Expert lecture on "Theoretical Grounds for Communication, Persuasion, and Change"
Date: 06 March 2024
As part of the International Lecture Series, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), organized an expert lecture on "Theoretical Grounds for Communication, Persuasion, and Change" on March 6th, 2024, at 2:30 pm in the P1 Auditorium PG Block.

The expert lecture was delivered by Dr. Devendra Sharma, Professor of Performance Studies and Social Influence at California State University, USA. Moreover, he is a fifth-generation actor, writer, and director of Swang-Nautanki, Raaslila, Bhagat, and Rasiya, the traditional Sāngīt musical theater genres of northern India.

Expert Lecture on ‘Rhythm of Janapada: Voice of a Folk Artist’
Date: 06 November 2023
The afternoon of 06 November 2023 witnessed the magic of Kannada folk music. ‘Rhythm of Janapada’- Voice of a Folk Artist was an event organized by the Department of Media Studies. The event took place in the P1 conference hall. The resource person for the session was Prof Chandrashekhar, an Assistant Professor from the Department of Kannada. The welcome address was delivered by the student coordinator of the event, Mr Anthony Augustin G The entire session had the audience clapping their hands and tapping their feet to the upbeat tunes of the folk songs sung by Sir. The three songs that were sung were Kumbhara which is the potmaker song, then Bagyada Balegara the bangle maker song, and the session culminated with Rela re, the song on nature. The event ended with a vote of thanks by Mr Sachin Pokhrel.

Expert Lecture on ‘Quintessential of Writing Effective Feature Stories’
Date: 15 September 2023
An expert lecture on ‘Quintessential of Writing Effective Feature Stories’ was conducted on 15 September 2023, at 11:00 a.m. in M4 Auditorium at Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous. Mr. Abraham, Faculty of the Department of Media Studies, welcomed the gathering.

Ms. Ruth Dsouza Prabhu, who is an Independent Journalist and Content Developer, delivered an interactive and insightful lecture on the inevitable tips for writing feature stories. She took the students through her own journey of visiting various places and writing travel features. She stressed the importance of having a different angle for the stories to make the presentation of the article unique. She shared various tips on interviewing people and overcoming writer’s block. The lecture was followed by a question and answer session during which students enthusiastically asked various questions pertaining to writing feature stories and challenges in the industry. The lecture was both enlightening and inspiring for the students as Ms Ruth spoke mostly from her experiences and recollected the milestones she achieved with each of her feature stories.

Expert Guest Lecture Series Session on ‘Web Series: A Director’s perspective’
Date: 16 January 2023
The resource person for the talk was Mr V.K. Prakash, an Indian Film director, who has directed many famous movies such as Freaky Chakra, Phir Kabhi, Nirnayakam, etc. Director V.K. Prakash is an Indian Film director, who is very much known for making films, music videos, and commercials. He began his career as an advertisement film director and has been a part of this industry for many years down the line. His debut feature film Punaradhivasam released in the year 200 even won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. He has been in the advertising industry for almost 25 years and also was a student at the National School of Drama.

The session was even enlightened by the dean of the faculty of Humanities, Dr. Gopakumar AV, the program coordinator, Dr. Juby Thomas, and the rest of the faculty of the PG Department. The session was inaugurated by Arun Kuriakose 1st year MA JMC student welcoming the esteemed guest to the session, followed by Dr. Gopakumar AV presenting a sapling to the special guest.

After the basic formalities, the chief guest started the session by asking a very simple question to the students “What do you mean by Communication?” He then told the students that most people have problems in communication as they do not know how to communicate. He mentioned that when we communicate effectively and share a positive mindset, we can have amazing creative ideas. He also asked the students to “have an edge for learning and exploring creativity”. He also shared experiences and insights from his own life in order to explain how keeping focus on what we love doing, will help us to reach a better position in life.

According to him, Cinematography is a director’s vision and also a person who is in the creative field can only find happiness if his work is appreciated by the viewers. It is very important for a person to have a passion for creativity and the field they are interested in. Director V.K. Prakash then went on to discuss how movies and web series actually work. He explained to the students that he believes that a director should cast an actor depending on the stardom, but instead, an actor should have the willingness to work with the director. He also went through the technical details of how to decide on the cuts in a movie and how the shooting of a movie is different from that of a web series. But he did not just share the details of his success but also shared about the difficulties a director has to go through in his everyday life, such as script selection, etc., along with sharing his tips and tricks on how to be a good director in future, which inspired the students present in the session.

His talk ended with an interactive Q & A Session with the students and the staff present in the session, throughout which Mr. V.K. Prakash enthusiastically answered all the queries. The Expert Talk session came to an end with a vote of thanks, which was proposed by Ms. Angela Elizabeth Biju of 1st Year MA JMC, concluding the interactive event.

