Is Graduate degree in Journalism worth it?

It is only natural to get contradictory advices when it comes to joining a graduate program in journalism.

The main argument would be to discard it as a sheer waste of time. After all what worth is it studying journalism, unless you learn it while being in the midst of action reporting for a newspaper or channel. But what needs to be understood here is that journalism as a course when done from reputed institutes of India such as IIMC, Times School of Journalism, Pioneer Media School, provides one with a variety of insightful experiences. The exposure matters after all! It definitely adds to you when you enter the actual field.

Thus before spending those three years and money, read on below to understand what worth exactly is this course for you.

1. Practical Experience: While doing a course in Journalism, lots of opportunities can come your way to work in a variety of fields. Such freedom is highly undetectable in job scenario. The nature of projects ranges from covering politics to business news, media, to researching different ventures etc. Premier graduate colleges in India such as Times School of Journalism, Symbiosis, Pune etc., besides being a brand name in this field and guaranteeing 100% placement, also provide you with world class quality infrastructure. And this can be at quite a contrast when you see the actual working conditions.
           
   It becomes mandatory to also understand the right amount of exposure and experience that your career path requires. Because sometimes too much of an experience results in maladjustments.
          
2. Choose the Best: Make sure that you get the best of training. Search for big brands in the field, instead of getting confused by meager issues such as location, etc. Work upon yourself and keep upgrading your skills. Doing a journalism program acts as a platform for meeting and learning from the best in the field.
              
3. Networking: It is always beneficial to gain from the experiences of those who have already taken the plunge before you. While in a graduate program in journalism, there would be many opportunities where you get to know and meet experts from diverse fields. Gain from them. Keep in touch with those who match your vision.
              
4. Alumni: Being in touch with the alumni keeps you updated about current jobs and seminars in the field. But it also needs to be noticed:

• Expenses: It ranges from Rs. 25000 to Rs. 1 lakh per year varying with each institute.
             
• Experience : It is true that what we learn in college might of very little direct use when one actually enter the workforce. But it is a fact that all experiences add to you. If education does nothing for job, then why go for school education also? A graduate in journalism any way looks better on paper than a candidate who has not taken any formal training, but he is actually better than him in all the domains.
           
• Pay . A graduate degree definitely adds to your credentials but it does not guarantee an impressive salary. Experience is the most important consideration here.
  

Freshers can expect a salary of Rs. 8000 in English Journalism, and those working in Hindi and other regional languages get around Rs. 6-7000 in the start. Online journalism such as by India Times.com pays better, that is around Rs. 11-12000. Sahara, Zee, CNBC, Star News and India TV hire a lot of freshers.

Thus be ready to take the plunge even if this course is not your first choice. In today's time of competition it is mandatory to keep on enhancing on your skills so that you can reach the top.