(Syllabus) Himachal Pradesh PSC: State Eligibility Test (Mass Communication & Journalism)

Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission

SET: Mass Communication & Journalism (Code-30)

Paper-II Paper-III (Part A & B)

Unit-I

  • Communication and Journalism – Basic terms, Concepts and definition, Nature and process
  • Types of Communication
  • Mass communication –Nature of media and content
  • Mass communication in India-Reach, access and nature of audience

Unit-II

  • Role of media in society
  • Characteristics of Indian society-Demographic and sociological impact of Media in general
  • Impact of media on specific audiences-Women, children, etc.
  • Mass media effects studies and their limitations
  • Mass campaigns for specific issues-Social concerns, environment, human rights, gender equality
  • The press, radio, television, cinema and traditional form of communication

Unit-III

  • Journalism as a profession
  • Journalists-Their role and responsibilities
  • Indian Constitution and freedom of press
  • Research restrictions
  • Ethics and journalism
  • Careers in Journalism and mass media
  • Training –Problems, perception and response by the industry
  • Media management-Principles and practices
  • Professional organizations in Media
  • Media Laws in India

Unit-IV

  • History of Print and Broadcast media in general with particular reference to India
  • Post-independent developments in print
  • Newspapers-English and Indian language press-major landmarks
  • Magazines-Their role, bookphase and contemporary situation
  • Small newspapers-Problems and prospects
  • Press Commission, Press Councils-Their recommendations and status
  • Development of Radio after independence-Extension role, radio rural forums and local broadcasting-General and specific audience programmes
  • Development of television –Perception, initial development and experimental approach; SITE phase and evaluation, Expansion of television-Post-Asiad phase, issues concerns and debates over a period of time
  • Committees in broadcasting-Background, recommendations and implementation
  • Cinema-Historical overview and contemporary analysis-Commercial, parallel and documentary genres-Problems and prospects for the film industry

Unit-V

  • Communication and theories of social change
  • Role of media in social change-Dominant paradigms
  • Critique of the Dominant paradigm and alternative conception
  • Development initiatives-State, market and the third force (NGO sector)
  • Participatory approaches and community media-Ownership and management perspectives

Unit-VI

  • Introduction of research methods and process
  • Mass communication research-Historical overview
  • Administrative and critical traditions
  • Effects research-Strengths and limitations
  • Communication research in India-Landmark studies related to SITE
  • Content analysis-Quantitative and qualitative approaches
  • Market research and its relationship to communication particularly advertising
  • Sampling techniques-Strengths and limitations
  • Statistical methods of analysis basics

Unit-VII

  • Colonial structures of communication
  • Decolonisation and aspirations of nations
  • Conflicts related to media coverage and representation
  • International news agencies-Critique
  • MacBride Commission-Recommendations and policy options
  • Contemporary issues related to transnational broadcasting and its impact on culture, various perspectives and cultural impact
  • Convergence of media-Problems and options
  • Media Policies in an International Context
  • India’s position and approach to international communication issues

Unit-VIII

  • Radio & TV and Video as Media of Communication
  • Grammar of TV & Radio and Video
  • The production team
  • Role of Producer
  • Different types of programmes
  • Writing for Radio
  • Writing for TV-Researching for Scripts
  • The Visual Language
  • Camera Movements
  • Basic Theories of Composition-Cues and Commands
  • Formats for Radio-Television-News, Sitcoms, Features, Commercials, Operas,
  • Documentaries, Cinema, Theatre, Drama
  • Editing Theory and Practice
  • Sound Design, Microphones, Sets and Lighting
  • Satellite, Cable television, Computers, Microchips

Unit-IX

  • Advertising
  • Marketing
  • Ad copy and Layout
  • Public Relations
  • Public Opinion
  • Propaganda

Unit-X

  • The Techniques
  • Different forms of writing
  • Printing Technology and Production methods
  • News agencies
  • Syndicates and Freelancing
  • Specialised areas of Journalism

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