Faculty's Say,  Nitin Volvoikar, Asst. Professor

Today we appreciate our graduates no matter where their careers have taken them. If we understand that journalism education is a valuable step into any number of professions, we should not just celebrate the graduates who have gone on to fame (if not fortune) in journalism, but also to those who have established themselves in other allied fields of media as well; as we train students to do journalism not only in print but also in other fields of media.

Infact, the kind of response the Department of Journalism has got over the years is only encouraging, as after getting trained in the industry many of our students undertake higher education in many allied fields, that shows wer are on the right track of encouraging students to pursue knowledge of varied fields and specialize in a particular niche subject.

All this suggests a considerably broader mission for the journalism course of Xavier’s, but it also suggests a huge opportunity for Journalism schools in Goa. The need for this kind of training has never been greater than today. The media industry is on a war footing to expand in Goa, as today many Goan newspapers, tabloids, niche magazines, cable channels and online sites are planning to launch new niche publications/channels/sites.

Journalism is, in most respects, the backbone of the media industry. Therefore many media jobs require some aspect of journalism. It can be exciting, nerve-racking, interesting and at times, very very annoing. But unless you’re a film critic or showbiz correspondent, it’s rarely glamorous.

Yes, many young aspiring journalists presume the media job to be glamorous and jump in the industry for the glamour part of it. But those aspiring ‘Journos’ should think a hundred times before taking up jobs in the media, as the amount of hard work is more than any 9 to 5 job. At the same time its highly rewarding not only in monetary terms; it also helps you to build good contacts in the society, which could last for lifetime.

So, what’s an aspiring journalist to do? Take everything with a grain of salt, and I mean ‘everything’. Industry news, trends, compliments, success, advice, a good bit of rejections and even, regrettably, taking on a few pro-bono assignments (which sounds a lot better than saying ‘I write for free’).

Writing for free isn’t the way to do it, but ultimately may lead to a stronger resume and better job. No one knows the future of media, but i can guarantee the trade of journalism isn’t disappearing any time soon...