Expert Lecture on “Contemporary Trends in Journalism and Media: Challenges and Opportunities”
Date: 13 January 2023
The Expert person for this session was Prof. Anand Pradhan, who is a member of IIMC, Delhi. The participants for the lecture included faculty members and students of first-year MA JMC. The Expert Lecture session began with a brief introduction about the resource person by Dr. Juby Thomas, Coordinator of the Department.

Prof. Anand Pradhan began his lecture by defining contemporary trends in journalism and media. He went on explaining about the trends in the media field and in journalism. He also talked about the development and loss of media trends. He observed that nowadays everything convergence in mobile. He also pointed out that there are three screens in journalism and media namely Cinema, Television, Computer (Laptop), and now Mobile Phones that are slowly being a human beings.

Artificial Intelligence recently launched artificial intelligence chat GPT. He further observed the five skills- Critical Thinking, Analytical Skill, Problem Solving, Communication Skills, and Creativity.

The lecture ended with a question-and-answer session where Prof. Anand Pradhan exuberantly answered all the queries followed by a vote of thanks by Joicy Pinto, a student of first year MA JMC.

Interactive Session on “How to live a successful life” by Mr. Thorsten Schildgen
Date: 01 December 2022
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organized an Interactive Session on “How to live a successful life”. The resource person for the session was Mr. Thorsten Schildgen, who is a German Language Trainer. The participants for the lecture included faculty members and students of First Year MA JMC. The interactive session began with a brief introduction about the resource person who was warmly welcomed by Mr. Vishnu Achutha Menon.

Mr. Thorsten Schildgen began his lecture by defining what Success is. He went on explaining how one can achieve success by introducing ninety-six ways. He also stressed on the fact that Success is an attitude and requires maximum effort. And from every failure, you will learn. He further talks about things every successful people has in common, life changing keys to success, that is, do the impossible things, need clear vision, determination, excellence, etc. Then he move on to explain how one can live a successful life and introduced many ways to achieve success followed by certain affirmations.

The session was ended with a question-and-answer session where Mr. Thorsten Schildgen exuberantly answered all the queries. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Aneesha Susan Shaji, student of First Year MA JMC.

Expert Lecture – Glimpse of International FMCG Marketing Experience
Date: 28 September 2022
The Department of Media studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous organized an expert lecture series on September 28, 2022. Expert lecture series is a new initiation of college to explore a particular subject with interaction with industry experts. Mr. Rahul Arora, Associate Vice President, Times of India (Sales and BD) & Mr. Sourav Sen Gupta, Associate GM, TOI, delivered a talk on the topic ‘Glimpse of International FMCG Marketing Experience’.

The session started with an Invocation Song, followed by the addressing of the gathering by Dr. Juby Thomas, Coordinator, Department of Media Studies (PG) as well as the lightening of the lamp. Mr. Rahul Arora then began his talk by giving insights into how modern trade operates. He asked the students to “sharpen your saw” to broaden their horizons. He advised reading books/newspapers daily to enhance the experience of learning.

Mr. Arora then went on to introduce a brand new edition of an extension of The Times of India Newspaper, called the Times Techie. One of the editions of this newspaper was edited by the current CEO of Google, Mr. Sundar Pichai. This edition will be out every Wednesday and Friday. “Basic understanding of tech will keep you sharp,” he said while encouraging students to be more aware of the current world technologies.

He then went into detail, explaining certain techniques of marketing while sharing his personal experiences. He overwhelmed his audiences as he shared his associations with the launch of certain popular products in the Indian market. But he didn’t just share his success stories; he also ended up sharing his failures, inspiring many aspiring young minds sitting in the audience.

His talk concluded with an interactive Questions and Answers session, throughout which Mr. Arora enthusiastically answered all the queries.

After this Mr. Sourav Sen Gupta, Associate GM of TOI took over the session. He went on to introduce a newspaper called “ETiC” where the students can find essential and curated news stories from the editors of the Economic Times as well as Times of India, which can help keep the students updated on current happenings and technological aspects as well.

The Expert Talk Session ended with a Vote of Thanks, which was proposed by Ms. Manisha Patnaik of 2nd year MA JMC, drawing the curtains on the insightful event.

Expert Lecture – Digital Journalism
Date: 03 September 2022
The Department of media studies, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous organized an expert lecture series on September 3, 2022. Expert lecture series is a new initiation of college to explore a particular subject with interaction with industry experts. Dr. Shuaib Mohamed Haneef, Associate professor, Department of Media and Mass Communication, Pondicherry University delivered a talk on the topic of Digital Journalism. He has been in the field of media and mass communication studies for a decade. He has also worked as a sub-editor in the new Indian express and as a senior sub-editor in the Hindu.

The event started with a welcome note given by Ms. Sanaaz Fathima Khan, of 2nd year MA JMC. She welcomed the guest and the audience to the event. Mr. Vishnu Achutha Menon presented a Sapling to the guest as a token of welcome.

