Changing mindsets are giving way to alternative career options. Gone are the days when all one could choose from was medicine, engineering or law. Mass communications and journalism, more so, over the last few years have turned out to be a viable career option. A number of reasons have been driving students to take up journalism. But, what are these?
Radhika Khanna, head of the department of journalism at Delhi’s Kamala Nehru College puts her point across: “What people are usually looking for is a good pay packet and psychological satisfaction. Being in the field of journalism today, you get both. With the expansion in the industry, the number of newspapers and magazines available are on the rise. Hence, job opportunities offered are immense.”
“But looking carefully we realise that this is actually not a new phenomenon. Every now and then a particular industry experiences a boom and the increasing demand have to be met. It happened with the IT industry a couple of years ago and the hype hasn’t worn off still. Similar was the case with the corporate sector, and people were signing up even for C-grade MBA courses. But as is the law of nature, everything reaches a level of saturation.”
Anubha Yadav, a Delhi University (DU) journalism faculty member, says, “After 1991, with the coming in of satellite television, journalism was no more about jholawalas working in print, not earning much. Today with broadcast and 24-hr news channels if you are a hardworking journalist you do make a good amount of money, which fuels your passion for the cause too!”
Today any course offering so-called professional training is up for grabs. Sakshi Kapoor, a second year student of journalism in DU says, “I didn’t want to do the regular English honoours or B Com courses. Journalism is a professional course and it sounds like fun too.”
SK Agarwal, another faculty member, counters this: “Doing this course adds to the credentials of students wanting to get jobs in the field. Soon after they graduate they are taken in by various media organisations.”
Having been a journalist for over 30 years and also having penned many books on the subject, Agarwal feels the respect a journalist commands in society is unmatched and is one of the reasons a number of students take up this profession.
“The fact that you are sitting on top of everyone and commenting on the day’s happenings does give you an edge over the others. Moreover being part of the Fourth Estate, you are responsible towards the public,” Agarwal says.
The best part about this profession is that it offers a double advantage ? the glamour, money, and also fulfills one’s need to bring about social change and rightly inform the society about issues concerning them.
Bisma Muzzaffar, a fresher this year at DU, has come all the way from Kashmir to pursue her dream. Asked whether it is hardcore journalism or the glamour that has driven her this far, she is quick to respond, “Kashmir has been burning for years now. Someone needs to tell the story of Kashmiris.” Moreover, she feels, “Not many women are taking this up. Journalism is also different from other ‘regular’ jobs. You could be earning a decent living yet helping to bring about social change.”
Yet there are many who have just moved with the herd, and jumped on to the journalism bandwagon. Many engineering, medical and for that matter English honours rejects land up studying journalism. But then, a lot of defaulters have actually gone on to become successful journalists in their own right, many argue.
The influence of icons from the industry cannot be undermined. Many aspiring students have Barkha Dutt, Prannoy Roy and Vir Sanghvi among others as their role models.
Another side to this story is of those who have not zeroed in on journalism because they want to be journalists, but would like to use it as a stepping stone towards other avenues. Ananya Dasgupta, a first year student at DU, admits, “My aim is to be a travel show anchor with National Geographic some day. So journalism felt like the ideal place to start.”
Then there are many students with a passion and flair for writing who opt for this course. There are many who have been the editors of their school magazines or have consistently been writing articles for various magazines, newspapers.
Observers feel it all boils down to the fact that the media industry is expanding at a fast pace. And there is enough room to accommodate these graduates who are churned out every year. However, it is just as important to be in the right institute. Else, all the money, time and effort would have gone down the drain.
[The writer is a final year student of journalism at Kamala Nehru College, New Delhi.]
