How to become a Journalist

A Journalist works towards helping the public keep abreast of current affairs and events in the world. Their aim is to inform and educate the masses regarding various issues including finance, economy, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, science, sports as well as human interest stories. They are involved in researching and producing news articles, stories, and features to be published in newspapers, magazines, and journals, both online or offline. They investigate, report and present the news in order to propagate information about what is happening around the world.

In order to present the most relevant news to the public in a compelling and informative manner, journalists work in collaboration with other reports, editors, designers, and photographers. Apart from researching and writing news pieces, they also play a role in the sub-editing, layout, graphics, illustration aspects. From the local, regional and national press to lifestyle magazines and trade publications, journalists can take on diverse roles depending upon the sector they choose to work in.

• Evaluate leads and pitch captivating story ideas to editors
• Investigate newsworthy information by researching, observing, and conducting interviews
• Analyze the news information, crosscheck facts, assess the accuracy of the information and organize the relevant details in an easy to read manner
• Write news pieces in a clear, concise manner that is interesting, impactful, and informative
• Proofread, revise and edit news pieces for editorial approval
• Keeping informed about the current laws regarding privacy, contempt and defamation
• Attend various events to gather information, from press conferences to social and political functions, industry briefings, and premiers
• Document interviews, events, and facts through audio/video recordings, photographs and notes

Communication skills are at the core of this job, in order to present news effectively to the public, gather information from relevant individuals and establish strong working relationships with individuals in the industry. A journalists’ language skills are of utmost importance in order to speak fluently and write in a clear, concise manner for impactful delivery of news information. They must have an enquiring mind with excellent critical thinking skills. A journalist must be ethical and honest in order to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Meticulous organization and time management skills are crucial for journalists to work efficiently in this fast-paced field with constant deadlines.

Their reasoning and analytical skills are of importance as well in order to guide their investigative efforts and make meaningful interpretations of the information they collect. Since much of their work requires collaborating with a range of people, a journalist must be comfortable with working as a part of a creative and dynamic team.

Salary information for a Journalist in India:

• Minimum Monthly Salary: For entry-level Journalists or those starting their careers, the monthly salary may range from INR 15,000 to INR 25,000, especially when working for smaller media organizations or local publications.
• Maximum Monthly Salary: Established and highly successful Journalists with considerable experience and working for prominent media outlets can earn a maximum monthly salary of INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,00,000 or more.
• Annual Salary: The annual salary of a Journalist can be from INR 2,00,000 to several lakhs, depending on factors such as experience, specialization, the scale of the media organization, and the scope of coverage.
• Highest Paying Job and Scope: The highest paying job for a Journalist is often found in senior editorial positions, such as Editors-in-Chief, Senior Correspondents, or Editorial Directors, especially in major national or international media organizations. Renowned Journalists with a strong track record of producing impactful and investigative journalism can command higher salaries and may receive recognition through prestigious awards.The scope for Journalists in India is promising as media outlets continue to evolve with digital platforms and changing consumer habits. Journalists cover many topics, including politics, business, technology, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, etc.

To enroll into a bachelor's program, it is essential for the aspiring candidate to clear entrance exams conducted by various educational institutes. Most widely conducted entrance exams for journalism courses are MU – OET, SET, IPU CET, IP College for Women’s entrance exam, Delhi University, WLCI AICET.

• Arts
• Business
• Entertainments
• Publishing House
• Environment
• Fashion
• Politics
• Medicines
• Sports
• Whether
• World