Journalism has come a long way since the publishing of the Acta Diurna in Rome in 59 BCE. The invention of the printing press gave a much-needed impetus to journalism by reducing the time it took to replicate reports and news and led to the regular publishing of newspapers in Germany and Antwerp in the 1600s. The first daily newspaper, called the Daily Courant, began in 1702, allowing journalists to provide news, views, and reviews to the world every day. Modern-day journalism relies on media such as television, radio, the internet, newspapers, magazines, and social media to showcase public opinion.
Journalism is often referred to as vox populi, giving the opinions of many a platform to be heard. It can be a great way to bridge the gap between authorities and the people and lend constructive criticism for the betterment of society. Journalism signifies freedom of speech. It exercises the people’s right to have an opinion and a platform to broadcast that opinion. In a way, journalism also connects the world by providing Because of journalism, we empathise with Ukraine today. If it weren’t for journalism, countries around the world would exist in a silo—living and dying in their tiny bubbles. Without journalism, ignorance would thrive.
Journalism strives to provide relevant and recent information to the masses. We live in a global economy where our actions can directly or indirectly impact the lives of others. A journalist helps to assess these impacts and brings them into perspective for people worldwide while creating an audience for his specific style of writing. Journalism and mass media are often referred to as a source of truth—as they provide legitimate news devoid of partisan bias and help people understand the issue at hand. The duty of a journalist lies in presenting facts rather than trivialising, sensationalising, and fragmenting topics to impose their opinions on the readers. Kovatch and Rosenstiel aptly termed journalism “a public forum for criticism and comment.”
Journalism can help in driving societal change by forming public opinion. This is done by making complex information available to the masses in a clear and easily understandable format. This helps multiple strata of society to understand the issue at large and form an opinion according to their perception of the problem. For example, the reportage of the Kargil war, the attack on the parliament, and 9/11 helped entire nations form public opinion about the perpetrators.
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A degree in Journalism and Mass Communication is a great way to understand what makes the world of journalism tick. Today, journalism has many sub-specialisations that help individuals select a journalistic medium of choice. Popular specialisations include:
- Newspaper & Magazine Print Journalism—focusing on hard news reporting for newspapers and magazines.
- Television & Radio Broadcast Journalism—mastering the art of shooting and recording interviews, editing news, and reporting live or real-time.
- Multimedia Journalism Online and Convergence—transforming print and broadcast offerings to modern online channels.
- Advertising—techniques and practices used to bring products, services, opinions, or causes to public notice for the purpose of persuading the public to respond.
Chitkara University’s programs in Journalism and Mass Communication will provide a solid foundation in the dynamics of communication and the industry. The UNESCO Model Curricula-inspired undergraduate programme in Journalism and Mass Communication at Chitkara University focuses on various aspects of journalism, including print, electronic, and online media, complemented with skill-centric, immersive, and interactive workshops.
The media industry is constantly on the lookout for outstanding journalists that can capture the public’s attention. Graduate and postgraduate degree holders in Journalism and Mass Communication can find employment as journalists, corporate communication specialists, brand managers, corporate relation officers, art directors, newscasters, editors, media planners and event managers. This makes journalism and mass communication a highly sought-after career option.
Journalists and communication professionals are experts at critical thinking, comprehension, data analysis, evaluation of unfamiliar material and understanding of research and evidence methods. Their knowledge of local and international political, economic and cultural affairs and general awareness of world history and geography give them the edge they need to provide easily understandable information to the masses.