The session was then taken over by the guest, he started by thanking the management of KJC for giving him this opportunity. He then dove into the topic. He spoke about the specific aspect of the meaning of algorithms and what they are used for. He talked about the face and the materiality of a face when it becomes data. He spoke about how face relates to one’s identity. He spoke about visual identity and how algorithms and the idea of self are interconnected.

The expert talk was followed by an interactive Question and answer session. Dr. Shuaib Mohamed Haneef addressed all the questions and queries raised by the students. Dr. Ravi Kumar P, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies gifted a memento to the chief guest as a token of love. The program concluded with the vote of thanks given by Reddy Kala Pujari of 2 nd year MA JMC.

Expert Lecture – Pause Think and Proceed
The Department of media studies, Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous organized an expert lecture series on September 1, 2022. Expert lecture series is a new initiation of college to explore a particular subject with interaction with industry experts. Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee, regional director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) delivered a talk on the topic ‘Pause Think and Proceed’.

Dr. Juby Thomas, The coordinator of the media studies department (PG), welcomed the chief guest to the lecture with a sapling. Students and faculty members of media studies PG, BA visual communication, and MA English literature attended the session.

The program started with the college choir. Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee has fifteen years of experience in the industry, and he shared some thoughts with the students. He started the session by talking about how a pause is really important in today’s daily life. Professor further explained the value of taking a pause and watching you’re surrounding with great focus, to the budding journalists. The lecture was very interactive and informative at the same time.

He included stories in his lecture, which gives deeper knowledge about the functioning and ethics of journalism. One of the important topics he talked about is ‘Digital Dunia’- the analysis of media in this digital era. He also talked about; how fake news is affecting society negatively. Professor concluded his lecture by reminding the students about their responsibilities in the industry and shared his hope for the upcoming journalists and generation.

The expert talk was followed by an interactive Question and answer session. Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee addressed all the questions and queries raised by the students. Dean of Humanities, Dr. Gopakumar A V gifted a memento to the chief guest as a token of love. The program concluded with the Jayantian anthem.

International Expert Lecture Series- Global Media Ethics
Department of Media Studies (PG) organized an International Lecture series on ‘Global Media Ethics’ via the zoom platform on 03-09-2022. The resource person for the session was Dr. Anita Varma from the School of Journalism and Media, Moody College of Communication, The University of Texas, Austin. The faculty members, students of MA JMC as well as externals were all part of this session.

The session started with a brief introduction about the international guest, her works, and contributions which was then followed by a presentation given by the resource person herself. Dr. Anita Varma in her presentation started with understanding the concept of ethics and then ventured into a broader term of discussion that being ‘Global Media Ethics’. She mainly pin-pointed and focused on three main words/terms that were strongly tied with the understanding of Global Ethics, those words being: Dignity, Social Justice, and Solidarity.

It was interesting how she explained the depth of those words and the role they play in using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Furthermore, inclusion as an act of solidarity, perspectives, and emotions were all topics covered in her presentation. In addition to this, she gave a gist of three stories one of them being titled “After Homes The collapse in Earthquakes Puerto Ricans Ask: Are We Safe?”

The reason behind this was to make the participants understand solidarity as an ethical media practice that starts with people living the issue. Dr. Anita Varma summarized her delivery on the topic ‘Global Media Ethics’ by mentioning three key takeaways. The first is “Ethics is about doing what’s right even if it is easier, faster, or more profitable not to bother”, followed by the second “Global media ethics is concerned with advancing unifying principles such as dignity, justice, and solidarity” and finally “Climate change offers one case of why global media ethics matter”.

The session concluded with a question-and-answer interaction where the guest enthusiastically answered all the queries that the participants had. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Viju V V faculty of the Department of media studies (PG) after which the session ended. Overall, it was a very interesting and thought-provoking session.

Expert Lecture on Writing for Radio
The Department of Media Studies (UG) organised an Expert Lecture on Writing for Radio on February 15th, 2022. Dr BK Ravi, Chairman, Department of Communications, Bangalore University, delivered the session on Writing for Radio, emphasizing the components required to structure a radio script. Ravi shared his experience on how Communication is integral to Human life, as it helps express ideas and feelings and understand the emotions and thoughts of other individuals. As a result, we will all develop positive or negative relationships. He also stressed the history of Mass media in India, its developments throughout the post-independent Era, and how the radio became a deep-seated component. He also answered many queries regarding the present scenario of Radio and commercial broadcasting in India.

Dr Ravi shared with students the importance of writing a script for radio as it establishes the connection between the audience and the presenter. The session was indeed interactive and fruitful, which highlighted the journey of All India Radio, scripting, and various formats of Radio.

Writing for Print Media
The Department of Media Studies (UG) in association with the Journalism Club of Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) organized an Expert Lecture on Writing for Print Media on 18th November 2021. Mr. B Pradeep Nair, News Editor, The Hindu, Bengaluru delivered the session on Writing for Print Media emphasizing the components required to write a news article. Nair shared his experience on how Print Media Journalism is still the fundamental form of communication in this era of digital media and how reporting and coverage of in-depth stories are the deep-seated components. He also answered many queries regarding the present scenario of the Indian media and the safety of journalists in the country.

