Documentary Screening " A GIRL IN THE RIVER"
Date: 20 September 2024
The Department of Media Studies DeKlass Film Club organised a documentary screening titled "A GIRL IN THE RIVER" on September 20, 2024, in H303, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. The documentary follows the story of a nineteen-year-old girl who survives an honor killing attempt by her father and uncle. The documentary screening was beneficial for Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ semester Visual Communication students. Following the screening, students actively participated in a constructive discussion about the film, offering their opinions.
Samvada 2024: Empowering the budding PROs through model press conference
Date: 18 September 2024
The Department of Media Studies organized Samvada 2024, a model Press Conference on September 18, 2024, for the MA JMC students. Under the guidance of Dr. Juby Thomas, Associate Professor from the department of Media Studies during Samvada 2024 postgraduate students took center stage as spokespersons and journalists. The event provided a hands-on platform for students to hone essential journalism and public relation skills.
“It was an enriching experience, offering invaluable insights into organizing press conferences, engaging in media interaction, and also empowering us to think critically, we learned to ask relevant questions to the panelists. Furthermore, the event significantly enhanced our research and public relation skills by fostering greater confidence in expressing ideas,” opined Sagarika Sham, a final year postgraduate student.
The first group of students, Ms. Upama Upadhyay, Mr. Moaw, Ms. Ritika Mithra, Ms. Bavana, and Ms. Stefina Thomas, meticulously staged a press conference for a Hospital. They confronted the allegations of medical negligence following the deaths of three patients. The students portrayed key figures such as the hospital’s CEO and Chief Medical Officer, emphatically outlining the hospital's plans to enhance patient care through rigorous staff training and revised medical protocols. They also discussed an internal investigation and extended sincere condolences to the affected families, steadfastly reassuring the public of their unwavering commitment to transparency and high-quality care.
The second group staunchly represented the Government of Libra, featuring Mr Gregory Binu Joshua, Mr. Saneesh Lukose, Ms. Aishwarya, and Ms. Abhirami Nair. They confronted allegations of financial misconduct involving the Chief Minister and state government officials. The students fearlessly explained the alleged financial scandal and its profound impact on state identity. They boldly highlighted the government’s resolute plans to reform and ensure transparency, aiming to fully restore public trust.
The third group, comprising Ms. Sagarika Sham, Ms. Evita Richards, Mr. Prabhas, and Ms. Jennifer Mathew, fiercely represented an Advertising Group. They powerfully responded to allegations of sexual harassment against their CEO. They presented unassailable legal evidence and compelling colleague testimonials to unequivocally refute the claims of the company, assertively stating that the accusations were baseless and that their CEO consistently maintained professional conduct. Christina Viswanathan, a second-year MA JMC student who played the role of a journalist in the model press conference said, "It was an incredible experience for us as first-time organizers. We worked together as journalists, brainstorming ideas, and gathering evidence, photos, and videos. The unity among us was strong, and we managed to achieve our goal in a short time. This experience not only brought us closer but is also something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives."
After each group's presentation, a Q & A session followed, where student journalists asked probing questions. There were live testimonials and evidence presented for each group, which challenged the participants to think quickly and respond effectively. First-year MAJMC students were actively involved in these sessions, engaging enthusiastically and interacting with the presenters. This dynamic interaction deepened the discussions and tested the presenters' ability to handle tough inquiries under pressure. The event concluded with feedback from the mentor and she encouraged the students to refine their skills.
"VADA-VIDHI"- A debate competition on 'The Freedom of Speech V/S Censorship in Media'
Date: 17 September 2024
The Department of Media Studies organised the debate competition "Vada-Vidhi" on September 17, 2024, in the conference hall A1 panel room. A thought-provoking debate on the topic of "Freedom of Speech vs. Censorship in Media" was organized for the Ⅲrd semester Visual Communication students. The debate aimed to foster critical thinking and raise awareness about the balance between individual expression and media regulation. The event witnessed active participation, insightful arguments, and constructive dialogue.
Life Skills Education Training for I Semester MA JMC Students
Date: 14 to 16 August 2024
From August 14–August 16, 2024, Kristu Jayanti College successfully held a trans formative life skills course that was intended to give undergraduate students the tools they needed for their well being. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified ten basic life skills that are essential for managing life's demands and were the focus of the training:
1. Self-awareness: Participants gained the ability to identify their own identities, including their likes, dislikes, strengths, and shortcomings. This ability fosters empathy for others and improves communication as well as stronger connections.
2. Empathy: Students received instruction on how to recognize, respect, and experience the needs and feelings of others. Better, more meaningful encounters and relationships are ensured by developing empathy.
