Broadcast ‘YOUR’ Thoughts, You Are Half Way Through

Smrithin Satishan of 2012-13 batch of RTV is currently employed as an Asst. Producer with Headlines Today in Delhi. Before being admitted to IIMC as a student he was a correspondent for three years with the prestigious Magna Publishing Company (Stardust, Society, Savvy, Health and Nutrition) in Mumbai and used to write on health, fitness, entertainment, lifestyle, food and travel. Smrithin is a Member of the Central Committee of
IIMC Alumni Association.

Round 2: The interview
So you have crossed that all important ‘laxman rekha’ of getting into Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.  Congratulations! You are amongst the privileged lot who managed to race past many hurdles, read competitors (more than 1000 plus) in the form of aspiring TV and radio journalists. But the job is half done since the ones (around 100) who got through level one are equally hungry like you. That one important hurdle remains, that of clearing the interview. So how do you impress those age old experienced panelists and grab that one seat out of the 49 seats available at the New Delhi branch.

Let me start by telling you a secret. Now that you have cleared the written test, interview is just a formality. Yes, you read it right! As they say ‘Well begun is half done’. But, hold on for a minute. Before you go all ballistic and start celebrating, this doesn’t mean your seat is assured. This simply means you are now at par with all those who got journalistic brains from across the country.  Clearing round one of the written test means you have reduced the competition by more than half and increased your chances of getting a seat. I know you are all impatient by now. So here it goes !

FAQs regarding the IIMC interview.

Duration: 
20-25 minutes each at the max. If they really like you, they wont mind spending more. It is entirely upto to you how you fare. I suggest you try to stay longer. That doesn’t mean you just stay mute like our PM and stare at the panel or go on blabbering like an Indian politician, say Digvijay Singh. Keep your answers crisp, short and sweet .

Type of Questions:
Why TV? Apart from that everything from Uttarakhand floods to Maoist attacks to the unrest in Istanbul to what Vidya Balan wore at Cannes is important. Its all about what made news in the past few weeks and whether you know something about it. When I say something I mean, something specific rather than vague answers. Please be clear about your strengths and weaknesses because it will be an added bonus. If its sports you should be very clear about it to the panellists right from the start. If you like politics say it and mean it too. What does UPA stand for? Which parties parted way with the NDA? Do you agree with Nitish Kumar’s view on Modi? Please try and give original answers because clarity of thought is what the interviewer is looking at. Newspapers and News magazines might help. Outlook, OPEN magazines and The HINDU newspaper for starters. You cannot end up killing a Suryanelli because the fact is she is alive and kicking. Now do you know who Suryanelli is? If you are not sure, say it frankly. For now, Google baba might help.

Your attire: 
Formals look good. I mean it!

The panelists/ interviewer:
Senior journalists from the industry including famous faces like Suhasini Haider and Nidhi Razdhan might be present to grill you and make your life difficult on that particular day. Even top personalities from DD and AIR might also be present.

Does prior work experience help?
It is a huge plus if you have seen the good and bad of the media world prior to coming to IIMC. I also want to point it out very clearly. In case you don’t make it please don’t be disappointed. There is always a second chance. But make sure you make it count by gaining media experience and give this a second shot. IIMC isn’t only be about jobs. It’s more than that, so do come back stronger the next time around. But you also have to be very sure why you left a particular stream to shift to this crazy medium. For e.g. lot many times people end up pursuing careers owing to family pressure only to realise it later. Such people are a regular at IIMC. If you are clear why, things are easy for you. And don’t forget to carry the details of prior work experience with you. The panellists would love to see it.

Last but not the least, the biggest tip:
Prepare your PTC (Piece to camera). Now, I won’t take time to explain what that means. In case you are unsure at this stage I guess you need to check the reasons why you cleared this entrance exam for TV. PTC or camera test basically tests your ability to face the camera. Since the first time is a nerve wrecking experience you might want to stand in front of the mirror and watch yourself speak a few lines about any story of the day before hand. It helps a lot to ease the pressure. You can record a few 40 second videos of your own with the help of digital cams and see the areas that need improvement. Language can be of your choice depending upon your strength. A story can be anything from Uttarakhand floods to Jiah Khan’s funeral.

THE LAST WORD: Stay calm, breathe deep and follow your dreams. IIMC is just the start of things to come. Enjoy the journey!


ALL THE BEST!