Nair shared with students the importance of fact-checking sources and attribution as it establishes the news reporter’s trustworthiness. The session was indeed interactive and fruitful which highlighted the components of writing a news article in Print Media.

International Day of Democracy: Media in Democracy
The Department of Media Studies (UG), in association with the Journalism Club of the Kristu Jayanti College had organized an Expert Lecture on the occasion of International Day of Democracy on September 15, 2021.

Mr Ramu Patil, Chief of Bureau, The New Indian Express, Bengaluru, delivered the session on the topic 'Media in Democracy' where he emphasised the significance and the role of media in a democracy. Patil pointed out the importance of the media and its role as a watchdog and as the fourth estate of democracy. He also answered many queries regarding the present scenario of the Indian media and the safety of journalists in the country.

Patil shared with students the importance of media responsibility and its implications while quoting his experiences. On safety aspects of journalists, Patil said that India is the safest democratic country, with respect to his previous experiences in other places abroad.

Sharing her experience, Harsha Ann Biju, student from III BA JPENG B, said that Mr Ramu Patil, touched upon all the aspects of media in a democracy, right from its history to the present-day scenario and also went on to explain his personal observation related to freedom of press in India.

Expert Lecture on Screenplay Writing
The Department of Media Studies (UG), Kristu Jayanti College had organized an Expert Lecture on Screenplay Writing on September 09, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mr Arun P R, Writer and Director of the Malayalam movie ‘Finals’ and ‘’Rampunthanavarudi was the resource person for the lecture. Mr Arun, an award-winning screenwriter elucidated the process of screenplay writing while drawing principles from eminent authors like Syd Field and Joseph Campbell.

Mr Arun began the session by quoting, “When the world was dark, the world turned to artists, for their art, and to save their hearts.” He said that storytelling is the oldest art form of human civilization. He also added that screenplay writing is similar to architecture with two aspects to it- form and content.

Mr Arun emphasized that film theories were a result of observations, and are flexible in application. The resource person’s informative workshop was followed by an interactive question and answer session with the participants. Altogether the programme was insightful and thought-provoking, making it a successful event. 117 participants that included students and faculty attended the event.

Guest lecture on Introduction to Statistics
As part of the curriculum enrichment programme, the Department of Media Studies (PG) organised expert lecture on the topic 'Introduction to Statistics'. The expert lectures had conducted on four different days i.e.,5th May-6th May 2021, 10th May and 12th May 2021 from 2:15 p.m-4:00 p.m. The resource person of the expert lecture was Dr Vinoth B, Assistant Professor, Dept of Computer Science, Kristu Jayanti College.

Dr Vinoth B gave an introduction to statistics in the very first session. He discussed the different types of statistical methods used in analysing data: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. He also deliberated on parametric and non-parametric tests. Dr Vinoth also explained the basics of mean, median and mode in statistics.

Dr Vinoth said that statistics play a crucial role in the data analysis and interpretation of a research study. He also encouraged students to have clarity on the basics of statistics during the training session. Dr Vinoth demonstrated the application of Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the chi-square test, the t-test, and ANOVA.

The sessions proved to be fruitful for all the participants. The participants expressed that it will be beneficial for their research studies and dissertations. It was overall an enlightening session for the students.

Expert Lecture on Placement Orientation III
The Department of Media Studies (PG) hosted an expert lecture on Placement Orientation III for final year Journalism PG students on March 31, 2021. Prof. Sen B. Mathews, Director of Kristu Jayanti College's Centre for Employability and Corporate Relations, was the resource person for the day. Prof. Sen B Mathews' previous two sets of placement talks took place on the Zoom platform.

The event was specifically designed for MCJ PG final-year students. Professor Mathews spoke about the importance of being hired, how to prepare for an interview, what requirements to follow for an interview, how employers test candidates, and how to react positively and affirmatively. Students who had engaged in group debates and interviews were asked to talk about their experience. The etiquette to be followed in an interview and the way to attend a group discussion was emphasized in the session. Formal way of mailing an organization was also included in the session. Following the lecture, the students raised their questions and concerns. It was an effective session as it made students understand the job market and how it works. The meeting turned out to be helpful for the students

