UGC-NET – Paper II: Mass Communication and Journalism (Code: 63)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COURSE OVERVIEW
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Subject Name: Mass Communication and Journalism
Subject Code: 63
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – Mass Communication and Journalism
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit I: Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication
Unit II: Communication for Development and Social Change.
Unit III: Reporting and Editing
Unit IV: Advertising and Marketing Communication.
Unit V: Public Relations and Corporate Communication.
Unit VI: Media Laws and Ethics.
Unit VII: Media Management and Production.
Unit VIII: ICT and Media.
Unit IX: Film and Visual Communication.
Unit X: Communication Research.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit I: Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication
Topic a: Concept of Journalism and mass communication, mass communication in India.
• Concept of Journalism and mass communication
• mass communication in India
Topic b: History, growth and development of print and electronic media. Major landmarks in print and electronic media in Indian languages. Media’s role in formulation of states of India.
• History, growth and development of print and electronic media
• Major landmarks in print and electronic media in Indian languages
• Media’s role in formulation of states of India
Topic c: Media criticism and media literacy, Press Council and Press Commissions of India, status of journalism and media education in India. Media policies of the Government of India since Independence.
• Media criticism and media literacy
• Press Council and Press Commissions of India
• status of journalism and media education in India
• Media policies of the Government of India since Independence
Topic d: Models and theories of mass communication, normative theories, administrative and critical traditions in communication, media and journalism studies, communication and theories of socio-cultural, educational and agricultural change. Technological determinism, critique of Marshall McLuhan’s views on media and communication and Marxist approaches. Information and knowledge societies.
• Models and theories of mass communication
• normative theories
• administrative and critical traditions in communication
• media and journalism studies
• communication and theories of socio-cultural, educational and agricultural change
• Technological determinism
• critique of Marshall McLuhan’s views on media and communication and Marxist approaches
• Information and knowledge societies
Topic e: Indian traditions and approaches to communication from the Vedic era to the 21st century. Western and Eastern philosophical, ethical and aesthetic perceptions of communication – Aristotle and Plato, Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic traditions.
• Indian traditions and approaches to communication from the Vedic era to the 21st century
• Western and Eastern philosophical, ethical and aesthetic perceptions of communication
• Aristotle and Plato
• Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic traditions
Topic f: Media and culture – framework for understanding culture in a globalised world. Globalisation with respect to politico-economic & socio-cultural developments in India.
• Media and culture – framework for understanding culture in a globalised world
• Globalisation with respect to politico-economic & socio-cultural developments in India
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit II: Communication for Development and Social Change.
Topic a: Concept and definition of development communication, role of media and journalism in society, characteristics of Indian society – demographic and sociological impact of communication, media and journalism. Media and specific audiences.
• Concept and definition of development communication
• role of media and journalism in society
• characteristics of Indian society
• demographic and sociological impact of communication, media and journalism
• Media and specific audiences
Topic b: Development and social change. Issues and post-colonial conceptions.
• Development and social change
• Issues and post-colonial conceptions
Topic c: Deconstruction of dominant paradigm of communication and development. Responses and critique of dominant models.
• Deconstruction of dominant paradigm of communication and development
• Responses and critique of dominant models
Topic d: Corporatisation of development – Corporate Social Responsibility, non-state actors in development, mass campaigns by NGOs, Government of India, international agencies and corporates. Paradigms and discourse of development communication.
• Corporatisation of development
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• non-state actors in development
• mass campaigns by NGOs, Government of India, international agencies and corporates
• Paradigms and discourse of development communication
Topic e: Emergence of global civil societies, public sphere, global communication system – nation state-universal, national communication policies.
• Emergence of global civil societies
• public sphere
• global communication system
• nation state-universal
• national communication policies
Topic f: Leading influencers of social reform in India – Raja Rammohan Roy, Pandit Madanmohan Malviya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Dr B. R. Ambedkar, Deendayal Upadhyay, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia etc.
• Raja Rammohan Roy
• Pandit Madanmohan Malviya
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Acharya Vinoba Bhave
• Dr B. R. Ambedkar
• Deendayal Upadhyay
• Dr Ram Manohar Lohia
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit III: Reporting and Editing
Topic a: News-concepts, determinants (values), structure and perspectives. Reporting for print, radio, television and digital media. Types of reporting. National and international news agencies and feature syndicates, functions and role.
• News-concepts, determinants (values), structure and perspectives
• Reporting for print, radio, television and digital media
• Types of reporting
• National and international news agencies and feature syndicates, functions and role
Topic b: Writing for print, electronic and digital news media. Translation and transcreation.
