MASCOM’s broadcast journalism course prepares students to work in television news channels, radio stations and news portals. The course is organised in three trimesters, each of 12 weeks duration. In addition, students will serve a two-week internship after the third trimester and undertake at least two field trips during the course.
The 2022 - 2023 academic year
The PG Diploma Course will begin in September 2022
The focus of the course is to maximise the employment potential of students. Accordingly, the utmost emphasis is given to hands-on training, while ensuring students acquire a solid grounding in journalism theory. The course aims at producing journalists who will become fully-functional members of the media industry in the shortest possible time.
Applicants to the course must have a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Students who have appeared in their final examination may also apply. However, they will have to furnish adequate proof of graduation for their admission to be regularised.
Candidates aspiring to join the course are expected to have a good academic record, a keen interest in current affairs and politics, a deep commitment to journalism as a career and sound writing skills. Admission will be on the basis of the candidate’s performance in a written test and an interview.
The medium of instruction will be English. However, a limited number of seats will be available for students who are also proficient in Malayalam and intend to pursue a career in Malayalam journalism..
The total fee for the course is Rs. 1,25000/- plus Service Tax as applicable.
Classes begin at 9.30 am and end at 5.30 pm with a lunch break from 12.15 pm to 1.00 pm and 15-minute tea breaks at 10.30 am and 3.30 pm.
The television news modules will be held in 90-minute sessions daily during the first trimester. Some of the topics covered are various report formats, writing scripts, structuring a story, interviewing skills, shooting visuals etc.
This will also be a common module for both the Print and Broadcast students. However, some specific aspects of journalism that are unique to broadcast such as visually impactful storytelling will be covered separately.
An ideal way to learn television news is to understand the nuances of electronic news gathering by dissecting what different channels do... both national and international. Analysing the good channels and understanding why some of the stories did not work, will help students learn better. Such channel appreciation sessions will be conducted by experts.
MASCOM’s print media course has developed an excellent background module for students to get an in-depth understanding of news from different spheres of life. The broadcast journalism students will also get the benefit of these modules. Refer to the print course for details.
Specific skills are required for covering specialised areas. Those skills are taught by experts at MASCOM. Both the Print and Broadcast Journalism students can get the benefit of these sessions. For details kindly refer to the print course.
Television Journalists need to understand nuances of shooting with the camera. So basic videography will also be taught to the students. Regular practical assignments covering news stories will help the students hone their camera skills as well.
It is generally believed that programmes are made or destroyed at the editing table. Television journalists should have a good understanding of video editing to highlight key aspects of their stories. Video editing using professional software will be taught to the students in the first Trimester.
Speaking in front of the camera requires special skills. Even the best orators need to adapt their skills to the medium. Students will be trained in voice over skills and to speak in front of the camera.
A short module on radio will prepare students to understand the medium. This module will touch upon radio production basics and the work of a radio jockey.
The digital journalism module will touch upon the skills required to adapt to the new media. As broadband speeds increase, videos, slideshows are all becoming part of online journalism. This module will help students understand the nuances of writing for the new media.
Besides learning to put together news programmes, the students will also learn production of documentary films and studio-based programmes.
With changing trends in media and the advent of social media, the journalists need to keep learning new skills. One module will be dedicated to such new trends.
Students will bring out news programmes twice a week from the second trimester. This will make it possible for the student to put into practice what they learnt in classroom lectures. They will have to find news stories, shoot visuals, interview people from different walks of life and edit the programmes. Students can expect to witness a controlled newsroom environment during the later half of the course.
The institute is equipped with a full-fledged automated newsroom with studios giving hands-on training to produce news bulletins. Students produce such bulletins at least twice a week. MASCOM students are trained on NRCS Newsroom Automation Software, PCR functions and Studio Operations. Students are also trained to use computers to not only write scripts in English or Malayalam but also to use non-linear editing software.
MASCOM is equipped with editing suites, news studio, newsroom, Production Control Room (PCR) and a classroom with playback and projection facilities. In addition, students use video cameras for newsgathering.
The School has a well-stocked library and students also have access to the Malayala Manorama library and digital archives, subject to approval by the Director / Librarian. Students workstations have dedicated personal computers with broadband connectivity.
The students of MASCOM are taken on field trips to hone their skills in spotting and developing news stories outside their base of Kottayam. All expenses are met by MASCOM.
Click here for detailsEach student is required to prepare a radio programme and full-length documentary proposal as a project at the end of the year. This is evaluated by an expert.
The evaluation for award of Postgraduate Diploma is as follows: Each student must obtain a minimum of 50% in each of the prescribed subjects and an overall aggregate of 50% to qualify for the Diploma, based on the marks secured in the overall aggregate, the diploma will be awarded with Distinction or First Class or Pass. Grading is decided on the basis of internal assessment and written examination with 70% of the total for internal assessment and balance 30% for assignments. A student failing to secure 50% marks in the individual or overall assessment may offer make-up assignments as determined by the faculty to raise his/her marks. A minimum of 85% attendance is required for a student to become eligible for the Diploma.
MASCOM’s course aims to make students employable. The hands-on training culminating in the production of lab news bulletin twice a week makes this aim a reality.
Broadcast students have found employment with leading television channels, web portals, radio stations and print publications.
A detailed list of organisations where MASCOM students were recruited can be found in the placements section.
Students are required to serve a two-week internship intended to expose them to the real world of electronic media so they can see and contrast actual practice with classroom instruction. MASCOM helps students to arrange internship for himself / herself at any established newspaper house, subject to the approval of the Director. All expenses towards boarding and lodging during the period of internship will have to be borne by the student. A stipend will not be paid for the internship.