When Commits, a top-rated journalism college in Bengaluru, saw only 18 students enrol in its master’s programme in 2020 – down from the usual intake of 50 – the management dismissed it as a one-off caused by Covid. 

However, the next year brought just 19 students, and 2022 only nine. That’s when the college realised that this wasn't just an aftereffect of Covid. 

Since this was the only programme offered by the institute, the three consecutive drops took a toll – salaries were impacted, payments were delayed, and the lineup of guest lectures had to be reconsidered. The college, alma mater of journalists such as Faye D’Souza and Prema Sridevi, explored various options, including introducing short-term courses, and industry-specific and diploma programmes. But none of these could guarantee a rise in numbers for their flagship master’s course.

And then came the inevitable: to close the institute instead of watching it bleed more. This decision was announced in October 2023 and by June 2024, the last set of students had completed their exams, marking the end of an institute which started operations in 2001.

“It was a very tough decision to make, but we realised that sometimes, euthanasia is better than a ventilator,” said Dr K Sai Prasad, who was the dean of the institute for over 20 years. “The writing was on the wall. We had put all our eggs in one basket and it was too late to change it all.”

The story of Commits reflects a broader trend facing India’s top private journalism schools. Months after it shut shop, the Indian Institute Of Journalism and New Media, one of the most reputed institutes for post-graduation in journalism, also announced its closure due to a drastic drop in admissions.

Several other private colleges have been facing a steep decline in enrollments. Newslaundry learnt that five top institutes faced a decline in admissions that ranged from 15 to 40 percent in the last five years. 

Symbiosis Institute of Communication saw a drop of 10 to 20 percent in the number of applicants, the National School of Journalism 15 percent, Xaviers Institute of Communication 20 percent, Manipal Institute of Communication 30 to 40 percent, and St Paul Institute 40 percent this year. Colleges such as the Times of India Group’s Bennett University discontinued its PGD programmes and shifted to a master's programme this year in an attempt to reverse the trend.

According to deans, media professionals, and students who spoke to Newslaundry, factors ranged from the loss of credibility in mainstream media to low salaries and high fees to the shifting social media landscape,  

Loss of credibility, no role models

When Dr Padma Rani asks a class of 120 undergraduate students studying Mass Communication how many want to become journalists, not more than 10 students raise their hands. Out of those 10, only five actually