• Writing for print, electronic and digital news media
• Translation and transcreation
Topic c: Editing and presentation techniques for print, television and digital media.
• Editing and presentation techniques for print, television and digital media
Topic d: Journalism as profession, reportage of contemporary issues, ethics of reporting.
• Journalism as profession
• reportage of contemporary issues
• ethics of reporting
Topic e: Critique of western news values, effect of new technology on global communication flows.
• Critique of western news values
• effect of new technology on global communication flows
Topic f: Niche Reporting.
• Niche Reporting
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit IV: Advertising and Marketing Communication.
Topic a: Definition, concept, functions, types, evolution of advertising, standards and ethics in advertising. Theories and models of communication in advertising.
• Definition, concept, functions, types, evolution of advertising
• standards and ethics in advertising
• Theories and models of communication in advertising
Topic b: Brand management.
• Brand management
Topic c: Advertising management – agency-role, structure and function, client-agency relationship, media planning and budgeting.
• Advertising management
• agency-role, structure and function
• client-agency relationship
• media planning and budgeting
Topic d: Advertising and creativity, language and translation.
• Advertising and creativity
• language and translation
Topic e: Advertising campaign and marketing.
• Advertising campaign and marketing
Topic f: Advertising and marketing research.
• Advertising and marketing research
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit V: Public Relations and Corporate Communication.
Topic a: Public Relations and Corporate Communication – definition, concept and scope.
• Public Relations and Corporate Communication – definition, concept and scope
Topic b: Structure of PR in State, Public, Private and non-government sectors.
• Structure of PR in State, Public, Private and non-government sectors
Topic c: Tools and techniques of PR and Corporate Communication.
• Tools and techniques of PR and Corporate Communication
Topic d: Crisis communication and crisis communication management.
• Crisis communication
• crisis communication management
Topic e: Ethics of Public Relations.
• Ethics of Public Relations
Topic f: International Public Relations, communication audit.
• International Public Relations
• communication audit
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VI: Media Laws and Ethics.
Topic a: Concept of law and ethics in India and rest of the world.
• Concept of law and ethics in India and rest of the world
Topic b: The Constitution of India, historical evolution, relevance.
• The Constitution of India, historical evolution, relevance
Topic c: Concept of freedom of speech and expression in Indian Constitution.
• Concept of freedom of speech and expression in Indian Constitution
Topic d: Defamation, Libel, Slander-IPC 499-502, Sedition IPC 124(A), Contempt of Courts Act 1971, Official Secrets Act 1923, Press and Registration of Books Act 1867, Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1955, Wage Boards, Law of Obscenity (Section 292-294 of IPC); the Miller test, the Hicklin test, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Parliamentary Privileges. Famous cases involving journalists and news media organisations.
• Defamation, Libel, Slander-IPC 499-502
• Sedition IPC 124(A)
• Contempt of Courts Act 1971
• Official Secrets Act 1923
• Press and Registration of Books Act 1867
• Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1955
• Wage Boards
• Law of Obscenity (Section 292-294 of IPC)
• the Miller test
• the Hicklin test
• Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986
• Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
• Parliamentary Privileges
• Famous cases involving journalists and news media organisations
Topic e: Right to Information Act 2005, Copyright Act 1957, Intellectual Property Rights, Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995, Information Technology Act (relevant) 2000 and cyber laws, Cinematograph Act 1952, Film Censorship, Press Council Act as amended from time to time, IPR, ASCI, Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, Various regulatory bodies for print, TV, Advertising, PR, and Internet.
• Right to Information Act 2005
• Copyright Act 1957
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995
• Information Technology Act (relevant) 2000 and cyber laws
• Cinematograph Act 1952
• Film Censorship
• Press Council Act as amended from time to time
• IPR
• ASCI
• Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
• Various regulatory bodies for print, TV, Advertising, PR, and Internet
Topic f: Rules, regulations and guidelines for the media as recommended by Press Council of India, Information and Broadcasting ministry and other professional organisations, adversarial role of the media, human rights and media.
• Rules, regulations and guidelines for the media as recommended by Press Council of India, Information and Broadcasting ministry and other professional organisations
• adversarial role of the media
• human rights and media
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VII: Media Management and Production.
Topic a: Definition, concept of media management. Grammar of electronic media.
• Definition, concept of media management
• Grammar of electronic media
Topic b: Communication design theories and practice.
• Communication design theories and practice
Topic c: Media production techniques – print and electronic.
• Media production techniques – print and electronic
Topic d: Digital media production techniques.
• Digital media production techniques
Topic e: Economics and commerce of mass media in India.
