Not Just Learning Journalism, But Experiencing It

By: Mahak

When I joined the Television and Radio Journalism programme at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), Delhi, I knew I wanted to learn journalism. What I did not realise was how quickly “learning” would turn into actually doing.

At AIMC, journalism and media learning is not limited to notebooks, lectures and assignments. It is about stepping out, finding a story, talking to people, handling a camera, asking questions and sometimes figuring things out on the spot.

One of the most exciting parts of my journey so far has been going out into the field for shoots and practical learning. The moment we step outside the classroom, everything feels different. Suddenly, the concepts we discussed in class become real. Things that seem easy during a lecture can become quite challenging when we actually have to do them. We have to look for the right frame, understand our surroundings, coordinate with the team and think about what will make the story meaningful for the audience.

What makes this learning experience even more meaningful is the constant support of our faculty. They give us the freedom to try, make mistakes and learn from them. Whenever something goes wrong, they do not simply point it out. They explain where we went wrong, guide us on how to improve and encourage us to do better the next time. Their feedback helps us turn our mistakes into lessons.

One experience that stands out for me is our first field assignment. We went out with a lot of excitement, ready to shoot and collect bytes. We had planned everything in our minds, but the reality of being on the field was quite different.

Our first day did not go exactly as we had expected. We faced several challenges, from finding the right people to approach to framing our questions and getting the kind of content we needed. There were moments when we were unsure about how to proceed. By the end of the day, we realised that the output was not really worth the effort we had put in.

Our professor guided us, explained what we could have done differently and helped us understand the practical aspects we had missed. We learnt that field journalism is not as simple as reaching a location and taking a byte. You have to observe, approach people confidently, ask relevant questions, manage time, understand the situation, be prepared for unexpected challenges and, most importantly, coordinate with your team.

Luckily, we got another opportunity to go back to the field. This time, we went with a completely different approach. We were more prepared, more confident and clearer about our roles. We knew what we needed to ask, how to approach people and what kind of information we were looking for.

There were still unexpected situations and small challenges along the way, but this time we knew how to handle them. Finally, we came back with the kind of output we had hoped for. It was not perfect, but it was definitely an improvement.

That experience taught me something important: sometimes the first attempt does not give you the result you want, but it can teach you exactly what you need for the second attempt.

For me, that field experience was not just about completing a shoot. It was about understanding how journalism actually works outside the classroom and beyond the lectures. It made me realise that journalism requires much more than knowing its concepts. It requires observation, communication, confidence, teamwork and the ability to adapt when things do not go according to plan.

So far, the biggest change I can see in myself is a gradual increase in confidence. I am still not completely confident, but I can see a difference. I am becoming more comfortable approaching someone for a byte, speaking in front of a camera, participating in discussions, making mistakes and trying again.

There is still a long way to go, and there is a lot more to learn. But perhaps that is the most exciting part of the journey.

This journey is teaching me that journalism is not something you learn only in a classroom. It is something you experience, experiment with and slowly grow into.