios to learn how to pitch, conceive, design, and produce programmes. Students are expected to be proficient in using all the studio equipment, so that they can emerge as professionals who are comfortable reporting on the ground as well as in the studio.
The facilities at JSJC include a video studio with broadcast cameras and a high-end control room, a recording studio with a digital audio workstation (DAW) and professional microphones, a video editing laboratory with computerized editing systems, an audio editing laboratory with multiple digital audio-editing workstations, high-quality digital field-recording equipment for radio work, professional-grade Sony Alpha A7 III cameras for still photography and field shooting, and green-screen and live subtitling facilities. The lighting grid is also extensive, providing ample opportunities for students to learn and hone their skills.
Graduates of the B.A. (Hons.) Journalism & Media Studies programme at JSJC have a range of career opportunities available to them in today’s digital and global environment. The programme prepares students for a variety of endeavors, with a focus on critical thinking and leadership skills rooted in a global, interdisciplinary perspective.
Some of the areas that JSJC graduates are building careers in include news media (print, broadcast, and new media), social media and content writing, film and advertising, academia (media studies, cultural studies, film studies, gender studies, politics, sociology, anthropology), civil society (NGOs, think tanks, development organizations), and publishing (editing, commissioning).
JSJC also has an Office of Career Service (OCS) on campus, which helps students build resumes and portfolios, facilitates internship opportunities within the country and abroad, and assists students in their final year in acquiring placements in firms across the country.
The B.A. (Hons.) Journalism & Media Studies programme at JSJC provides various opportunities for students to study abroad, attend international conferences, and participate in student exchange and summer schools. Alumni of the programme have secured admission at reputable institutions such as the University of Oxford, London School of Economics, and Kings College London. Students regularly attend workshops and interactive sessions with faculty at overseas institutions for valuable counsel on graduate studies application and admission.
Students can also attend international summer schools and spend a semester studying at one of JSJC’s partner institutions, which include some of the world’s top-ranking universities. In the past, students have participated in programmes at the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, KOC University Istanbul in Turkey, and Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya near Tel Aviv in Israel, reporting on issues such as the refugee crisis and ethnic conflict.
JSJC also welcomes international students to spend a semester studying at the school. In 2021, JSJC students were nominated to register for online courses at the University of Sydney, and students from Universitas Pancasakti Tegal in Indonesia enrolled for online courses at JSJC. Faculty members regularly attend international conferences, including the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the International Communication Association annual meetings, and present their research. Distinguished scholars such as Mrinalini Sinha of the University of Michigan, Arvind Rajagopal of New York University, and Britta Ohm and Chinmayi Arun, affiliates of the Berkman Klein Center of Internet & Society at Harvard University, have visited JSJC to address students and faculty. In 2019, JSJC hosted a joint conference with the University of Oregon, inviting scholars and academics from around the world to present their research.
The scope of BA Journalism and Mass Communication is broad, offering diverse opportunities after BA Journalism. Graduates can delve into various BA Mass Communication and Journalism subjects, exploring careers in reporting, public relations, and more.
The B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication program offers a wide range of benefits for students looking to pursue a career in the media industry. With a focus on experiential learning and practical experience, the program equips students with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of modern media landscapes.