Law vs Media and Journalism: Which-is-better?

Law vs. Media and Journalism: Which is Better? - Graduating from 12th grade often leaves students facing a difficult decision: which undergraduate program to pursue? The sheer number of options can make it hard to choose the right fit. Many students find themselves torn between Law and Media & Journalism. Both careers require strong writing, storytelling, and research abilities.

With the increase in demand for lawyers and journalists, it becomes difficult to decide on a career choice without adequate information. This article will help one choose between a career in law or media and journalism by understanding the aptitude, academic career path, job prospects, and salary. Read the complete article below to know more about Law vs Media and Journalism: Which is better?

Law vs Media and Journalism

Listed below are the skills and traits that one must have for a career in law or media and journalism. One can read the traits below and do a self-check to realise the interests and likes of choosing a career from the two.

Why Law?

A career in law can be intellectually challenging, personally fulfilling and financially rewarding. The complexities of our legal system have created hundreds of legal career options that serve a variety of core and non-core legal functions. From lawyers, judges, and mediators to paralegals, secretaries, and consultants, the legal professional’s role is expanding and evolving to keep pace with the ever-changing legal system. One can go on to make a career in law if he/she possesses the skills listed below:

• Communication skills

• People skills

• Commercial awareness

• Attention to detail

• Time management

• Academic ability

• Resilience and self-confidence

• Research and analysis

Why Media and Journalism?

New media journalism has the potential to reach larger audiences in a shorter time and often leads to greater interaction between journalists and readers/viewers. It is also often equated with multimedia meaning two or more modes of communication are used simultaneously and cooperatively to tell a story.

With the exponential increase in usage of the internet as a means of communication, today’s media persons and journalists communicate instantly using the medium. One will be perfectly suitable for pursuing a career in media and journalism if he/she is/has:

• Principled

• Analytical and astute

• Intellectually curious

• Good Language skill

• Energetic and passionate

• Empathetic

• Ability to deal with controversial issues

• Tech and Design skills

• Specialist knowledge

Law vs Media and Journalism – Academic path

To become a lawyer or a media person/journalist, one has to select a different academic program. Any student of Science, Commerce, or Arts stream can choose to make a career in law or media and journalism. After passing 10+2, there are separate programs. One will be required to sit for an entrance test to get admission to one of the good colleges.

Academic path for a career in law

Those who have decided to pursue a career in law are advised to take the Commerce stream in class 12^th since it involves subjects such as Management and Economics. After completing class 12^th, one can go for a 5-year integrated law program (B.A LLB, B.Sc LLB, B.Com LLB) or can go ahead and pursue a UG program in the subject of their choice and later go on to pursue 3 years LLB.

For admission to law programs, a candidate will be required to sit for entrance exams like CLAT, AILET, MHCET LAW, AP LAWCET, TS LAWCET, DU LLB, etc. After completing an LLB successfully, one may choose to begin practicing as a lawyer or may want to pursue an LLM.

Academic path for a career in media & journalism

To make a career in journalism, one is advised to opt for the Arts stream in class 12^th due to the inclusion of subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Geography & Psychology. After school, one can opt to pursue courses like B.S (Hons.) Journalism, B.A Journalism, 5-year integrated course in journalism, etc.

Many colleges/institutes conduct entrance exams for admissions while others admit students based on their marks in class12^th/ qualifying examinations. DU DSJ, IIMC entrance exam, ACJ entrance exam, and MICAT, are some of the entrance exams for media and journalism. After completing their undergraduate, one can join any media firm as a journalist or go on to pursue M.A. in Mass communication, Post Graduate Diploma in Mass communication, etc.

Job prospects in Law vs Media and journalism

There are a number of jobs on offer after completing law and journalism. With increase in media firms and law firms in our country and abroad, there is a huge demand for these careers. The initial salary for an entry level lawyer is Rs.5,00,000 p.a which rises at an increasing rate with experience. Those entering media jobs get an average initial salary of 4 lakhs. Listed below are the number of positions for hiring lawyers and journalists.

Job prospects and salary in Law

After completing studies in law, one can choose to make a career as:

• Litigation

• Corporate law (law firms and companies)

• Public Prosecutor

• Judicial Service

• Intellectual Property law firms

• Legal Academia

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• NGOs and Think Tanks

• LPO

• Tax Law

• Judge Advocate General

• Legal Journalism

Job prospects and salary in Media and Journalism

• Reporter

• Correspondent/Special Reporter

• Feature Writer

• Leader Writer

• Proof Reader

• Editor

• Columnist

• Critic

• Photo Journalist

• Cartoonist

• Broadcast Reporter

• Presenters

• Researchers