Why AAFT University Is Emerging as a Preferred Destination for Journalism Education in India

Raipur, Chhattisgarh - Every year, students across India research their options for a BJMC course and come to the same realisation: the best journalism education is not found at the college that makes the biggest claims, but at the one that can show you exactly what students produce while they are studying there. At AAFT University Raipur, the answer is visible from the first day a student arrives on campus. Students are in a working TV studio producing live news bulletins. They are in a radio station recording real broadcasts.

They are developing digital content, shooting video journalism assignments, and building portfolios of real journalism work across every semester of their degree. That is why AAFT University Raipur is increasingly becoming the first choice for students who want a journalism and mass communication degree that prepares them for the real media industry, not just the theory of it.

For students looking for a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication at a UGC recognised university in Central India, or for graduates considering an MA in Journalism and Mass Communication that goes deeper into digital journalism, investigative reporting, and editorial leadership, AAFT University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers one of the most complete and industry-connected journalism programmes available in the region today.

Why Is India's Media Industry Creating More Jobs for Journalists in 2026?

India's media and entertainment sector grew to Rs. 2,78,500 crore in 2025, a 9.1% year-on-year increase, and is projected to reach Rs. 2,86,500 crore in 2026. Digital media has now overtaken television to become the largest segment in the industry.

OTT news platforms, independent digital publications, vernacular content ecosystems, and short-form video journalism are all growing at a pace that has created a genuine shortage of trained, job-ready journalists and media professionals. OTT platform revenues in India are projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.9%, the highest among the top 15 countries, to reach Rs. 35,061 crore by FY28.

At the same time, traditional print and broadcast media continue to grow, and corporate communication, government communication, PR, and advertising are all generating demand for graduates with strong journalism and media training.

For students choosing between mass communication colleges in India, this context matters. The journalists and media professionals who will fill these roles are currently studying. AAFT University's journalism curriculum is built specifically around this reality, which is a significant reason more students from across India and Central India are choosing it as their preferred destination for journalism education.

What Makes AAFT University Raipur Different From Other Journalism Colleges?

Several things distinguish AAFT University's approach to journalism education from other journalism colleges in India and in Central India specifically.

The first is the media infrastructure on campus. AAFT University Raipur has an in-house TV studio, a dedicated radio station, a film production house, and post-production labs equipped with modern cameras, editing suites, and audio studios. Students do not visit these facilities on field trips. They work in them every semester as part of their regular coursework, producing live news bulletins, radio programmes, podcasts, video journalism packages, and digital content from semester one.

The second is the interdisciplinary campus environment. AAFT University Raipur is not a standalone journalism college. It is a university with 14 schools covering cinema, animation, fashion design, interior design, music, fine arts, hospitality, management, and more. Journalism students who study in this environment work alongside future filmmakers, animators, photographers, and content creators. They collaborate on video journalism with cinema students. They produce multimedia content alongside animation and design students. This kind of cross-disciplinary learning reflects exactly how modern newsrooms and digital media companies actually operate.

The third is the leadership of the school. Industry Dean Faye D'Souza, the first woman editor of India Today with over 30 years at the top of Indian journalism, shapes the academic direction and professional standards of the programme. Having someone of her editorial calibre and industry standing lead the school changes the quality of thinking that students are exposed to every day.

Which Journalism and Mass Communication Courses Does AAFT University Raipur Offer?

AAFT University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers two programmes, both designed to give students real production experience from the first semester itself.

BA in Journalism and Mass Communication

• Duration: 3 Years
• Credits: 120 credits (160-credit honours option available)
• Who It Is For: Students after Class 12 who want a complete undergraduate foundation in print, broadcast, digital, and radio journalism

MA in Journalism and Mass Communication

• Duration: 2 Years
• Credits: Postgraduate
• Who It Is For: Graduates who want to move into senior editorial, broadcast production, digital content leadership, or specialist journalism roles

Both programmes are NEP-aligned, offered at AAFT University's campus in Raipur, and give students direct access to an in-house TV studio, dedicated radio station, film production house, and post-production labs as part of regular coursework. Admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Exam (AAFT GEE) followed by a personal interview, which can be taken offline or online.

What Will You Learn in the BA in Journalism and Mass Communication?

The BA in Journalism and Mass Communication at AAFT University Raipur is a three-year undergraduate degree carrying 120 credits, with a 160-credit honours option that includes a 365-day research-based learning ecosystem. The programme is NEP-aligned and designed in direct partnership with media professionals to ensure the curriculum matches what newsrooms, digital platforms, advertising agencies, and PR firms are hiring for right now.

From the first semester, students work in AAFT University's on-campus media facilities. They produce news bulletins in the TV studio, create radio programmes and advertising content in the radio station, develop podcasts and video journalism packages in post-production labs, and build a professional portfolio of journalism work across all three years. The programme combines print journalism, broadcast journalism, digital media, photography, new media storytelling, radio journalism, news anchoring, advertising, PR, and media research into a curriculum that prepares graduates for the full range of journalism and mass communication careers.

Eligibility requires completion of Class 12 from any recognised board. Admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Exam (AAFT GEE), consisting of an aptitude test and personal interview that can be taken offline or online.

