Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM)

What Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM) does

Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM) is a private not-for-profit journalism training institution founded in 2002 by KM Mathew, founder of the Malayala Manorama Group, and located in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It operates a single core product: a 10-month full-time PG Diploma in Journalism covering digital, broadcast, and print journalism, with tuition priced at Rs. 1,25,000 plus 18% GST. The institution is run by approximately 8 staff, headed by Director V M Rajasekhar (appointed in late 2024 after retiring as Managing Editor of Frontline), alongside faculty drawn from senior editorial roles at The Hindu, Mathrubhumi, Indiavision, and other Indian media houses. As a not-for-profit, MASCOM's stated mission is to keep journalism education accessible, supported through scholarships and subsidized facilities.

MASCOM's training infrastructure includes a fully automated newsroom running NRCS newsroom automation software, professional broadcast studios with video cameras and PCR systems, and a computer lab with broadband-connected workstations, scanners, and printers. Students produce weekly lab publications — the English-language Fourth Estate and Malayalam-language Jalakam — plus a twice-weekly MASCOM News broadcast bulletin, simulating a real newsroom workflow from week one. The institution runs an annual intake cycle, with admissions processed through a dedicated online registration portal and a written entrance exam plus interview. On-campus recruitment by major Indian media organizations — including Reuters, Forbes India, Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and Malayala Manorama — is the primary placement channel, and the school claims near-universal graduate placement. A Sri Lanka student exchange program co-sponsored with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Trust represents MASCOM's only cross-border operational footprint.

Name

Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM)

Legal name

Manorama School of Communication

Website

https://manoramajschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MASCOM is a not-for-profit journalism school in Kottayam, Kerala, founded in 2002 by the Malayala Manorama Group, offering a 10-month PG Diploma in digital, broadcast, and print journalism to aspiring journalists with hands-on newsroom training and direct campus recruitment by leading Indian media organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Journalism Education

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Communications, Media Studies & Journalism (EDAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Media & Publications (Newspaper, Radio, TV) (EDALAHAE)

Keywords

• Journalism education
• Broadcast journalism training
• Print journalism programs
• Digital media training
• Postgraduate diploma

Headquarters

HQ city

Kottayam

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. PG Diploma in Journalism Course Fee: MASCOM is a not-for-profit institution. Revenue is generated solely through tuition fees for the 10-month PG Diploma in Journalism programme. The total fee is Rs. 1,25,000/- plus applicable Service Tax/GST, payable in two instalments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MASCOM delivers a 10-month full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism covering Digital, Broadcast, and Print journalism with hands-on training. Students produce weekly English (Fourth Estate) and Malayalam (Jalakam) lab newspapers and a twice-weekly MASCOM News broadcast bulletin, simulating a real newsroom environment under experienced media professionals. The programme is supported by studio facilities, computer labs, and NRCS Newsroom Automation Software.

Product overview

MASCOM offers a single unified educational programme: the PG Diploma in Journalism, a 10-month full-time course covering Digital, Broadcast, and Print journalism. This integrated programme is the core offering, supplemented by practical training components including The Fourth Estate (English lab newspaper), Jalakam (Malayalam lab newspaper), and MASCOM News (broadcast bulletin) produced by students. Supporting facilities include professional broadcast studios, computer labs, and editing suites. The institution also provides field trips, the annual MASCOM Day exhibition, a Sri Lanka student exchange programme, and internship assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Fourth Estate: Lab newspaper produced by students in English weekly
• Jalakam
• MASCOM News

Products and services

• PG Diploma in Journalism A 10-month full-time postgraduate diploma programme providing hands-on training in Digital, Broadcast, and Print journalism with solid theoretical grounding, designed for Bachelor's degree holders aspiring to become journalists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates are placed in leading media organisations including Reuters, Forbes India, Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and over 35 other media organisations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lakshman Kadirgamar TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Co-sponsored by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Trust and the Malayala Manorama Group, this student exchange programme sends the top MASCOM print course student to work in Sri Lanka. In return, a young Sri Lankan journalist selected from applicants joins the MASCOM programme to hone their skills. The programme provides valuable exposure to media operations in another country and strengthens journalism training through cross-border collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Christ University (Department of Media Studies): Bengaluru-based university offering postgraduate programmes in journalism and mass communication. Competes for the same pan-India applicant pool and offers practical training across print, broadcast, and digital.
• Asian College of Journalism (ACJ): Chennai-based postgraduate journalism school offering a similar intensive PG diploma model. ACJ is MASCOM's most direct domestic competitor for top journalism aspirants in India, with comparable hands-on curriculum philosophy and high placement rates.
• Delhi School of Economics (Department of Journalism): University of Delhi's postgraduate journalism programme, one of the oldest in India. Competes with MASCOM for top journalism aspirants, though with a more academic orientation than MASCOM's hands-on model.
• Manipal Institute of Communication: Constituent of Manipal Academy offering MA in Journalism and Mass Communication. Comparable in targeting graduates seeking professional journalism credentials, with practical curriculum and established placement record.
• AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (Jamia Millia Islamia): University-based centre offering MA programmes in journalism, broadcast, and new media. Comparable in combining academic rigour with practical training, and serves a similar cohort of bachelor's-degree-holding journalism aspirants.
• Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC): Mumbai-based communications institute offering postgraduate diplomas in journalism and mass communication. Shares MASCOM's mission of affordable, mission-driven journalism education with strong placement orientation.
• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC): Government-run journalism training institute in New Delhi offering PG diploma programmes in journalism. First Director K Thomas Oommen previously served on its faculty. Directly comparable in programme structure and target student profile.
• Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication: Constituent of Symbiosis International University in Pune offering MA in Journalism and Mass Communication. Comparable in targeting graduates with bachelor's degrees seeking professional journalism training.
• Bennett University (Times School of Journalism): Journalism programme run within Bennett University with backing from the Times Group. Directly comparable in being affiliated with a major Indian media conglomerate and targeting aspiring journalists with hands-on training.

Broad incumbents

• MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad): Larger, established communications institute with broader focus including marketing, advertising, and digital media. While not a pure journalism school, it competes for the same pool of mass-communication aspirants and offers media-related programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/manorama-school-of-communication-mascom-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM)