CAREER IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA

A career in electronic media offers unlimited exciting opportunities. From broadcasting production, to animation, to video game design, to digital and film editing, there are numerous ways to make your electronic media career creative and exciting. With video games one of the top entertainment sources for youth and adults, there is an increasing opportunity for the video game savvy and creative types to enter the field of video game design and production. The job market for these positions is competitive, so it's worth the time to invest in a solid degree program to give you the skills you need to be considered for employment. Today, a number of universities and media institutions are offering degree and diploma programs in Electronic Media having specialization in Camera, Editing, Anchoring, Production and Design. A formal education in electronic media will teach you the software programs that the industry uses and will also give you the opportunity to start experimenting with creation.

A degree in computer graphics can help you enter the electronic media field in a number of ways. You may become a graphic designer and specialize in web design and online marketing or by having a major in digital art you may use your talents to develop CD-ROMs, video games, and web sites. As a digital artist, one can develop his/her skills with software programs and may also learn illustration and graphic design techniques.

There are also digital and editing opportunities in the film industry. There are also editing and production opportunities in the television industry. Broadcast news, tele-vision sitcoms, and animated commercials or shows all require editing. Your education will give you hands-on experience in design, editing and animation techniques, while also providing you with the opportunity to test your skills and find the electronic media career that suits you best.

Creativity
People with creativity excellent communication skills and a zest to do something different, can build a satisfying and rewarding career for them in the electronic media. Besides, the well known TV journalists, news analysts and TV artists, the advent of - FM radio took radio jockeying and production to new heights. These are, few of the front line popular jobs, which the media offers.
In addition, there is a range of behind-the-scene jobs such as handling cameras, sound recording, script writing editing, production etc. These are equally interesting and lucrative. With so many players in the field there is a dearth of manpower. So what one needs to have apart from an innate aptitude for these jobs is sound knowledge and training.
Many universities like
Banga-lore University,
Guru Jambheswar University, Hissar,
Devi Ahiliya Bhai University, Indore,
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, Bhopal

and media institutions like
Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi,
Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune

and others are offering both degree and diploma program in electronic media. Most of these media departments of universities and institutes have their own studios having studio cameras, field cameras, digital VCD/DVD players, recorders, edit controllers, special- effect switchers, studio monitors for post-production, channel audio mixers, preview monitors and non- linear editing systems.

Eligibility
Graduates from any stream can join the courses in electronic media offered by universities and media institutions. Mostly, an entrance examination is held to select the candidates. In most entrance examinations, there is a Written Test based on current affairs and language followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Courses in electronic media are job-oriented, self-financed courses thus having limited seats. Since media has a huge responsibility as an instrument of social change and public awareness, most media institutions strictly emphasizes on the academic background, communication skill, creativity, command over the language and talent while considering them for admission.

(The author is from the Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.)Enews