• Economics and commerce of mass media in India
Topic f: Principles and management in media industry post liberalisation.
• Principles and management in media industry post liberalisation
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit VIII: ICT and Media.
Topic a: ICT and media – definition, characteristics and role. Effect of computer mediated communication. Impact of ICT on mass media. Digitisation.
• ICT and media – definition, characteristics and role
• Effect of computer mediated communication
• Impact of ICT on mass media
• Digitisation
Topic b: Social networking.
• Social networking
Topic c: Economics and commerce of web enabled media.
• Economics and commerce of web enabled media
Topic d: Mobile adaption and new generation telephony by media, ethics and new media.
• Mobile adaption and new generation telephony by media
• ethics and new media
Topic e: ICT in education and development in India, online media and e-governance.
• ICT in education and development in India
• online media and e-governance
Topic f: Animation – concepts and techniques.
• Animation – concepts and techniques
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit IX: Film and Visual Communication.
Topic a: Film and television theory.
• Film and television theory
Topic b: Film and identity in Indian film studies, leading film directors of India before and after Independence. Indian cinema in the 21st century.
• Film and identity in Indian film studies
• leading film directors of India before and after Independence
• Indian cinema in the 21st century
Topic c: Approaches to analysis of Indian television.
• Approaches to analysis of Indian television
Topic d: Visual Communication. Visual analysis.
• Visual Communication
• Visual analysis
Topic e: Basics of film language and aesthetics, the dominant film paradigm, evolution of Indian cinema-commercial and ‘non-commercial’ genres, the Hindi film song, Indian aesthetics and poetics (the theory of Rasa and Dhvani).
• Basics of film language and aesthetics
• the dominant film paradigm
• evolution of Indian cinema-commercial and ‘non-commercial’ genres
• the Hindi film song
• Indian aesthetics and poetics (the theory of Rasa and Dhvani)
Topic f: National cinema movements: Soviet Montage cinema, German Expressionistic cinema, Italian Neo-Realistic cinema, French New Wave cinema, British New Wave cinema, Indian New Wave cinema, Period cinema. Cinema in the new millennium.
• National cinema movements
• Soviet Montage cinema
• German Expressionistic cinema
• Italian Neo-Realistic cinema
• French New Wave cinema
• British New Wave cinema
• Indian New Wave cinema
• Period cinema
• Cinema in the new millennium
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Unit X: Communication Research
Topic a: Definition, concept, constructs and approaches to communication research process.
• Definition, concept, constructs and approaches to communication research process
Topic b: Research Designs – types, structure, components, classical, experimental and quasi experimental, variables and hypotheses; types and methods of research; basic, applied, descriptive, analytical, historical, case study, longitudinal studies.
• Research Designs – types, structure, components
• classical, experimental and quasi experimental
• variables and hypotheses
• types and methods of research
• basic, applied, descriptive, analytical, historical, case study, longitudinal studies
Topic c: Research in journalism, Public Relations, advertising, cinema, animation and graphics, television, Internet, social media practices, magazines, children’s media. Communication, journalism and media research in India.
• Research in journalism, Public Relations, advertising, cinema, animation and graphics, television, Internet, social media practices, magazines, children’s media
• Communication, journalism and media research in India
Topic d: Levels of measurement: sampling-probability and non-probability, tests of validity and reliability, scaling techniques. Methods and tools of data collection-interviews, surveys, case studies, obtrusive and non-obtrusive techniques, ethnography, schedule, questionnaire, dairy, and internet based tools, media specific methods such as exit polls, opinion polls, telephone, SMS surveys and voting with regard to GEC (general entertainment content).
• Levels of measurement
• sampling-probability and non-probability
• tests of validity and reliability
• scaling techniques
• Methods and tools of data collection-interviews, surveys, case studies, obtrusive and non-obtrusive techniques, ethnography, schedule, questionnaire, dairy, and internet based tools
• media specific methods such as exit polls, opinion polls, telephone, SMS surveys and voting with regard to GEC (general entertainment content)
Topic e: Data analysis, testing, interpretation, application of statistical tests-parametric and non-parametric, tests of variance-univariate, bivariate and multivariate, tests of significance, computer mediated research.
• Data analysis, testing, interpretation
• application of statistical tests-parametric and non-parametric
• tests of variance-univariate, bivariate and multivariate
• tests of significance
• computer mediated research
Topic f: Ethical considerations in communication, media and journalism research, writing research reports, plagiarism.
• Ethical considerations in communication, media and journalism research
• writing research reports
• plagiarism
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
SYLLABUS SUMMARY
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 60
Subject: Mass Communication and Journalism
Subject Code: 63
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════