Guest lecture on Photojournalism
The Department of Media Studies organised a virtual guest lecture session on Photojournalism for MA Journalism and Mass Communication, BA Visual Communication and Second year BA Journalism students on 15th December 2020 from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p. m. The resource person for the lecture was Shri. Pattabi Raman, Photojournalist in The New Indian Express, Pondicherry. Shri Pattabi Raman specialises on socio-economic, cultural and environmental issues. Mr. Pattabi Raman began the lecture with a presentation describing the various aspects of photography. He introduced the book titled ‘The Decisive Moment’ by famous photographer Henri Cartier Bresson as well as some of Bresson’s theories on Photography. He grabbed the attention of the audience by showing some of his works which he took as part of his documentary photography assignments. He explained the techniques that he uses in photographing his subjects and explained it through his photo essays like “Transgender Brides”, “Sri Lankan Tamils – 30 years of Civil War”, “In no man’s Land”, “Metro Morphosis” etc. He also gave insights on composing photographs, the importance of the rule of thirds, leading lines, diagonals, framing, patterns, repetition and symmetry etc. The session allowed students to explore the aspects of creating a photo essay and the aspects of telling a story using photographs. "As someone who doesn't know much about photography, this session was an eye-opener. I learnt how even the most general things could be captured amazingly and the way Shri. Pattabi Raman sir taught things with utmost patience and clarity made the lecture more interesting," says Sherly J Victor, a PG first year Media Studies student. Before ending the session, by giving reviews for photographs taken by students the resource person gave valuable and constructive inputs to the participants. Dr Juby Thomas, program coordinator (PG) and Prof. Abraham, program coordinator (UG) and other faculty members of the Department of Media studies were also present for the guest lecture session.

Guest Lecture on ‘Visualisation And Visual Storytelling’
The Department of Media Studies, Kristu Jayanti College organised a guest lecture on the topics ‘Visualisation and Visual Storytelling’, for I BA Visual Communication on 09th December 2020. The resource person for the event was Mr. Prijin Raj, Creative Head at Lemonmint Creative Ads, Kochi.

Mr. Prijin Raj described ideation as a process of generating creative ideas. Further, he defined visualisation as the process of giving visual form to information using images and text. Visualisation helps in effective brand-recall. The visualisation process primarily involves ideation, copy and design. Mr. Prijin Raj also shared his designs with the students and gave a brief insight into branding and rebranding as well. The workshop allowed the students to explore creative applicability and understand its functioning in the commercial world. The resource person’s informative talk was followed by an interactive session with the participants. Altogether the programme was insightful and thought-provoking.

Expert Lecture on Sports Journalism
“Sports Journalists are not created nor manufactured, they are born”, said Shri K Pradeep, senior sports journalist and Former Senior Deputy Editor of Metro Plus, The Hindu while addressing the students on the topic ‘Sports Journalism’. The expert lecture was organized by the Department of Media Studies on November 24, 2020. Addressing the students of MA Journalism and Mass Communication, Shri Pradeep led the students through his journey from a college lecturer to a celebrated Sports Journalist.

Sharing his experience, Shri Pradeep recalled how during his days, sports desks were shunned and considered as a toy department. He said this was because sporting was not part of our cultural ethos, and moreover, media houses focused on politics, business, and entertainment news as these sections invited more readers.

Shri Pradeep advised aspiring sports journalists to acquire the fundamental skills of reporting and interviewing no matter whatever beat they choose as specialization. He said, “when you become a sports journalist don’t just look for sports, but also, look for stories around it, and when you write, make it analytical and charming”. He also listed out, the do’s and don’ts while being in sports reporting and writing. He concluded the session by asserting that, “all one need is an undying passion for journalism. There may be downsides to this job but it will give you a front seat in life.”

“The session by Shri Pradeep was enlightening. He detailed us with clear explanations of the journalistic aspects involved in Sports Journalism”, said Ms. Aileen Sara Jacob, a second-year MA JMC student.

Expert Lecture on Data Journalism
The Department of Media Studies of Kristu Jayanti College organised an expert lecture on ‘Data Journalism’ on November 21, 2020. Ms. Annapurani Vaidyanathan, Data Journalist, The Hindu Business Line addressed the MA JMC students with detailed insights on Data Journalism and visualisation. While describing on the process of data visualization she said “as data journalists we must think, add context and humanise numbers to make effective data stories”

The expert lecture provided students with insights into the use of charts, tables and graphs in creating effective infographics. “This session made us understand the process and techniques involved in developing good data stories”, said Ms. Elizabeth Kessya, a second year MA JMC student.

Expert Lecture on ‘Popularity and Credibility in the News Business’
The Department of Media Studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College, organized an expert lecture on ‘Popularity and Credibility in the News Business’ on the 21st of October, 2020. Dr Keval J Kumar, Adjunct Faculty, MICA and Former Director of Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Pune was invited as the resource person for the event.

In his address, Dr Kumar spoke about the unethical practices of Google and Facebook, their involvement in a scandal that leaked user data and that corruption within these big technology companies corrodes their credibility. He opined that monopolistic practices of such organizations disrupt the social and political compass. Dr Kumar went to add that the prevalent use of Artificial Intelligence further questions the validity of social media due to vague policies on privacy and its infringement. He drew attention to the dearth of research at these companies. In comparison, Dr Kumar stated that the trustworthiness of legacy media is still intact.

Further, Dr Kumar emphasized on independent journalism being the need of the hour and appealed for its support in the current scenario. As most mainstream media, in his opinion, had commercialized news, he stressed the necessity of consuming news from alternative sources. The younger generation, he said, is unable to distinguish between ‘influencers’ and ‘legitimate journalists’ due to their obsession with social media and internet celebrity culture.

