Masters in Journalism Career Path: Top Jobs, Salaries & Future Prospects

Of late, the integration of digital marketing with media has transformed the way news is gathered, disseminated, and read, thereby redefining journalism and the roles performed by journalists. The size of India’s digital marketing industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 30.2% between 2024 and 2032. With 600+ million internet users, India is on its way to becoming the world’s fastest-growing economy in digital marketing.  

A master’s in journalism opens wide avenues of job opportunities for individuals aspiring to enter the field of media offering them competitive salaries and career advancement opportunities. Media professionals with a postgraduate degree in journalism can acquire certifications in digital marketing to enhance career prospects in the evolving job market of the media industry. The blog further discusses the varied job options for candidates in the Masters in Journalism career path.

What are the Career Opportunities After a Master's in Journalism?

A master’s degree in Journalism equips learners with advanced skills that help them perform managerial roles in the media industry. Along with a master’s in journalism, enrolling in online digital marketing certifications can help them upskill and boost their careers further. 

Here is a snapshot of career paths in media and communication highlighting key skills and typical employers.

Here are some exciting job roles available in the Masters in Journalism Career Path:

1. News Reporter

A news reporter is a professional responsible for investigating and reporting current events and news happening around the world to the public through different media platforms like print media (newspapers, magazines), broadcast media (TV news), radio, and digital media (online portals). 

News reporters gather news from varied sources to generate informative stories to engage audiences. They can specialize in different areas or domains like politics, sports, entertainment, fashion, art and culture, and more.  With the evolving nature of journalism, news reporters are required to have strong skills in multimedia and digital tools. 

News reporter’s salary in India with over 6 years of experience ranges between ₹0.3 Lakh to ₹18 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹4.1 Lakhs.

2. Radio Jockey

A radio jockey (RJ) is a professional who is responsible for hosting radio programs to entertain and aware listeners. They must keep their listeners engaged by curating interesting and informative content, playing music, sharing information, and conducting interviews with prominent personalities to make their radio shows enjoyable for their audiences.

Radio jockeys are the essence of a radio show. They enliven their shows with their charismatic charm and communication skills. Radio jockeys modulate and style their voice to use it as a powerful tool to convey varied emotions and build the interests of listeners.   

Radio jockeys in India with over 7 years of experience earn a salary ranging between ₹1.8 Lakh to ₹20.2 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹6.1 Lakhs.

3. Investigative Journalist

Investigative journalism involves either the intentional revealing of concealed information to the public by people in a powerful position or accidentally. Investigative journalists generally take up one story at a time before proceeding to the next. This type of journalism follows a particular methodology. Investigative journalists form strong relationships with people (sources) whom they rely on for relevant information. Many of them may work undercover to hide their identity and get to the root of a story.

These professionals earn a salary ranging between ₹4 to ₹12 lakhs per annum, which increases with experience.

4. Event Manager

An event manager is a professional who manages events, including social, business, and promotional events. Right from planning the event, these professionals carry the event till it ends and also do the post-event analysis. This is a practical job with a major focus on working as a part of a team. Exhibitions, corporate parties, cultural events, sports and fundraising events, and social events are among the various types of events that these professionals may manage and organize.

Individuals performing the role of an event manager in India with over 7 years of experience can earn a salary ranging between ₹2.2 Lakhs to ₹12 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹6 Lakhs.

5. News Anchor

A news anchor, who is a journalist, is the main news presenter on TV or radio and serves as the face of the program. They are responsible for reporting news on channels, chiefly television news channels from the studios. They communicate with the reporter who reports from the field and speak with others as per the need of the story. News anchor reports on regional, national, as well as international events.

The salary of TV News Anchors in India ranges between ₹10.8 Lakhs to ₹13.8 Lakhs per annum with an average annual salary of ₹12.4 Lakhs.

6. Content Writer /Editor

A content writer/editor is a professional who writes and edits content. Proficient content writers are creative people and are expected to write on any topic for any industry. However, some writers specialize in writing for certain specific areas. For instance, technical content writer, medical content writer, academic content writer, and legal content writer. A master’s in journalism is an appropriate degree for aspiring content writers and editors to pursue a career in their preferred field.

The salary of a Content Writer/Editor in India with over 7 years of experience ranges between ₹2.8 Lakhs to ₹11 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹6.3 Lakhs.

7. Feature Writer

A feature writer is a journalism professional who mainly writes for magazines, online publications, or newspapers. These individuals research and write feature articles/stories, which are long forms of articles. For instance, cover stories of a magazine. These professionals are also termed creative journalists.

In India, a Feature Writer with an experience of over 6 years can earn a salary ranging between ₹3 Lakhs to ₹6 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹4.5 Lakhs.

8. Political Correspondent

As the name suggests, a political correspondent is a reporter who specializes in reporting politics or political stories. They cover current stories on regional and national politics and political parties. They can work for print, digital, or broadcast media. These professionals write articles, create videos, participate in discussions, host podcasts, run YouTube channels, and more.

