Senior Content Specialist
With the increase in the number of media platforms, there has been a significant urge to dispose of daily news and routine updates. There are various mediums through which Journalists share their daily dose of updates, which include news channels, social media, radio, and television. The field of Journalism comes with its own pros and cons. In today's scenario, Journalists prefer specializing in the field of their interests like law, finance, technology, war, politics, sports, etc.
Journalism is one of the highest-paying careers globally, where the average starting salary ranges from INR 1.80 L - 2.20 LPA. However with gradual experience and knowledge, one can earn as much as INR 27 LPA. There are several factors that will determine the salary of a Journalist such as communication skills, years of experience, level of education, etc. Read More: Certificate Journalism Courses
In order to become a Journalist, the aspiring candidate must complete class 12th and then pursue Undergraduate or Postgraduate Courses in Journalism and Mass Communication. There are various certification courses for Journalism. The candidate can decide how they want to pursue Journalism as a career. Candidates have many options such as news anchors, editors, reporters, photojournalists, etc.
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Table of Content
- Average Salary of a Journalist
- Salary of a Journalist: Specialization-Wise Salary
- Salary of a Journalist: Designation-Wise Salary
- Salary of a Journalist: Qualification-Wise Salary
- Salary of a Journalist: Organization-Wise Salary
- Salary of a Journalist: City Wise Salary
- Best Journalists in India
- What does a Journalist do
- Skills Required to Become a Journalist
- Salary of a Journalist: FAQs
Average Salary of a Journalist
The average salary of a journalist ranges from INR 3.06 LPA - 5 LPA. While Journalists with substantial years of experience of around 5 - 7 years, earn an average salary between INR 6 LPA - 8.50 LPA. However, news anchors, critics, and editors are the highest-paid journalists with an average salary of INR 10.20 LPA. The highest salary of a Journalist in India can range from INR 3 Crores – 4 Crores annually. Journalists like Ravish Kumar, and Rajdeep Sardesai earn an average salary of INR 3 crores - 5 crores annually.
Salary of a Journalist: Specialization Wise
The salary of a Journalist depends mainly on the specialization pursued by them. In a media house, Journalists can work under various departments or beats such as Sports, Politics, Crime, and Page 3.
Tabulated below is the average salary of a Journalist on the basis of their specialization.
| Specializations | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Print Journalist | 3.87 L |
| Investigative Journalist | 5.60 L |
| Broadcast Journalist | 5.20 L |
| Political Journalist | 6.80 L |
| Crime Journalist | 7 L |
| Sports Journalist | 6.07 L |
| Lifestyle Journalist | 5.70 L |
| Photojournalist | 3.20 L |
Check: Experience Wise Salary of a Journalist
Salary of a Journalist: Designation Wise
The average salary of a Journalist based on their designation is provided below in the following table:
| Designations | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Sub Editors | 4.60 L |
| News Editors | 7.90 L |
| Visual Production Specialist | 6.20 L |
| Assignment Editor | 4.18 L |
| Managing Director | 10. 20 L |
| Editor in Chief | 17.30 L |
Salary of a Journalist: Qualification Wise
The average salary of a Journalist on the basis of their qualification is provided in the following table:
| Qualifications | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Certificate Courses | 3.26 L |
| Diploma Courses | 4.78 L |
| Undergraduate Courses | 7.89 L |
| Postgraduate Courses | 9.50 L |
Also Check: Gender Wise Salary of a Journalist
Salary of a Journalist: Organization Wise
The average salary of the Journalist across different media houses in the country is tabulated below for your reference,
| Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Dainik Bhaskar Group | 13.50 L |
| Times of India | 15 L |
| Dainik Jagran | 11.50 L |
| HT Media | 16 L |
| Zee News | 18.80 L |
| India Today Group | 17 L |
| ABP Limited | 20 L |
Salary of a Journalist: City Wise Salary
Tabulated below is the average salary of a Journalist across various cities for your reference,
| Name of the Cities | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chennai | 9.70 L |
| Mumbai | 19 L |
| Bengaluru | 15 L |
| Delhi | 20.50 L |
| Noida | 6.80 L |
| Pune | 7.20 L |
| Kolkata | 10 L |
Best Journalists in India
Some of the top Journalists in India, who has by time gained significant recognition through immense hard work and dedication along with their salaries
| Top Journalists | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Ravish Kumar | 4 Crore |
| Nidhi Razdan | 3 Crore |
| Arnab Goswami | 12 Crore |
| Barkha Dutt | 2.64 Crore |
| Pranoy Roy | 7.8 Crore |
| Rajdeep Sardesai | 5 Crore |
What Does a Journalist do
The main job of journalists is to bring the events happening around the world to the public. They research, write, and print new stories and bring them to the knowledge of the public through newspapers, news channels, magazines, social media, etc.
Some of the key responsibilities of a Journalist are listed below for your reference,
- Assemble findings for their story
- Collecting and verifying the information
- Write and deliver news stories to their respective audiences
- Reporting and interpreting information
- Maintaining the accuracy of the work
Skills Required to become a Journalist
Tabulated below are the key skills that are required to become a Journalist,
| Language proficiency | Attention to detail | Persistence |
| Good communication skills | Good research skills | Ethics and Integrity |
| Writing skills | Interpersonal skills | courage |
Salary of a Journalist: FAQs
Ques. How many types of journalists are there?
Ans. Journalism is not only about news and reporting but there are sub-fields in journalism:
- News anchors
- Editor
- Photojournalists
- News reporter
- Writers
- Social media manager
- Editor-in-chief
Ques. What can I do after completing Journalism?
Ans. After completing journalism there are other options as well that one can explore such as
- Content writing
- Advertising
- Public Relations
- Digital Marketing
Ques. Which are the areas in which journalists can practice?
Ans. There are several areas in which a Journalist can practice:
- Media Houses
- TV Channels
- Magazines
- Books and Novels
- Websites
- Blogs
- Journals
- Social Media
Ques. What are the skills that a journalist must possess?
Ans. The Journalists must possess the following set of skills:
- Good communication skills
- Persistence
- Problem-solving skills
- Acquaintance skills
Ques. What are the certification courses for Journalism?
Ans. After completing class 12th or after graduation, the candidate can do certifications courses that are mostly available on the online websites such as
- How to be a Journalist
- Investigative Journalism
- Criminal Journalism
- Data Journalism and Media Standards
Ques. What courses of Journalism we can pursue post-graduation?
Ans. After completing graduation, the candidate can opt to do a job or pursue post-graduation. There are several courses that a candidate can take up such as M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and M.A. in Journalism.
Ques. Can I study Journalism abroad and do a job in India?
Ans. Yes, you can study journalism abroad and after that, they can come back and do a job in India. This will act as an added advantage in the career of the candidate. The salary package will be around INR 6-8 LPA.
Ques. Is Journalism a good career option?
Ans. Yes, without a doubt, journalism is a very good career option in India. It is one of the highest-paying jobs in India. The starting salary of journalists is around INR 4.60 LPA. The highest salary can be up to INR 3 Crores per annum.
Ques. Which country is best for doing Journalism?
Ans. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore are some of the top countries for journalism. If the candidate is willing to do journalism then they can pursue it from some of the top colleges in these countries.
Ques. What to pursue to become a journalist?
Ans. Students can pursue a bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree in Journalism. There are various certifications and diploma courses to become a journalist.
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