Photojournalism

Photojournalism in India plays a significant role in documenting and portraying the nation's diverse culture, socio- political events and historical moments. It has been a powerful medium for storytelling, bringing attention to important issues and capturing the essence of India's journey over the years. Media will be the major medium for this job. From covering major political events and natural disasters to highlighting social issues and cultural celebrations and so on. Photojournalists in India have consistently strived to present a visual narrative way that reflects the country's complexities, challenges and all. Through their lens, they have preserved perfect movements, raised awareness about social injustices and all. 

What is Photojournalism? Photojournalist are also known as Photographers. They are responsible for taking pictures most probably at news events. There are various types of photojournalism career option as like, Fashion photographer/ Wildlife photographer/ Aerial photographer and etc,. Commonly photojournalists are working as full-time or freelancing mode. Here we discuss about the further career details... 

Types of Courses: Diploma, UG, PG and Doctoral level. 

Courses availability:

✽ Diploma in Journalism

✽ Bachelor of Journalism

✽ BA (Hons.) in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

✽ BFA in Photojournalism

✽ Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

✽ M.A in Photojournalism

✽ M.A in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

✽ M.A in News Media Photojournalism and more.

Eligibility criteria: There is no specific educational requirement, many photo-journalists have a degree in journalism, mass communication or photography. These educational backgrounds can provide you with valuable skills and knowledge about the field. You should have a strong foundation in photography, including knowledge of camera equipment, composition, lighting, and post- processing techniques. It's important to be able to capture compelling images that tell a story in a understanding way. Some ethical standards like, Accuracy, objectivity and respect for privacy and cultural sensitivities are needed. 

✽ Diploma: A candidate need to pursue a diploma in photojournalism, you typically need a minimum of 10+2 qualification or its equivalent from a recognized board or institution is required.

✽ Bachelor's Degree: To pursue a Bachelor's degree in photojournalism, you generally need to have completed your 10+2 education with a minimum of 50% aggregation in relevant subjects usually, Arts/ Commerce/ Science is required.

✽ Master's Degree: He/she pursue a Master's in photojournalism or related fields need a Bachelor's degree in journalism, mass communication, or photography subjects from a recognized board/ university. 

Entrance Examinations: Some universities or institutions might require to appear for an entrance exam or interview as part of their admission process.

Fee: Approx. INR. 30,000 - 3 Lakhs per entire course (BFA Photojournalism). 

How to get in that career? Initially you need to pass in 10+2 in any stream with minimum 50% aggregation is required. After that do a Bachelor's degree program in journalism/ mass communication/ photography. Many universities and colleges across India offer these programs. This education will provide you with a strong foundation in storytelling, journalistic ethics, and photography skills and more. If you don't want to pursue a full length bachelor's degree, you can opt for diploma courses or short-term workshops in photography and photojournalism. These can gain practical skills and networking opportunities as easier. After gaining certification or degree in this program, you have to experiment with different genres of photography to broaden your skills. Look for internships or freelancing opportunities with local newspapers, magazines or online news outlets. This hands-on experience will give you valuable exposure to the upcoming opportunities in this respective field. So, stay updated with latest photography equipment and software. 

Skills Required:

✽ Communication skills

✽ Creativity

✽ Image & video editing skills

✽ Technical skills

✽ Speed and flexibility

✽ Networking skills

✽ Attention to detail

✽ Research skills

✽ Photography skills

✽ Organization skills and more.

Top Institutions: 

✽ Bhavan's College - Hyderabad

✽ Osmania University College for Women - Hyderabad 

✽ National Institute of Design (NID) - Ahmedabad

✽ Jamia Millia Islamia - New Delhi

✽ Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) - Chennai

✽ Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (SIMC) - Pune

✽ Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) - Pune

✽ Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art - Mumbai and manymore. 

Top Sectors/ Fields:

✽ Newspapers

✽ Magazines

✽ Websites

✽ Media

✽ Online publications

✽ Research and educational institutes

✽  Billboards

✽ Television news segments

✽ Film industry and more.

Job roles/ Designations with their salaries:

✽ Video producer - INR. 5.4 Lakhs per annum

✽ Feature author - Approx. INR. 4.5 Lakhs per year 

✽ Film and video editor - Average of INR. 4.3 LPA 

✽ Sub- editor - Approx. INR. 4 Lakhs per year

✽ Photographer - ranges from INR. 3.6 Lakhs per annum 

✽ Documentation and report writing specialist - Approx. INR. 3.5 LPA

✽ Photojournalist - Average of INR. 3 Lakhs per annum

✽ VFX artist - INR. 2.7 Lakhs per annum

✽ Broadcast news analyst

✽ Social media manager

✽ Assistant fashion content writer

✽ Multimedia specialist 

✽ Public Relations Specialist

✽ Reporter

✽ News Anchor

✽ Lecturer and more.

How was career? A career in Photojournalism in India will be challenging and rewarding. Photojournalists are visual representators. Who put entire photography skills to capture and document news events, social issues, cultural events and other significant happenings etc,. 
Photojournalists primarily work in the media industry with newspapers, magazines, online news portals and television channels etc,. They contribute images to complement news stories and help convey the narration effectively. May cover a wide range of news events like, political rallies, protests, natural disasters, sports events and more. Their images provide a real-time visual representation of current events and replicate the reality and accuracy of news. Apart from news events, Photojournalists also focus on social and cultural reporting. They focus on human- interest stories, cultural festivals, lifestyle features and other aspects of society. Some Photojournalists engage in long-term documentary projects, where they involve deep into specific social issues or stories to create a comprehensive visual record. Photojournalists must adhere to principles like accuracy, fairness and respect for subjects while capturing images. As a photojournalist, get recognization and credibility to their such images and this will be rewarding in india.

Top Hiring companies:

✽ The Times of India group

✽ Hindustan times

✽ The Hindu group

✽ India Today group

✽ The Indian express group

✽ NDTV

✽ Network18 group

✽ News agencies

✽ Freelancing and documentary work and more. 

Conclusion: Photojournalism is a career that offers an exciting avenue for visual storytellers to document the nation's diverse events, culture, and social issues. It provides an opportunity to make a significant impact by capturing powerful images that inform and inspire the public. However, it requires dedication, ethical responsibility, adaptability and excellent photography skills to navigate the challenges of this dynamic and rewarding field. With the potential for career growth and recognition, photo-journalism in India continues to play a vital role in shaping the country's visual history.