This is the time of the year when we meet many youngsters who are wondering journalism or public relations – which career to choose? Well, there is no general answer to this and naturally it depends your personal qualities and preferences – what kind of work you like and are good at, and what you want out of your career.

If you want help deciding, journalism or public relations – which career to choose

here are a few questions you must ask yourself to decide well:

What kind of writing do you like?

If you’re picking from journalism or public relations, you have to be prepared to write a lot in your profession, especially in the first few years. However the type of writing in both fields is different. In journalism, you maybe writing articles, stories that are more investigative based on plenty of research, and are focused on facts. In public relations, your writing will have to be a subtle combination of facts and creativity. It will be backed by research, but it will focus on

Are there good colleges available to you for Journalism of Public Relations?

A reputable college name on your resume will not only give you a massive jump start to your career, it will continue to determine the kind of opportunities available to you in the long run. If you get to study at IIMC in Delhi in their journalism programme, you’re likely to have a successful career in Journalism or Public Relations.  But if the choice is between, for e.g., a PR programme at top tier institute like Xavier’s Institute of Communications (XIC, Mumbai), and a Tier B journalism college, you should pick the former.

Who will be your first recruiter?

The most critical part is your first campus placement (or any first opportunity you get). That will decide the salaries, profiles and opportunities you will get in future. It is therefore really important to find a college with a good placement record.

Do you like solving problems?

Journalism – Low, Public Relations – High

Just like the nature of writing you do in both journalism and PR, in journalism you are likely to report facts and opinions. In PR you are likely to create campaigns and solutions for brands based on those facts. PR therefore tends to be more action oriented, and opens up more opportunities to interact with brands, influencers, journalists, celebrities etc.

Do you want to be a specialist or a generalist?

Journalism – Specialist, Public Relations – Generalist

Similarly, as a journalist you will start with a range of writings, and over the course of your career, you will start specialising in an area. Your output may change, from writing to reporting in other formats (TV, Digital). As a PR professional you will not just write, you will engage with people (your clients, account heads internally, and journalists/influencers externally). You will have to think as a journalist and as a communications consultant. In this way, PR professionals are considered jack of all trades.

Journalism or Public Relations – Which Pays More?

Journalism – Low, Public Relations – High

This comes with a limitation – Of course sky is the limit of what you can earn in both professions. But generally speaking, salaries tend to be lower in journalism than they do in PR. In some scenarios, PR freshers may earn 3-4 times more than journalism freshers, and that gap will continue for a long time.

Journalism or Public Relations – Which has better Work-Life Balance?

Journalism – High, Public Relations – Low

While both professions can be really demanding, PR, just like any other consulting role, can have stretched and uncertain hours. If you’re on a very active beat in journalism (like politics or Bollywood), you will have more hectic work than others. Similarly in PR some practices (aviation, F&B) can be more demanding than others. But overall, PR brings more dynamism and activity in the profession.

We hope these questions can help you decide. If you want more advice on this, drop a WhatsApp text to or call 98115 72673. You might also be interested in reading:

1. India’s Top PR Firms
2. 10 signs you are made for Public Relations