These professionals earn an average salary of ₹5 Lakhs per annum, which may go beyond ₹40-45 lakhs with experience and popularity.

9. Sports Journalist

Sports journalists are professionals who report news about sports events worldwide. They work in newspapers, radio channels, magazines, TV channels, or in digital/online media portals. They even do live reporting of significant sporting events of national and international interest. They attend press conferences associated with sports and sporting personalities.

The average annual salary that sports journalists in India earn is ₹4 lakhs, which increases with experience and connections.

10. Photojournalist

Photojournalists are professionals who use their cameras to tell stories by capturing captivating images. They tell stories visually to attract audiences rather than using words. These professionals can cover a variety of subjects including local and community events, wars, nature, sports, politics, and more. They are also called news photographers since they capture newsworthy images.

A photojournalist with 5-6 years of experience can earn a salary that ranges between ₹1 Lakh to ₹9.6 Lakhs per annum with an average annual salary of ₹4 Lakhs.

11. Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager is a professional who works across all social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and others promoting their company or providing a voice for their business/brand. They create social media content and are responsible for responding to the comments of consumers or audiences. These professionals enhance the brand exposure of their company/business.

The average annual salary that these professionals earn starts at ₹3.6 Lakhs, which goes up with experience and other determinants. 

Also read: Top 25 Social Media Marketing Techniques in 2025

12. Public Relations Specialist

A public relations (PR) specialist is a professional who works for PR agencies to promote programs. They build good relations with the media and maintain a positive public image for their organizations. These professionals are also known as media specialists or communications specialists. They write content/resources for the media in the form of press releases and other communications that are sent to the media for coverage. They engage audiences through social media platforms.

An experienced PR specialist with over 7 years of experience in the industry can earn an average salary of ₹9.8 Lakhs, while the range of salary of these individuals can be between ₹2.4 Lakhs to ₹11.5 Lakhs per annum.

13. Corporate Communications Specialist

Corporate communications specialists working in large MNCs are responsible for overseeing both internal and external communications. They write press releases, newsletters, and company emails, and also create social media content, build company websites, create informative videos about the company and its work, and build brand logos. 

Individuals working in the corporate communications department can earn an average annual salary of ₹10.8 Lakhs with over 8 years of experience. Their salary may range between ₹6.8 Lakhs to ₹20 Lakhs per annum. 

14. Digital Marketer

Digital Marketers are responsible for working on search engine optimization, managing social media marketing campaigns, overseeing email campaigns, and creating content for their employers. They are responsible for every digital marketing campaign done for their company across platforms and channels.

An experience of 5-6 years can help digital marketers earn a salary ranging between ₹2 Lakhs to ₹18 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹6.9 Lakhs in India. 

15. Documentary Filmmaker

These are professionals who create nonfiction shows or documentaries for television channels or digital media. They work to educate and entertain viewers with their documentaries on nature, wildlife, people, communities, historical events, and more. 

A Documentary filmmaker in India can earn between ₹0.4 Lakh to ₹12.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹7.2 Lakhs with over 7 years of experience. 

Also read: Career and Job opportunities After Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication

Industries Hiring Candidates After a Master's in Journalism

Postgraduates in Journalism get many opportunities across industries and designations beyond traditional newsroom roles. A masters in Journalism career path allow candidates to enter the digital platforms, corporate sectors, and other creative roles as mentioned in the table below:

Future Trends in a Journalism Career

The landscape of media and journalism is fast-evolving. From the big screen of television, news has shifted to the small screen of your mobile phone. From prime-time news updates, it has become mobile-first updates. News is now readily available on Instagram feeds, Facebook updates, and Google news scrolls. Hence, news in the current scenario is engaging and easily accessible. 

Further, with the advance of artificial intelligence (AI), the gathering and dissemination of news has become quicker and more effective. Beyond the authenticity and privacy concerns, AI-driven tools have made summarizing, shortening, and other mundane tasks easy. 

Looking at the grand rise of AI, considering the ethical concerns and addressing them appropriately is also crucial. Further, in 2025, journalism trends are likely to diversify content/news to reach audiences across platforms and channels including podcasts, social media, newsletters, Instagram, and more.    

How can upGrad Support your Journalism Career?

Journalism is a prestigious career with wide opportunities. Aspiring journalists and professionals working in this field can enroll in some of the best online digital marketing courses offered by upGrad for career advancement. If you are looking to upskill and boost your career in journalism and mass communication, these certifications in digital marketing will help you acquire industry-relevant skills and expertise to enhance your journalism prospects further. 

Below is a list of some relevant digital marketing certification courses to choose from:

• Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication
• Introduction to Modern Public Relations Free Courses
• Complete Guide to Content Marketing Free Courses
• CopilotCraft: AI-Powered Marketing Mastery
• Professional Certificate Program in Digital Marketing

Further, students can get personalized career counseling at upGrad by visiting the nearest upGrad center for guidance. 

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