पत्रकारिता में करियर बनाना है... कैसे बनेगा!

पत्रकारिता में अपना करियर शुरू करने के इच्छुक कई लड़के, लड़कियां अक्सर ये सवाल पूछते रहते हैं कि कैसे शुरू करें... कब से शुरू करें... कहां से जरूरी पढ़ाई करें... कौनसा संस्थान बढ़िया है? कई बार, कहीं पर, मैं निरुत्तर हो जाता हूं कि इन्हें कौनसा संस्थान सुझाऊं। क्या पत्रकारिता पूरी तरह संस्थानों में ही सीखने का विषय है... या क्या व्यक्तित्व में कुछ मूलभूत गुण हों तो करियर में फायदा मिल सकता है?

जब मैंने अपने करियर की शुरुआत की थी तब ज्यादातर स्थापित पत्रकार बिना किसी संस्थान में पत्रकारिता पढ़े ही नौकरियां कर रहे थे। तब हम जैसे संस्थानों से आए छात्रों को 'पढ़ा लिखा पत्रकार'  होने का ताना मारा जाता था। हालांकि बाद में उन्हीं तथाकथित 'अनपढ़' पत्रकारों ने पत्रकारिता संस्थानों में दाखिला भी लिया। अब पिछले 10 साल में कई चीजें बदल गई हैं। अब ऐसे 'अनपढ़' पत्रकार कम ही दिखते हैं।

खैर, पत्रकारिता के क्षेत्र में प्रवेश करने के संबंध में उठने वाले कई सवालों के जवाब मुझे चेन्नई से निर्मल दासन के इस लेख में मिले। पत्रकारिता में करियर बनाने के इच्छुक जनों के लिए फायदेमंद हो सकता है। एक नजर डाल लीजिए... शुभकामनाएं

---धर्मेंद्र कुमार

Journalism After Plus Two

By Nirmaldasan

A seasoned journalist says that journalism can be taught in six months. Yet another experienced editor opines that it is premature to do journalism after +2. A professor of journalism asserts that a basic degree in the arts or sciences followed by Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism is the ideal mix for those who wish to choose journalism for a career. And my views are in complete agreement with theirs.

However, for those who are eager to straight away join B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication, I think some guidance is necessary on some key factors.

First, choose the right educational institution. Any institute worth its salt will have a navigation-friendly website that is updated at regular intervals. The older the institution, the better it is; and if journalism is the only course taught there, it must be really good. Check the website for accreditation details, especially its validity period.

According to newspaper reports, many top institutions have not applied to NAAC for re-accreditation and have been advertising their courses with an expired accreditation certificate.

Parents and prospective students of journalism have a right to know the curriculum and syllabus before they join the course. Therefore, these documents must be on the website; if not, it is better for the applicants to go elsewhere. Equally important is infrastructure. Is there a television studio? A campus newspaper? A campus radio? A multimedia laboratory?

If you find that all these are fine, then you need to look at the faculty. Do they have industry experience? What are their qualifications? They may even have a doctoral degree. One must be cautious here because the Ph.D may not be in journalism. Since the media industry pays very well, it is quite difficult to get staff having both industry and academic experience. Find out whether the staff members have a masters degree in journalism. A newspaper report in the Times of India has revealed that the Department of Media Sciences is strangely headed by a mechanical engineer.

Today's world is driven by a media economy; therefore, it is not surprising if the candidates are carried away by the glossy promotional material. Think and think again. And ask this most important question: "Is this an academic institution or a business organization?" It may be a hard fact that privatized education is a business, yet you must insist on getting every rupee's worth. I hope you get high marks in +2 so that you do not have to bargain for a seat in any institution.

An institution may fail many of these tests and yet be Number One because of its illustrious alumni.

If the alumni of an institution have won recognition in journalism, then that institution is certainly the right place for you to do journalism after +2.