Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree or post-graduate
degree in journalism/mass communication is required to pursue a career
in this field. Additional course work, specialized training or experience,
fieldwork or internship increases one's opportunities in the field. There
are a number of universities and institutes offering training in journalism.
Minimum eligibility for Bachelor degree in journalism is 10+2 and for
Post graduate degree courses a Bachelor degree in journalism. Some institutes
also provide one year certificate courses in journalism for which eligibility
is 10+2. There are also courses in specialized areas of journalism like
sports, television, photo, press law etc.
No course or training can claim to make one, a journalist. The courses
train persons in the technical aspects only, to ensure one's success in
the field one must have an inborn ability to write and produce new stories
in correct, concise and interesting style. Latest trend in this regard
is that big groups of newspapers advertise the posts of trainees for which
all graduates are eligible. After conducting the entrance examination,
suitable graduate trainees, with flair for writing are selected and employed.
In other words, now the formal academic qualification for being a reporter,
copy writer or correspondent is not essential.
Personal Attributes: To become a journalist one should have
an inquisitive mind, will power, an aptitude for presenting information
in an accurate, concise and effective manner, organize their thoughts
and to express themselves clearly both orally and in writing. At the same
time a journalist has to be tactful, confident and organised while interviewing
people from all walks of life. They must have the ability to sift relevant
facts from the irrelevant. The ability to accept criticism and willingness
to do considerable rewriting are also necessary.