Dr Kumar advised that for good journalists’ public interest is important, but not at the cost of journalistic integrity while also reminding the participants that media is the watchdog of the society. He added that responsible journalism should hold governing authorities accountable to people.

In addition to the students and faculty of Kristu Jayanti College, 20 researchers and scholars from other institutions attended the lecture. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Dr Juby Thomas, Professor, Department of Media Studies.

Guest Lecture session: Keya Acharya (Environmental Journalist)
A guest lecture was conducted for the Post Graduate students of Journalism and Mass Communication on September 23, 2019. Ms. Keya Acharya, President of Forum of Environmental Journalist in India (FEJI) led the session touching different aspects of Environmental Journalism.

The students were exposed to the basics of environmental reporting and writing where Ms. Acharya cited various examples of environmental issues to make the session interactive.

From writing, research, physical supervision of the surrounding, getting credible sources, referring to experts for a scientific point of view to understanding the facts and figures thoroughly are all part and parcel of environmental journalism according to Ms. Acharya.

Keya Acharya, the co – editor of The Green Pen (First book on environmental journalism in South Asia) also highlighted the current environmental issues and their prospects to make a potentially good story. Along with this, problems with this kind of reporting as well as solutions were alluded throughout.

Environmental journalism was seen to be a separate entity because of its vastness but Ms. Acharya asserted that it is a field that encompasses all fields thereby contributing to the former. A good environment story comprises of perspectives from all aspects rather than one or two.

Guest Lecture by Mr. Kshithij Urs on ‘Media as a Subaltern Voice’
The Dept. of Journalism and Mass Communication (PG) organized a guest lecture on the topic ‘Media as a Subaltern Voice’ by Mr. Kshithij Urs, Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, National School of India University, Bengaluru.

Touching upon various concepts like the Post Truth Era, Post Information Era and importance of Political Enlightenment, he emphasized the role of media as an agency for the people. By bringing in examples of geo-political relevance, ever concept was dealt with a larger perspective. There was a need, he mentioned to move over content and consent that was manufactured, rather as budding media professionals to keep in mind those who would be consuming the content that we create.

The importance of media in mobilizing people and public opinion cannot be understated and, in a democracy, the onus lies on media to play the role of the fourth pillar instead of being a tool in the hands of those who hold the power. Transparency and accountability in public policy, prioritizing the legal awareness among the public, he said would ensure that people, often not in positions of power would know their rights and would be able to create an agency for themselves.
target group- MA JMC students
The total number of beneficiaries: 45

Guest Lecture “Portrait and Fashion photography
The Photography club in collaboration with the department of Journalism and Mass Communication of Kristu Jayanti College organised a guest lecture “Portrait and Fashion photography” for the UG students on August 19, 2019. Ms. Anjali Lakra, Consultant, Wipro and a freelance photographer discussed with the students the nuances of portrait photography. The guest lecture was organized to commemorate the World Photography Day.

Ms. Lakra, who is an alumnus of IIM Kozhikkode, specializes in portrait photography. Her talk was filled with rich experience from her college days and also as a professional photographer. During the session, the students were presented with an opportunity to know how to organize a photo shoot when one is a beginner. She talked on how to select or cast a model for the shoot, how to identify locations and how to have an emphatic theme. She continued with presented some her works and what had inspired them. Students actively involved in the session by asking multiple questions and getting clarification on their doubts regarding portrait photography.
Classes Attended & Number of beneficiaries: BA, BCA, B.Com, B.Sc. and BBA.
Total students attended: 68

Guest lecture on trends in film making

Mr. Mohan Krishnan, Head, Corporate Communication, Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai interacted with the Post Graduate Journalism students on August 9, 2019 on emerging trends in film making. The session was more technical but Mr. Krishnan broke the ice by giving the students a background on how he came this far in the field. From working in an ad agency to surviving in the corporate world, he had to undergo many stages of life to become the man he is today.

Mr. Krishnan started off the session by stating the most basic but often overlooked aspect of the film. He said, “In cinema, the main aim is producing a good story.” He then emphasized the different ways of storytelling, Hollywood movies being one of the global storytellers catering to the wants and needs of the general audience. However, he pointed out why the Indian Film Industry rarely is being watched all over the world due to its lack in the global aspect. Nonetheless, this aspect of our industry need not be a negative one always since India is a country rich in its culture and movies tend to showcase these cultures to the specific audience following the same. When it comes to global storytelling he also pointed out how movies like The Jungle Book completely revolving around the lives of Indian characters have received global appreciation because of the approach in their storytelling. This he said is the beauty of Hollywood.

