Do news makers attract you?

Lots of people want to get into a career in mass communications without quite understanding what this field is, and the careers possible in media. It broadly covers four major areas of work — print journalism, radio and TV, advertising and public relations, and new media, or the Worldwide Web.

Journalism
Journalism informs, analyses, and shapes opinions through the print and broadcast media. Print includes newspapers, magazines, tabloids, periodicals and so on, while broadcast media is what is transmitted through radio, TV and the Internet. Journalism is concerned with the gathering, processing and presentation of news in the form we finally receive it. Jobs in journalism could include researching of a story, reporting, or coverage of any kind of story, editing, or putting the stories together, and such assignments. Web site publishing is another area, which holds out much promise as more and more publications and organizations have set up their own Web sites, and require communication to be conducted through cyber space. Journalists are at the very centre of the hub of information and, therefore, there can be a heady sense of excitement for most newcomers. There is also great responsibility placed on journalists, the power of the pen can make or break people, and events.

Radio & TV
Of all communications, the media today —radio and television — are together the most powerful. In a fraction of a second, their transmissions can reach millions of people over a wide geographic area. What is more, their messages are received directly in the home. The main function of radio and television broadcasting is to entertain, inform and educate. Jobs in this field broadly involve planning, producing and airing programs of popular interest. There are many who are fascinated by presenters on TV, and want to join this field. But jobs in radio and TV are not only those we see in front of a TV camera, or the voice on radio, but also include production, conceptualizing and putting together a story, directing, camera work, sound recording, lighting, scripting, editing of the story or news feature, presentation and so on. Other areas of work can be programming — planning, selecting and acquiring shows, and commissioning — assigning work to different producers, set design, make-up, etc.
Entry into a career in radio and television broadcasting can be at different levels. You can become a producer or director after graduation in any discipline, or special training in film and TV. There are also diploma courses of 1-2 years after high school graduate for training in video editing, sound recording, script writing and other specializations. Technical posts demand appropriate skills and qualifications and can be taken up through vocational and technical training or PG diploma after graduation. A BA in mass communication with specialization in radio or TV can also lead to such jobs.

Advertising
Advertising is used to persuade people to buy a particular product or service, to create a positive image of a company or organization and to inform people or create awareness on issues of public interest and concern. Jobs in advertising can be in the creative department and client servicing.

Public Relations
In an age when image consciousness holds the key to success, the scope and influence of public relations is constantly widening. PR, as this career is most often referred to, is a combination of public affairs, media relations, research and analysis, and is used to create an image, style or idea of value and attitude of an organization or individual. A PR person basically works towards establishing or improving mutual understanding and goodwill among his company, clients and the various groups with which it is concerned.

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Say bye to boredom

If you have done the same tasks and the same job for a long time, you’ve probably experienced job burnout. If you’re lucky, it occurs infrequently and can be alleviated by a favorite hobby or pastime. However, for many people, career boredom strikes more frequently and lasts longer. What’s going on here?
Psychologists tell us that the human brain needs constant and ever-changing stimulation. Now don’t get me wrong, the human brain learns by repetition. But the brain becomes bored once it has mastered a task or concept, and it wants to move on. The key to overcoming career boredom is to change, at least partially, the way you use your expertise. This will give your brain an opportunity to tackle something new and different, and it will repay you by generating extra chemical enzymes that will make you feel great.

Here are 10 activities to stimulate your brain using your existing career knowledge and skills in ways different from your daily work. Consider undertaking any of these on a part-time basis first, as a career-enhancement project. Then, if your selections inspire you, consider taking them on full-time.

Pen it down: Write a book. Turn your career knowledge into a novel, a technical training manual or a textbook.

Talk it out: Give lectures. Offer to speak about your career, and related challenges and solutions at various professional gatherings.

Expert advice: Make yourself available as an independent consultant to small firms unable to afford in-house experts.

Catch them young: Consider volunteering in local schools and colleges to help students better understand your field and how to develop the skills necessary for success.

Pass it on: Contact local colleges, technical institutes and independent training centers and offer to teach courses — for a consideration — related to your area of expertise.

Mentor minds: Become a career coach. Offer to mentor younger professionals in your field to guide them into a more successful career track.

Linked in: Create a professional association dedicated to sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues.
Ultimate solution: Survey a group of colleagues to determine what issues are hot in your field. Develop solutions and publish your findings in a newsletter or journal made available to your colleagues.

Go it alone: Find a segment of the population not currently served by companies in your field, and create your own company, even if it be a one-person operation, to provide the services or products they need.

Tomorrow’s teacher: Become a product or service demonstrator. Determine which companies in your field are producing the most exciting products for tomorrow’s market. Contact them and offer to demonstrate their products — for a fee — at local, state, regional and national gatherings.