Enter the World of Media Studies5 min read

Media Studies encompasses mass communication, PR, journalism and many more related wings. This field is comparatively new and it’s now being taken seriously all across the globe. In a country like India, media studies will have a very big role to play since it is directly linked with information handling and framing mindsets along with opinions of the masses.

In a country as diverse as ours, there is immense scope of information handling and reporting. The way information is given and dealt with judiciously will make a difference in this industry. So as soon as someone chooses the career path of media studies, he or she should be prepared to take the responsibility of disseminating information and handling it in an unbiased way.

Job Opportunities

Creative industries and cultural industries make use of media studies graduates apart from the media industry of course. The work areas where such professionals are required are PR and media practice, writing along with publishing, journalism, digital media, and computer games, video, and filmmaking, television and radio. The main employers of media studies professionals are:

• Colleges and universities
• Marketing organizations
• Government bodies
• Civil services
• Communication agencies
• Newspaper industry
• Media companies
• publishing houses
• TV and radio companies
• PR consultancies

Indian Institutes offering a degree in Media Studies:

Some of the good colleges in India that offer Bachelors, Masters, MPhil and Ph.D. programs have been enlisted below.

Serial No	Names of Institutes	Courses offered
1	Madras Christian College, Chennai	Certificate Course in Online JournalismDiploma in Advertising and Public Relations (DAPR)
2	Kamala Nehru College for Women, Delhi	B.A. Journalism
3	K.C. College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai	Masters in Entertainment, media, and advertising bachelor in Mass Media
4	Indraprastha College for Women, New Delhi	Bachelors Journalism
5	Tata Institute of Social Sciences	MA in Media and Cultural studiesPG Diploma in Community Media
6	Amity School Of Communication, Noida	B.A. & M,A, (Film & Television Production)B.A.& M.A. (Journalism & Mass Communication) – 3 ContinentMBA Media management PhD in Mass communication
7	Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune	MA Mass Communication
8	Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi	B.A. Journalism
9	Christ University, Bangalore	B.A., M.A., and MPhil. In Media and communication.

The fees for such courses range from  Rs. 200000/-Rs. 600000/- for these courses in private institutions, while it is pretty affordable in normal degree colleges.

Salary Structure

Fortunately in India, the career paths opening up after a stint in media studies are not dismal. Though it is a growing field you can definitely do well by choosing to serve the field of media, here itself in India.nThe salary figures are interesting depending on what majors have they pursued after graduating in media studies.

International Institutes offering a degree in Media Studies

Serial No	Name of Institutes	Courses offered
1	University of Akron	Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Interpersonal and Public CommunicationMaster of Arts in Communication – Communication Studies Track
2	Johnson & Wales University – Providence	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Media and Communication Studies
3	Saint Peter’s University	Bachelor of Arts in Communication
4	Loughborough University London	Digital Media Systems post graduationInternet and Media Clouds post-graduation Sports Digital and Media Technologies postgraduation
5	University of New England (UNE)	Advanced Diploma in Arts majoring in Screen and Media Studies
6	University of the West of Scotland	Broadcast Production BA
7	University of Bristol	Communications PhDDisability Studies (Inclusive Theory and Research) MSc
8	University of Hartford – Undergraduate Admissions	Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Communication StudiesBachelor of Arts in Communication – Media and Journalism

The fees amount can be really high for these courses ranging from Rs.800000/–Rs.3000000/- per year.

Career Prospects

It is desirable that if one has a degree in media studies from the U.K. or the U.S.A. it can be easier to land upon a job abroad. The course fees can be really enormous but then a capable person is more than compensated in the industry with a degree in media studies. Preferably you can work for free or do an internship of at least a year, even while pursuing the course to give you some experience. That way you can always do a better job when embarking on a full-fledged paid career in media studies.

Salary figures can be quite enticing for a career in media studies if pursued abroad as shown below in the table.

A career in Media Studies

Media studies professionals get to establish many kinds of contacts and hone their skills for effective communication. This renders them extremely malleable to fit into a wide variety of roles. Payment can be really good with many options to pursue a career all across the world. But then the lifestyle of such people can be quite unpredictable. The work hours can be light to very hectic. Food preferences may need to be broadened to adjust to any situation. And travel schedules can be erratic however providing ample scope to discover people and places (can be quite perilous too).

To sum up

India is in huge requirement of responsible unbiased media studies professionals. If a career in writing, reporting, and handling of information seem attractive to you, then this nation is in need of a qualified capable population like you.