Why Choose the MA in Journalism and Mass Communication?

The MA in Journalism and Mass Communication is a two-year postgraduate programme designed for graduates who want to move into senior editorial, broadcast production, digital content leadership, or specialist journalism roles. It is one of the most career-focused journalism postgraduate courses available at any mass communication college in Central India.

The MA curriculum goes deeper into every core area of professional journalism. Students develop advanced news package creation skills, work on real-time reporting across multiple platforms, practise news anchoring at a senior level, develop full advertising campaigns, and build a complete professional portfolio before graduation. The programme also covers research methodology, media management, and the business and regulatory side of journalism, preparing graduates for roles that go beyond reporting to include editorial leadership, content strategy, and media entrepreneurship.

The MA programme maintains the same focus on practical production work as the undergraduate degree. Students continue to use AAFT University Raipur on-campus TV studio, radio station, and post-production facilities throughout the two postgraduate years. By graduation, MA students have five years of combined journalism and media production experience if they have progressed from the BA, making them among the most production-ready postgraduate journalism graduates in Central India.

Financial Assistance and Accessibility

One reason AAFT University Raipur is increasingly being chosen by students from across Central and Eastern India is its commitment to making quality journalism education accessible. Eligible students can explore fee assistance and scholarship options as part of the admissions process, with full fee structure details available directly at aaft.edu.in.

Why Is Raipur Emerging as a Media Hub for Journalism Students?

Raipur is growing rapidly as an education and media hub of Central India. State government communication, regional news channels, digital media platforms covering Chhattisgarh and Central India, and the expanding corporate communication needs of businesses in the region are all generating real journalism and media jobs locally. AAFT University journalism graduates are positioned to take advantage of both regional opportunities and national media careers, giving them more career pathways than a student in a city where competition for media jobs is significantly higher.

Industry professionals regularly visit the AAFT University Raipur campus for masterclasses, workshops, and lectures. The university hosts media conclaves and film festivals that bring working journalists, editors, news anchors, and media executives to campus, giving students direct access to the industry they are training to enter. These interactions are not occasional events. They are a structured part of how AAFT University Raipur keeps its journalism curriculum and students connected to the industry throughout every academic year.

What Jobs Can You Get After a Journalism and Mass Communication Course?

News Reporter / Correspondent - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 6 to 10 LPA (mid)
News Anchor - Average Salary in India: Rs. 4 to 8 LPA (entry), Rs. 10 to 20 LPA (senior)
Broadcast Journalist - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3.5 to 6 LPA (entry), Rs. 7 to 12 LPA (mid)
Digital Content Producer - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 6 to 10 LPA (mid)
Video Journalist - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 6 to 9 LPA (mid)
Podcast Producer - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 5 to 8 LPA (mid)
Radio Jockey - Average Salary in India: Rs. 2.5 to 4 LPA (entry), Rs. 5 to 10 LPA (senior)
Media Editor - Average Salary in India: Rs. 4 to 7 LPA (entry), Rs. 8 to 14 LPA (senior)
Documentary Filmmaker - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3.5 to 6 LPA (entry), Rs. 7 to 15 LPA (mid-senior)
PR Strategist - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3.5 to 6 LPA (entry), Rs. 7 to 15 LPA (senior)
Corporate Communication Manager - Average Salary in India: Rs. 6 to 10 LPA (mid), Rs. 12 to 20 LPA (senior)
Social Media Journalist - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 5 to 9 LPA (mid)
Advertising Copywriter - Average Salary in India: Rs. 3 to 5 LPA (entry), Rs. 6 to 12 LPA (mid)
Government Communication Officer - Average Salary in India: Rs. 4 to 8 LPA depending on role and level

In Their Own Words

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Chancellor, AAFT University Raipur, said: "Students are choosing AAFT University Raipur for journalism because they can see the difference between studying about journalism and actually doing it. From the first semester of the BJMC course, our students are in an in-house TV studio producing real news bulletins, in an in-house radio station creating real broadcasts, and working with digital content tools that professional newsrooms use. By the time they graduate, they have not just a degree but a portfolio of real journalism work that they take to every interview. That is what makes them preferred candidates, and that is why AAFT University Raipur is becoming the destination of choice for journalism students across Central India."

Admissions Open for 2026

Students who have completed Class 12 from any recognised board can apply for the BA in Journalism and Mass Communication at AAFT University Raipur. Graduates from any discipline can apply for the MA in Journalism and Mass Communication. Admission is through the AAFT Global Entrance Exam (AAFT GEE) followed by a personal interview. Apply at aaft.edu.in/apply-now. Financial assistance details are available at aaft.edu.in/admission/financial-assistance.

About AAFT University Raipur

AAFT University is a UGC recognised university located in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with a 33-year legacy in creative and media education. Recognised by the Chhattisgarh Government and MHRD, it offers 100+ professional programmes across journalism, cinema, fashion design, animation, music, interior design, fine arts, hospitality, and management on a 27-acre campus with full residential and sports facilities. With 20,000+ students trained from 180+ countries and a strong network of alumni working across India's media and creative industries, AAFT University remains committed to preparing globally competitive talent for the creative and media economy.