The rapid expansion of media in the last two decades has not only changed the perception of the people towards journalism as a career but has also increased the demand for competent media persons, well versed in latest communication technologies. This in turn has given rise to several schools for wannabe journalists across the country. Some might believe that the power of pen is something inherent that cannot be taught but has to be developed with years of continuous and meticulous practice. Yet this new age Journalism Schools [popularly known as J Schools] promise to teach the “craft of journalism” with a span of 10 months to two years.
However, the J school aspirants are facing a problem quite similar to the one B school aspirants faced back in the early nineties: How to select a quality institution? Moreover unlike B Schools, there is no official survey done on J Schools that would make it easy for an aspirant to choose his or her college. Nonetheless certain factors could help one to make his/her choice.
The first thing that a student should consider is placement. High placement figures substantiate the fact that the training imparted at the College is held in high esteem in the industry. In this respect, colleges that have been around for sometime like the IIMC, Asian College of Journalism, Jamia Milia Islamia, and Symbiosis do have an edge over the others.
Infrastructure or facilities is the second factor to take into consideration. One should definitely check out if the institute has a proper computer lab with facilities for photography, video editing and producing lab journals. The other factors that should guide one in deciding his/her college are faculty, class strength, tie up with other media houses and practical exposure given during the course.
Although journalism is basically a craft, there is an academic side to it. Journalistic skills can be learned on the job. But, an academic foundation may never be acquired at a later stage. A journalism student should do a lot of reading and hence one must check out if the institute has a good library.
The following are the top Journalism colleges in India. To know more about any of them just click on the name and it will lead you to their respective home pages
1. Asian College of Journalism, Chennai - offers post-graduate courses in journalism which a re adapted to the specific needs of India, and other developing countries in Asia. It offers a one year PG Diploma course in journalism, with a choice of four specialisations: Print media, Broadcast media, New media and Radio.
2. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi - The Institute conducts training programmes for Group "A" and group "B" officers of Indian Information Service and Broadcast Journalism Course for personnel of AIR and Doordarshan. This apart, the Institute conducts nine month's Post-graduate diploma courses in Journalism ( English); Journalism (Hindi); Advertising and Public Relations and Radio & TV Journalism at New Delhi. The Institute's branch at Dhenkanal conducts courses in English Journalism and Oriya Journalism. The Institute also offers a Diploma Course in Development Journalism. Two such courses are held every year, each of four month's duration. In addition to the above, the Institute runs short-term academic programmes for middle level and senior officers of the Indian Information Service, personnel of different media units and other Government officers.
3. Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore -
