How to Land Your First Journalism Internship in Ranchi -

Introduction: The “Ranchi Reality” of Media Jobs

So, you want to be a journalist. You’ve watched the high-octane debates on national TV, or perhaps you’ve been inspired by the gritty ground reporting of P. Sainath. You are currently studying Mass Communication at St. Xavier’s, Ranchi University, or maybe you are an engineering dropout with a flair for writing.

Now comes the hard part: Getting your foot in the door.

If you search for “Journalism Internships in Ranchi” on LinkedIn or Naukri, you will likely hear crickets. Unlike the IT sector in Bengaluru or the corporate media houses in Noida, the media industry in Ranchi runs on a different fuel: Connections, Perseverance, and “Jugaad” (the professional kind).

Ranchi is the media capital of Jharkhand. It houses the state bureaus of every major national daily, the headquarters of regional powerhouses like Prabhat Khabar, and a mushrooming ecosystem of digital news portals. The opportunities are there, but they aren’t advertised on job boards.

This guide is your roadmap. We will decode exactly how to land that first internship—from building a portfolio that local editors actually care about, to “gatecrashing” offices in the Kokar Industrial Area effectively.

Part 1: Know Your Battlefield (The Ranchi Media Landscape)

Before you start applying, you need to know who the players are. In Ranchi, the media is divided into three distinct tribes. Your internship experience will vary wildly depending on which one you join.

1. The Big Print Giants (The “Old Guard”)

These are the most prestigious places to intern. A certificate from here carries weight.

The Players: Prabhat Khabar, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, and Ranchi Express.
The Vibe: Traditional, hierarchical, and disciplined. You will likely be assigned to the “City Desk” or asked to shadow a senior crime reporter.
Location Hub: Most of their offices and printing presses are located in the Kokar Industrial Area or near Main Road/Upper Bazar.

2. The Electronic/TV Channels (The “High Energy” Squad)

If you want to hold a mic and learn video editing, this is where you go.

The Players: News11 (very popular locally), Kashish News, ETV Bharat, Sahara Samay.
The Vibe: Chaotic, fast-paced, and 24/7. You might be asked to run to Morabadi Ground for a protest at 6 AM or stay late for an election debate.
Location Hub: Scattered, but many are around Argora and Harmu Housing Colony.

3. The Digital Portals (The “New Wave”)

This is where the actual hiring is happening in 2025. They are hungry for content and often more willing to train freshers.

The Players: The Followup, Lagatar News, News Wing, Jharkhand Janadhikar, and dozens of hyper-local YouTube channels.
The Vibe: Informal, tech-savvy, and versatile. You will learn everything: writing, shooting mobile video, Canva design, and managing Facebook comments.
The Opportunity: They are more likely to let you write a byline article in your first week than the big papers.

Part 2: Build Your “Arsenal” Before You Apply

Editors in Ranchi are busy. They don’t have time to teach you grammar. If you walk in with a blank resume saying, “I want to learn,” they will politely show you the door. You need to show them you are already useful.

1. The “Local” Portfolio

Don’t send them an essay on “The Ukraine-Russia War.” They don’t care. They have international wires for that.

Write Local: Go to Firayalal Chowk. Interview a traffic cop about the new helmet rules. Go to Naga Baba Khatal and write about the vegetable prices.
The Strategy: Write 3 solid articles about Ranchi.
- One “Civic Issue” story (e.g., potholes in Dangratoli).
- One “Human Interest” story (e.g., the oldest tea shop on Kanke Road).
- One “Campus” story (e.g., student politics in RU).
Where to Publish: Start a free WordPress/Medium blog or even a LinkedIn newsletter. Print these out. This is your portfolio.

2. The Language Test (Hindi vs. English)

Here is the harsh truth: If you cannot type in Hindi, your options in Ranchi drop by 90%.

Even if you want to be an English journalist, you must be able to read and understand Hindi perfectly, because all the press releases, FIR copies, and government notifications in Jharkhand are in Hindi.
Skill Up: Learn Google Input Tools or Mangal Font typing. If you put “Proficient in Hindi Typing” on your CV, you are instantly more hireable than a gold medalist who can only type in English.

3. The “MoJo” Kit

Mobile Journalism (MoJo) is the future. If you walk into a digital portal’s office and say, “I have my own collar mic (Boya M1) and I know how to edit reels on InShot,” you are hired.

You don’t need a DSLR. You just need to show you can shoot stable video on your phone.

Part 3: The Approach (How to Actually Get the Job)

Forget emailing careers@newspaper.com. In Ranchi, that email address probably hasn’t been checked since 2019. You need a direct approach.

Strategy A: The “Referral” (The Best Way)

Ranchi is a small town. Everyone knows everyone.

Ask your professors. Mass Comm professors usually have former students working in every major bureau. Ask for an introduction.
The Press Club Hack: If you know any member of the Ranchi Press Club, ask them to take you to the club canteen for tea. It is the networking hub. A casual introduction there (“Sir, this is my nephew, he writes well”) is worth 100 emails.

Strategy B: The “Gatecrash” (The Brave Way)

This works surprisingly well in Ranchi.

Print your Portfolio: Carry a physical file with your resume and your 3 printed articles.
Go to the Office: Go to the reception of Prabhat Khabar (Kokar) or Dainik Bhaskar (Argora).
The Magic Words: Don’t ask for “HR.” HR handles payroll, not interns. Ask to meet the “City Editor” (or City Bhaskar head) or the “Bureau Chief.”
Timing: Do NOT go at 6:00 PM. That is “deadline pressure” time. You will be yelled at. Go between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. This is when the editorial meeting just finished, and they are planning the day.
The Pitch: “Sir/Ma’am, I am a student at X College. I have written these three reports on Ranchi’s traffic issues. I am looking for a 1-month unpaid internship to learn.”

Strategy C: The Digital DM

For new-age portals like The Followup or Lagatar, social media works.

Find the Editor on Twitter (X) or LinkedIn.
Send a direct message.
Template: “Hi Sir, I follow your portal regularly. I loved your coverage on [mention a specific recent story]. I am a student journalist and have covered a similar issue here [Link]. Can I intern with your team?”

Part 4: The Interview (Passing the “Vibe Check”)

If you get called in, congratulations. The interview won’t be corporate. It will likely happen over a cup of tea in a chaotic newsroom. Here is what they will ask:

1. “Where do you live?”

They aren’t being creepy. They want to know if you have a scooty/bike and if you know the city geography.

Correct Answer: “I live in Lalpur, I have my own two-wheeler, and I know the shortcut to Project Bhawan.”
Wrong Answer: “I rely on auto-rickshaws.” (Journalism requires mobility).

2. “Who is the Governor of Jharkhand?”

You will be shocked how many students fail this.

Know your basics: Who is the CM? Who is the Governor? Who is the SSP of Ranchi? Who is the local MLA?
Read the newspaper that morning before you walk in. They might ask, “What was our headline today?”

3. The Translation Test

They might hand you a press release in English and say, “Hindi mein translate karo.” Or vice versa.

They are testing your speed and vocabulary. Don’t use Google Translate. Use natural, journalistic language.

Part 5: Survival Guide (Your First Week)

You got the internship! Now, how do you make sure they offer you a job (or at least a certificate) at the end?

1. Do the Grunt Work with a Smile

You will be asked to fetch tea. You will be asked to transcribe a 40-minute boring interview. You will be asked to rewrite a press release about a school annual function.

Do it fast. If you show you can handle the boring stuff efficiently, they will trust you with the exciting stuff.

2. Pitch, Don’t Just Wait

Don’t sit in the corner waiting for orders.

Every morning at 11 AM, walk up to the desk head and say: “Sir, there is a protest happening at Albert Ekka Chowk regarding electricity bills. Should I go cover it?”
Initiative is the #1 quality editors look for.

3. The “Byline” Hunt

Your goal is to get your name in print (or on the website).

Look for “soft stories” that senior reporters ignore. The new cafe opening, the flower show at Raj Bhavan, the stray dog menace in Morabadi.
Write it, polish it, and submit it. If they publish it with your name, save a clipping immediately.

4. Networking

Save the number of every person you meet—other reporters, cameramen, even the driver.

Pro-Tip: The cameramen and photographers know everything. Be friends with them. They will tell you where the real news is happening.

Conclusion: The Grind is Worth It

Interning in Ranchi is not glamorous. You might not get paid (stipends are rare, usually mostly for travel expenses). You will face dust, heat, and erratic hours.

But, Ranchi is a political hotbed. It is a capital city. The exposure you get here—covering Assembly sessions, High Court hearings, and tribal issues—is superior to what you might get sitting at a desk in a metro city rewriting wire feeds.

If you can survive 3 months in a Ranchi newsroom, you can survive anywhere.

Action Step for Today: Stop scrolling. Open a Word document. Write a 300-word report on “The Changing Cafe Culture of Ranchi” or “Why traffic jams at Kutchery Chowk never end.” Take two photos on your phone.

That’s your application. Now go get that internship.