After an understanding of the aforesaid aspect of film, he then gave us new insights on the post-production process or workflow in the film industry. The first and foremost is a whole lot of background research which is again the living principle for the journalist to survive in the field. He then talked about how important it is to have a data management team who can take care of all the technical aspects of shoots in the editing process. He also touched upon the editing and cut list of a movie in post-production process where he emphasized on how visuals are restored to its original quality. As the session became more technical Mr. Krishnan opened the room for an interactive session with the students where he was able to give new perspectives to the reality of the Indian film industry as well as the technicalities of the entire post-production process.

Mr. Krishnan after taking quiet a number of questions he continued with the other technical aspects of digital colour grading and its ability to enhance the mood and emotion of a particular visual or image. This was made more understandable when he showed the students raw images and Graded images.

The last and most probably the most important is the sound, recording and mixing where visuals are needed to be identified with the sound in order for both to create a deeper meaning. One of the most interesting facts Mr. Krishnan touched upon is the usage of Celluloid films still today in movies like Dunkirk, Star Wars because it has a larger capacity to hold details. Celluloid films mostly come in 35mm to 70mm range and are sometimes more beneficial than digital films. He also said that the benefit of having film roles is how they can be constantly reproduced in the future by simply referring to the original films. With these aspects, Mr. Krishnan ended the session by showing some clips on how surreal visuals are shot, edited and processed in this academy.

Guest Lecture on Development Journalism
The department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized a guest lecture on development journalism for the final year postgraduate students on 27 July 2019. Students got to interact and listen to Shri. Ishwar Daitota, Senior Journalist and a man have known for this immense contribution in both print and television media in different roles.

Mr. Ishwar, who has a special liking towards teaching students, came fully prepared for his lecture, which started out from his discovery of the thrill behind being a journalist, went on to describe various experiences of his life and the true meaning of journalism.

He not only helped the students define concepts such as development and information but also helped associate meanings to them. From political reporting to environment issues, Mr. Ishwar did not hold back any information he deemed worthy of sharing. He was also particularly thrilled about interacting with the students and even took the time out to individually address each student.

The students had the opportunity to hear from an exceptionally experienced journalist who readily shared information through regular intervals of humor. “As a reporter, you must always Ask, Ask, Ask and then Verify,” he said. He stresses; how happy he feels because of his career choice. For the students, the interaction not only added more data to their knowledge but also encouraged them to explore the layers of journalism.

Guest lecture on “Advanced Reporting Writing”
The Department of Journalism of Kristu Jayanti College organised a seminar on “Advanced Reporting writing” for the PG students on 10 January 2019. Mr Pradeep Nair, News Editor at The Hindu was the resource person. He explained different types of news, style of writing, maintenance of credibility in writing to the students in detail in his session.

The session started by introducing different types of news stories and the style of writing in each to the students. He shared tips to find news stories and the importance of maintaining credibility by giving attribution to the sources in the stories. “Attribution is very important in journalism. It enhances credibility to your story” he said. Mr Nair e also spoke how correct attributions are a means to counter fake news. “Publishing the source can be avoided if the information is very much sensitive, but should be revealed to the Editor-in-chief of the news organization “he added.

Mr Nair spoke about the dissemination of unauthentic news stories in social media and the trend among people in relying on social media for news. “Spending your time in social media for news is waste and assure the reliability of the news content in the forward messages before taking into your mind,” he advised the students. He also emphasised on the importance of giving quotes in news stories. “Quotes gives life to news stories,” said Mr Nair

He introduced a new variety in journalism “Data journalism” as a career option for the students which gives them the opportunity to go deep into the story. He also encouraged young aspirants to make use of western publications for reading which helps them in bringing innovative style into their writing.

Guest Lecture on Magazine Journalism
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized a guest lecture on Introduction to Magazine Journalism on 31 October 2018 and the resource person was Mr. T R. Gopalakrishnan, Former Editor, The Week magazine.

Shri TR Gopalakrishnan shared his experiences during his three decades of experience in the industry with I year MA JMC students. He said “Matter published in the Magazines should be endured for a minimum seven days. Before selecting a subject matter to write on one must check for the periodicity, geography, city oriented, the shelf life of a magazine. The new trend in journalism demands from a reporter three types of news writing, one for magazines, website and even for mobile platforms.” He also made a remark that the main focuses of news today are politics, environment, business, sports, and cinema. Hence it is essential for a journalist to get specialized in one area and be excellent in it.

He also highlighted the significance of the cover stories in a magazine. It is challenging to identify cover stories that contain news like topical, national, public importance, natural disasters, and public interest. He also emphasized the role of the internet as a primary means of consuming news.

Dr. A V. Gopakumar, Dean, Department of Journalism, Dr. Juby Thomas and Prof. Aby Augustine, faculty from the Department of Journalism also were present.

Guest lecture on ‘Advanced Digital Photography
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized a guest lecture on ‘ Advanced Digital Photography’ on October 26, 2018. Mr. Sumesh Senan, Entrepreneur - Expert in Video Production & Professional Photographer, Clicksmiths, spoke on the technical nuances required for industrial photography. In his lecture, Mr. Senan highlighted the deeper understanding of lighting and spoke on the use of reflectors in photography. The session also provided an interactive platform for students of MA JMC to explore a deeper knowledge of photography.

