The job of a media planner is not an easy one, but at the same time, it does come with loads of fun. Dive deep into this article to know more on what it takes to become a media planner.

Media Planning Courses

Media planning is a job reserved for media agencies. It is the duty of the media agency to zero in on the most appropriate media for the brand, product or service of a client. The person in the media agency who handles this important task is known as a media planner. Media planners are found in media agencies, advertising agencies, and buying agencies. They orchestrate the task of selecting media for advertising placement that should ultimately work to the advantage of their clients. Finding a job as a media planner, with the current bolstering growth in the industry, is something that’s as good as guaranteed. However, for this you will need to have the right degrees against your name and a personality that fits the role. Typically, a good media planner is expected to have excellent communication skills, ability to work along with a large number of people and be well-organized. With not too many years of experience, a media planner can command quite a large and respectable amount as remuneration for services rendered. Read on to know more about what it takes to become a media planner, the career prospects that lie in becoming one, and the best institutes to graduate from as a media planner.

Career In Media Planning 

Eligibility
Individuals desiring to pursue a career in media planning should first ensure they get the right degrees and experience. To start off a career in media planning, an individual should obtain a bachelor’s degree in mass communications or anything close to the same. In order to be eligible for a bachelor’s course in mass communication, an individual should be done with his/her 10 + 2. Aspirants can also do a master’s degree for which they will have to have a bachelor’s degree in a field that justifies the need to do a master’s. However, in today’s job market, it is not really a must to get a master’s degree or even a bachelor’s degree that comes close to helping you understand media planning. There have instances of reputable media planners hailing from educational backgrounds that do absolutely no justice to their jobs. If you are talented enough and play your cards well and possess the right experience, landing a job as a media planner should not be too tough. 

Details Of The Course
As far as media planning goes, there really is no degree or course that focuses on media planning alone. Media planning usually is part of a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, media management or advertising. To get a thorough understanding of media planning, an individual can also do a MBA in media management. However, here too, media planning is not the one subject that is given the most importance. Media planning is just a part of the larger picture that is the MBA degree in media management. Courses that comprise media planning as a part of them will strive to explain to students what goes into making the media what it is, and how best to use the same to advantage. 

Specialization
Individuals or students who take up courses that help them understand the media well will be specialists in planning out the media requirements of clients they will soon have to cater to. These individuals will be experts at finding answers to questions and solutions to problems related to zeroing in on the right media. Questions like, how many people can I reach via the radio or the television, who am I talking to, which media would do justice to my message and so on. It is this sort of specialization that will matter most when an aspiring media planner actually becomes one. 

Career Prospects
A job as a media planner is just as challenging as it is fun. The ultimate goal for a media planner would be to become a media director; however for this one will have to acquire a few years of experience and the right degrees. Media buyer and media planner are ideal jobs to help a person make it big in the industry. One of the best places to work as a media planner is at an ad agency where a budding media planner will get the opportunity to gain the right kind of experience and earn at the same time. As far as the salary for a media planner goes, it is in no way lower than most other jobs doing the rounds in the world today. With varying media options, a career as a media planner is best for youngsters looking to add ‘color’ and ‘spice’ in their lives.

Some Of The Best Institutes Offering Courses In Media Planning 

  • Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, India
  • Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai, India
  • Miami Ad School, Miami, United States of America
  • Bhavans College of Communications and Management, Kolkata, India
  • Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune, India
  • National Institute of Advertising, New Delhi, India
  • PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore, India


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