The course trains students to master the skills required to become those news professionals capable of working across various media. They are given hands-on training in print, broadcast and digital journalism, preparing them to become a contemporary media professional. Modules on mobile journalism and social media prepare them for enhanced career opportunities.
The 2024 - 2025 academic year
The PG Diploma Course will begin in July 2024
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.
English - For those taking the course in English
Malayalam - For those taking the course in Malayalam
However, guest lectures and common sessions will be in English.
The total fee for the course is Rs. 1,25000/- plus Service Tax as applicable.
First Installment : 75,000/- + 18% GST (First installment to be paid before admission)
Second Installment : 50,000/- + 18% GST (Second installment to be paid after five months)
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.
Course structure at MASCOM mainly has three modules- Digital, Broadcast and Print. Before these modules begin, there are common sessions which introduce students to these modules.
These sessions are aimed to improve understanding of what is news and what isn’t. How to identify the news element in a story and how to curate them for the digital, broadcast and print media.
These core modules train students in researching, interviewing and other news gathering skills required by journalists. Students are also taught the technical skills required for digital, broadcast and print news gathering as part of these modules.
These teach them the various types of reports and how they are supposed to be written for different media. Writing and editing news stories, features, scripts, creating infographics, sideshows etc. form part of this module
The digital journalism module will touch upon the skills required to adapt to the growing requirements in new media. This module will help students understand the nuances of content creation in the form of text, audio and video. This module will also give the students a clear idea on social media trends,new media technology, fake news, and ethics.
Journalists need to understand nuances of shooting with the camera. Videography along with video editing will be taught in this module. Students will be trained in voice over skills and to speak in front of the camera. With the help of a fully automated newsroom with studios giving hands-on training, students will produce news bulletins, studio programmes and documentaries. They are also trained on NRCS Newsroom Automation Software, PCR functions and Studio Operations.
Writing news stories, features and different types of articles for newspapers and magazines forms the basics of print journalism. They are required to develop and brush up their writing skills which will support them for performing well in other media. Students are trained to produce lab papers in English and Malayalam.
A short module on radio will prepare students to understand the medium. This module touches upon radio production basics and the work of a radio jockey besides producing podcasts
Press release, studio programme, documentaries are all part of this module.
This is the culmination of efforts. Lab papers and news bulletins are put together regularly by the students to hone the skills they have learnt. Know more about these under the student activities page. (Create a link to student activities area)
MASCOM is equipped with computer labs, 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. 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.
Students have a choice to take one of the following two options as part of their end term project work.
Option 1: A dissertation and an investigative report
Option 2: A radio programme and a documentary proposal
These are evaluated by expert-external faculty.
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 a lab newspaper and
bulletin twice a week makes this aim a reality. 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.
In the past few years students have found placements by the time the course ends. In the event of a student not finding employment towards the end of the course, he or she can opt for a three week-internship. MASCOM helps students to arrange internship for himself / herself at any established media 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. For such an internship no stipend is paid.