“Journalists need to be the smartest kids”
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized a guest lecture as part of the international lecture series on “The Weaponization and Victimization of the media” on February 12, 2018. Dr. Stefanie Pukallus, Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism Studies, University of Sheffield, UK, was the speaker of the day.

The session dealt with various aspects of global media covering the recent trends like partisan reporting, fake news, hate speech, political agenda that turns down the ethical belief in journalism all over the world. The cornerstone of Dr. Stephanie’s lecture was letting know the students as how media acts as a weapon and victim at the same time.

The young future journalists were left with an unavoidable question quoted by her “Do you publish or don’t you?” the answer lies with you!

Guest Lecture on ‘News, News Maker, News Anchor- Modern Trends
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized a Guest Lecture on ‘News, News Maker, News Anchor- Modern Trends on January 31, 2018. Dr. Biju Alappat, Former Reporter BBC, Former Reporter Vatican Radio and Former director for News Jeevan TV was the Speaker for the Day. He highlighted on the recent trends in the broadcast industry and changing role of the definition of news.

Guest Lecture - ‘Journalism as Profession and Trends in Communication’
The Post Graduate Students of Department of Journalism and Mass Communication attended a Guest Lecture on January 16, 2018 at Kristu Jayanti College. Prof. K.V Nagaraj, Former Vice-Chancellor of Assam Central University, Silchar was the resource person who addressed the students on the topic ‘Journalism as Profession and Trends in Communication’. Professor began the session by giving an overview of his career aspects as a Journalists and Teacher in the field of Indian Journalism. He emphasized that arrival of television has trivialized and changed the face of Journalism. From information age society, Journalism and individuals have moved to knowledge upwards that has resulted in Digital Divide in society.

Media Veteran Mr. John Thomas interacted with the Journalism students
Department of Journalism and Mass communication organized an interaction with Mr John Thomas, Former Editor Vijay Times, and Consultant Editor International Business Times on September 23, 2017 Monday for the first and second year post graduation students. He addressed the students on: Media bashing and Attacks on the credibility of journalists. Is there something we are missing?

The session began with the rural and urban divide in India through media’s perspective, and the importance of films in creating an impact for rural aspiration value, he also spoke about the lack of exposure of rural struggles in today’s Indian media and how different news channels cover news stories from diverse perspectives.

“Today most of the news stories are gathered by urban thoughts and it is the employed editors who decides on the news stories which has to appear in the front page of the newspapers and further added that major portions in a newspaper is filled with advertisements than news,” opined Mr. Thomas. He also highlighted the difference of a Journalist and an Activist, and also gave a brief idea on how Newspaper organisations were started in Bangalore

“The session was inspiring and informative as the students could interact and accumulate in depth knowledge on the topic,” said Nikhil P Sam a Second-year postgraduate student of Journalism and Mass Communication.

An interaction with the Indian film Director Kranti Kannade
The department of Journalism and Mass Communication organized an interaction with the Indian film Director Mr. Kranti Kanade on 18 September 2017 at 2:00 PM. “The cinema should not be about the majority viewers, it should consider the common man, it should reflect reality, and go beyond the commercial interest,” opined Mr. Kranti.

Kranti kanade is an Indian filmmaker whose films include CRD, Gandhi of the month, Mahek and Chaitra which got five national awards ‘the session was very interactive. The guest kept the crowd engaged. More than being monotonous he cracked jokes lighting up the mood,” said Divya KS, a first year Journalism student.

Guest Lecture on ‘An Introduction: Media Literacy and Media Evaluation’
The Department of English (PG) in collaboration with the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, organized a guest lecture on ‘An Introduction: Media Literacy and Media Evaluation’, Dr. Martin Lang, Associate Professor, Media Gender and Communication Studies at Minnesota, U.S.A addressed the students. Dr. Martin Lang enlightened the students on how the media functions and plays with the minds of the public, depending upon the stereotypical thinking and cultural upbringing through a power point presentation on, ‘A critical theory for representation in the media’. He also mentioned about how well we can be aware and spread awareness about the impact it has, by being critically detached as we all watch media.

An interaction with the Ramnath Goenka Award winner
The students of MA Mass Communication and Journalism, Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore had the privilege for an interaction with Ms. Nileena Atholi, the Ramnath Goenka Award winner. Ms. Nileena is currently working as the Sub editor with Mathrubhumi. Her interaction was on various topics ranging from the challenges she faced while covering a series on the plight of transgender to working for the deprived in the society.

Ms. Nileena gave the students insights on how to approach people especially the neglected, the human consideration that one needs to hold as a media person, the profound research that becomes vital for publishing articles and many more.

Her composed and dignified demeanor added with courage surely sets an inspiration for the upcoming journalists and for the media persons. She urged the students to be more cautious on using certain terms that socially define a particular person, gender or a community.