Critics as a career option

The word Critic bears its origin from the Greek word "kritikos" meaning a person who offers sensible judgment or analysis, interpretation, or observation on any topic and subject. With the boom in ICE (information, communication and entertainment) industry, a plethora of opportunities have surfaced for qualified Critics.

Today, the term critic has undergone a significant change and now is used mainly in relation with literary or art criticism where intellectuals try to comprehend the aesthetics of the subject in depth.

A critic is a professional who not only possesses comprehensive knowledge of the subject but also holds necessary education required to supplement his/her knowledge.

The job is very interesting as his/her judgment or analysis is mostly considered to be trustworthy as it’s backed by logic and rational thinking. Critics have to keep themselves abreast with the latest developments of their fields and analyze them very critically.

Today a whole lot of opportunities exist for Literary Critics, Art Critics, Food Critics and also for Film and media Critics at all.

Critics Eligibility Criteria

To be a critic, all one require is an analytical bent of mind. There is no formal qualification associated with this profession. Writing skill of any aspirant has to be excellent and one should possess the ability to write objectively to achieve have a success in this field.

Initially, writing web blogs and writing reviews in the college newspaper or magazines on cultural or educational events surely helps candidates gain experience and build his analytical abilities. Aspirant should also familiarize themselves with all form of arts, as it helps them achieve a multi-dimensional viewpoint on different subjects under the sun; and with skills in lateral thinking, one should always co-relate these viewpoints.
 

Critics Personal Skills

Besides possessing a die-hard passion and thorough knowledge of the subject, one should have critical bent of mind to scrutinize each subject/topics thoroughly.

At times, it is very difficult for a human being to have knowledge of the subject and simultaneously be objective in his/her approach and hence a critic should stay away from personal prejudices and preferences.

Critics must have a detailed knowledge of the domain, he/she works for. Say, if a candidate wants to become a book critic or an art critic he/she has to be well read to know nitty-gritty of his/her craft.
 

Critics Job Prospects

The field of Critics today symbolizes an intellectually and monetarily rewarding career.

A critic starts his/her career as a writer, or a journalist or an analyst and with growing expertise and domain knowledge; he/she then eventually attains the level of a critic.

These days, almost all media houses (print as well as visual/audio media) come up with weekly and fortnightly reviews of new book/film launches.

Besides, many critics also prefer to work as freelancers.

Apart from the monetary rewards, the critic obtains acknowledgement, trust and respect of different people of all strata of society. At times, critics are considered to be very powerful as their opinions can either make or mar the opinion of the people at large.

There is also a tremendous amount of Job satisfaction associated with this profession as one gets to say what he/she thinks of different work of arts.
 

Critics Remuneration

These days, critics are among the highly-paid professions; as Donna Lypchuk puts it "Writing criticism can be fun, easy and a relaxing way to make money in your spare time."

Once established as a seasoned critic, one earns in the pay-bracket of around Rs.40, 000-60,000 per month. They are handsomely paid by different media such as magazines, newspapers, and television channels.
 

Popular Critics

• Khalid Mohammed,Taran Darshan, Nina Kamad as movie critics.
• Subir Dharand Amitav Dey as literary critics.
• Nondon Bagchi andVir Sanghvi as food critics.

 

Where to study

As of now, no university offers a specialized course in criticism. Courses in Journalism impart related skills necessary for this profession.

• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

JNU new campus
Aruna Asif Ali Marg
New Delhi - 110067, India. Phone: 91-011-26741268, 26742920/60
Fax: 91-011-26741268
E-mail: pbapaiah@yahoo.com
Website: www.iimc.nic.in

• Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC)

Jamia Millia Islamia University
Maulana Mohammed Ali Jauhar Marg
New Delhi -110 025
Phone: +91 11 2698 7285, +91 11 2698 6812, +91 11 2698 6813
Fax: +91 11 2698 6811
Email: contact@ajkmcrc.org
Website: www.ajkmcrc.org

• The Asian College Of Journalism-ACJ

Offers one year Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Journalism Contact information
Kasturi Centre, 124
Wallajah Road,Chennai– 600002
Phone: 91-44-28418254/55
Website: www.asianmedia.org

• Amity School of Journalism & Communication

Amity Campus, Sector 44
Noida- 201303.
Phone: 26569050, 2653047
Website: www.amity.edu

• Wigan & Leigh College

1001-1005, Ansal Tower
38, Nehru Place,New Delhi 110019
Phone No: 011-41617053/4/5/6, 9818479333
Email: delhi@wiganindia.org
Website: www.wiganindia.org

• Sardar Patel College of Communication & Management

Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi-110001
Phone: 23389942
Website: www.bvbdelhi.org

• Times School of Journalism

Times Centre for Media Studies
10 Darya Ganj, New Delhi 110002

• University of Delhi

University Road, Delhi 110 007
Phone South Campus: 011-24119832
Phone North Campus: 011-2766709, 27667011, 27667190
Fax: 011-27667049
Website: www.du.ac.in

• Asian Academy of Film & Television

Marwah Studios Complex
FC-14/15, Film City, Sector-16A
NOIDA-201301
Uttar Pradesh
Phone: 95120-2515254, 2515255, 2515256.
Fax: 95120-2515246.
E-mail: help@aaft.com

• EMPI Institute of Advertising & Communication

CSKM Educational, complex,
Satbari, Mehrauli
New Delhi -110030,
Phone: 26805090, 26804210
Website: www.empiindia.com

• Indira Gandhi National Open University

Maidan Garhi, New Delhi
Phone: 2685924- 25-27
Website: www.ignou.ac.in

• YMCA Centre for Mass Media

Jai Singh Road, New Delhi-110001
Telephone: 0091-11-23361915, 3746668
Fax: 0091-11-23746035
E-mail: ymcand@del3.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.newdelhiymca.org

• South Delhi Polytechnic for Women

Lajpat Nagar- IV, New Delhi - 110024
Phones (Office): 26294833, 26294836, 26482298
Fax No. : 011-26474425
E-mail: polytech@nda.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.polytechnic-sdpw.com

• Sir Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication

Sir Aurobindo Marg, Near IIT
New Delhi 110016
Phone: 26524798, 26567863

• International Institute of Mass Media

B-50, South Extension – I
New Delhi - 110049
Phone: 011-2465 4512, 2465 4514, 2462 6660
Fax: 011-2462 6670
E-mail: coordinator@iimmdelhi.com
Website: www.iimmdelhi.com

• Institute of Mass Communication

Press Corner
Manipal – 576 104,  Karnataka
Phone: 91 820 2571901/03
Fax: +91 820 2571902
E-mail: office.mic@manipal.edu
Website: www.manipal.edu