Mass Communication

Mass Communication

Introduction

Mass communication is “the process by which a person, group of people, or large organization creates a message and transmits it through some type of medium to a large, anonymous, heterogenous audience.” Mass communication is regularly associated with media influence or media effects, and media studies. Mass communication is a branch of social science that falls under the larger umbrella of communication studies or communication. The world has witnessed a phenomenal and unprecedented explosion in communication technology and media. All boundaries have been transcended, and the entire global community seems to have been brought together into one unified whole. And it is here that mass-communication, as a stream of study, and as a career, becomes so important and enviable.

Mass communication is the study of how individuals and entities relay information through mass media to large segments of the population at the same time. It is usually understood to relate to newspaper, magazine, and book publishing, as well as radio, television and film, as these mediums are used for disseminating information, news and advertising. Mass communication differs from the studies of other forms of communication, such as interpersonal communication or organizational communication, in that it focuses on a single source transmitting information to a large group of receivers. The study of mass communication is chiefly concerned with how the content of mass communication persuades or otherwise affects the behavior, attitude, opinion, or emotion of the person or people receiving the information.

Courses

  • Under graduate course in Mass Communication: 2years
  • PG course in Mass Communication (M.A. in Mass Communication ): 2years
  • PG diploma course : 1 year
  • Undergraduate courses (Journalism): 2/3 years
  • D.

 

 Various fields

  • Journalism

Journalism, in this sense, refers to the study of the product and production of news. The study of journalism involves looking at how news is produced, and how it is disseminated to the public through mass media outlets such as newspapers, news channel, radio station, television station, and more recently, e-readers and smart phones magazines etc. But Mass Communication is not limited to journalism alone. To a great extent mass media is a modern reality which covers all aspects of human life

  • Broadcasting

Broadcasting is the act of transmitting audio and/or visual content through a communication medium, such as radio, television, or film. In the study of mass communication, broadcasting can refer to the practical study of how to produce communication content, such as how to produce a television or radio program.

  • Advertising

Advertising, in relation to mass communication, refers to marketing a product or service in a persuasive manner that encourages the audience to buy the product or use the service. Because advertising generally takes place through some form of mass media, such as television, studying the effects and methods of advertising is relevant to the study of mass communication.

  • Public Relations Officer

            A public relations is the process of providing information to the public in order to present a specific view of a product or organization. Public relations differs from advertising in that it is less obtrusive, and aimed at providing a more comprehensive opinion to a large audience in order to form public opinion.

One can work as:

  • Fashion Photographer
  • Film Director
  • TV Correspondent
  • Producer
  • Radio Jockey/ RJ
  • Screenwriter
  • Sound Engineer
  • Sound Mixer and Sound Recordist
  • Special Correspondent
  • Video Jockey
  • Art Director
  • Editor
  • Event manager

 

Career Prospects

Mass communication is one such field which is attracting a lot of young these days and why not, when it has to offer such interesting career options in the fields, like various kinds of medias – newspapers, magazines, radio, television, advertisements, public relations etc.A professional course in mass communication opens doors for a career in films & TV, publishing, public relations, journalism, editing, direction, filmmaking, scriptwriting, production, etc. In nutshell, Mass Communication widens up the horizon of career options for a person. Depending upon personal interest and inclination a mass communication professional can choose a job. Attractive and high paying jobs as journalist, actor, director, editor, screenwriter, RJ, producer, VJ are available to the talented and trained individuals. Opportunities for placement in diverse fields of mass communication are available in publishing houses, radio and television companies, corporate world, entertainment industry, media industry, advertising agencies, public relations agencies, government organisations etc. As far as remuneration is concerned it varies from one area of mass communication to another. However in every area, it is much dependent on the size of the organisation, its location combined together with the level of responsibility and experience of the candidate.

 

Salary/Earnings

 

Starting salary for a mass communication professional could be between Rs 15,000 and 45,000. After working experience of few years a professional can expect higher salary in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 or more per month or more.

Institutes

  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi IIMC, New Delhi www.iimc.nic.in