Why journalism is losing its shine as a career choice
Having spent over three decades in media industry, academia has always been my first love. Perhaps this stems from my time teaching at Delhi University or my academic journey at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Even after moving into the industry, I've continued to nurture this passion by engaging with students of journalism and mass communication across various universities for the past 25 years.
Over the last year alone, I've conducted workshops and delivered lectures at more than 20 media schools across India. A worrying trend has emerged — most of these institutions are struggling to fill their seats. The notable exceptions remain the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia.
Even prestigious private institutions have not been spared. The Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM) in Bengaluru, after 24 years of reputed service, recently shut down, citing dwindling applications and financial strain. COMMITS, another well-regarded school in Bengaluru, closed its doors after 23 years due to similar challenges.
The reasons for this decline are both structural and symptomatic of broader shifts in the media landscape. The credibility of mainstream media has taken a serious hit. Television news has increasingly devolved into sensationalism; print media is witnessing a steady decline; and digital journalism, while expanding, is grappling with trust issues.
Meanwhile, the journalism institutes themselves are not evolving fast enough. While many claim to offer 'industry-ready' skills, the reality often falls short. Courses are frequently taught by professionals who left the industry years ago and struggle to keep up with the ever-evolving digital ecosystem. Digital journalism, the one segment where job opportunities are still growing, requires a dynamic and up-to-date skill set. Unfortunately, even many current industry professionals find it challenging to stay abreast of rapid technological changes.
It's disheartening to see institutes still teaching design software like InDesign, which most media houses have long abandoned. A student trained in QuarkXPress, for instance, would have a significantly better chance at employment, yet such practical considerations are often overlooked. Outdated curricula, especially in government-run institutions, further compound the problem.
The path forward is clear — journalism education must realign with industry realities. We must acknowledge that print is shrinking and television has reached a saturation point. The future lies in digital media, and journalism schools must pivot accordingly, updating syllabi, hiring active industry professionals as faculty, and placing greater emphasis on emerging tools, analytics, and platform-specific content creation.
Unless these changes are urgently addressed, journalism will continue to lose its appeal to the very generation it most needs, those with the passion to question, the integrity to report, and the creativity to innovate.
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