Mass Communication

What is Mass Communication

Mass Communication is generally termed as the very important process via which a message is communicated to large segments of people using mass media. Mass communication is usually used to distribute a similar message to a big group of the population that have means to use that form of mass media.

Journalism, advertising, and print media are the major examples of mass communication. There are two kinds of courses available for aspiring students in mass communication, an undergraduate degree and a postgraduate degree.

The undergraduate degree is Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (BA Mass Comm.) and the postgraduate degree in Master of Arts in Mass Communication (MA Mass Comm.).

Both courses focus on familiarizing students with the practical and theoretical aspects of mass communication.

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Mass Communication

If an aspiring student needs to be eligible for admission in the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (BA Mass Comm.) course, he or she should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• The candidate must have completed Senior Secondary/ 10+2 Standard from a recognized university.
• The candidate must have a minimum aggregate percentage of 50% at the 10+2 level.

If an aspiring student needs to be eligible for admission in the Master of Arts in Mass Communication (MA Mass Comm.) course, he or she should fulfil the following eligibility criteria: -

• The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university.
• The candidate must have a minimum aggregate percentage of 50% at the graduation level. 

Entrance Exams for Mass Communication Courses

1. CUET: The Christ University Entrance Test (CUET) is organized by Christ University, Bangalore to help suitable students to gain admission in the suitable courses that the university offers.

2. TANCET: The Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) is conducted jointly by the Tamil Nadu government and Anna University for students who are seeking admission in suitable courses in the colleges in the state of Tamil Nadu.

3. Merit-based admissions: Many recognized colleges offer admissions to students based on their merit and performance at the senior secondary level. Some universities might even give scholarships to students based on their performance. 

Required Skillset for Mass Communication

Certain unique specific skills are required while doing each job. The skills required in a person when he or she is looking to pursue mass communication are: -

1. Open-Mindedness – A person willing to pursue mass communication must have an open and objective mindset. As a journalist, a person mustn't have a preoccupied mind frame. This helps him or her to do the job in a much better way.

2. Persistence – Doing a mass communication job is a very difficult job and comes with its fair share of complexities. A person needs to have a persistent nature to overcome the problems he or she might face and perform the job well.

3. Research skills – A person seeking a mass communication job must have excellent research skills. The jobs in this area require a lot of research to gather the full knowledge about the subject.

4. Self-Promotion – Self-Promotion is the ability of a person to advertise himself or herself. The person must have an engaging presence and good story-telling capabilities. Self-Promotion is an essential skill required in this field.