3. Critical thinking: The course placed a strong emphasis on the value of impartially evaluating data and other factors, such as the media and peer pressure. Making well-informed judgments about one's health and well being is made easier with this ability.
4. Creative thinking: Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration are the four elements that make up creative thinking. These components give students the freedom to think creatively and investigate new approaches to challenges.
5. Decision-making: By weighing their options and comprehending the ramifications of each, students were able to make wise decisions. Making decisions that improve one's health and well-being is made easier because to this.
6. Effective problem-solving: The program helped students learn how to lessen mental stress and its possible negative effects on physical health.
7. Effective communication: Participants received instruction on how to communicate their ideas, opinions, and feelings in a variety of cultural and situational circumstances in a clear and appropriate manner.
8. Interpersonal relationship skills: Creating wholesome, encouraging relationships and preserving mental health via constructive family and social interactions were the major goals here.
9. Coping with stress: Students learned how to recognize stresses and modify their lifestyles to manage them. Preventing issues with physical and mental health requires reducing stress.
10. Coping with emotions: It was stressed to identify and control emotions, with an emphasis on preserving emotional well-being by cultivating joyful, thankful, and loving emotions while eradicating unfavorable thought patterns.
Kristu Jayanti College's life skills course has greatly benefited the students, providing them with the tools they need to better manage their well-being. We are grateful to the instructors and the college for their dedication to teaching these valuable skills, which will have a long-term impact on our lives.
Life Skills Education Training for BSc Visual Communication, BA JMC
Date: 09 to 13 August 2024
Kristu Jayanti College successfully hosted a transformative life skills course from August 9th to August 13th, 2024, designed to equip undergraduate students with essential skills for their well-being. The training focused on ten core life skills, fundamental for navigating life's demands, as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO):
1. Self-awareness: Participants learned to recognize their own identity, including their strengths, weaknesses, desires, and dislikes. This skill enhances communication and builds stronger relationships while fostering empathy towards others.
2. Empathy: Students were guided on how to understand and care about others' feelings and needs. Developing empathy ensures healthier, more meaningful interactions and relationships.
3. Critical thinking: The course emphasized the importance of objectively analyzing information and influences such as peer pressure and media. This skill helps in making informed decisions regarding health and well-being.
4. Creative thinking: Creative thinking was broken down into four components: Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration. These elements enable students to approach problems innovatively and explore novel solutions.
5. Decision-making: Students learned how to make constructive choices by evaluating various options and understanding the consequences of each. This helps in making decisions that positively impact health and well-being.
6. Problem-solving: The training taught students how to resolve issues effectively, reducing mental stress and its potential physical impacts on health.
7. Effective communication: Participants were instructed on how to clearly and appropriately express their thoughts, opinions, and feelings across diverse cultural and situational contexts.
8. Interpersonal relationship skills: The focus here was on forming positive, supportive relationships and maintaining mental well-being through healthy family and social interactions.
9. Coping with stress: Students were introduced to techniques to identify stressors and manage them through lifestyle adjustments. Reducing stress is essential for preventing physical and mental health problems.
10. Coping with emotions: Recognizing and managing emotions was emphasized, with a focus on maintaining emotional health by fostering positive feelings like love, gratitude, and joy, while eliminating negative thinking patterns.
The life skills course provided by Kristu Jayanti College has immensely benefited the students, equipping them with the tools needed to manage their well-being more effectively. We are deeply grateful to the instructors and the college for their dedication to imparting these valuable skills, which will have a lasting impact on our lives.
Alvida 2024: Farewell Celebration for IV Semester MAJMC Students
Date: 12 April 2024
The Department of Media Studies organized Alvida 2024, a farewell celebration for the students of IV semester MA Journalism and Mass Communication Programme on 12 April 2024 from 3:30 pm. Fr. Joshy Mathew, Director, Library and Information Centre; Director, HR Department; Head Department of English; and Director, Department of Media Studies addressed the students and emphasized on the importance of the lessons and experiences they have garnered from the college to excel as a better individual. Dr. Gopakumar A V, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Head, Department of Media Studies felicitated the students, congratulating them for all their achievements and wishing them the best for their future endeavours. Dr. Ravikumar P, Class Animator of IV Semester MAJMC also addressed the students and thanked them for their contributions to the department. First year students of MAJMC organized various cultural programmes for their seniors. The event came to an end with the screening of a video showcasing the memories of IV semester MAJMC students during their two years postgraduate programme in Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, Bangalore.
Training Programme on Advanced Reporting and Editing Techniques
Date: 25 March 2024
A training programme on ‘Advanced Reporting and Editing Techniques’ was organised by Department of Media Studies on March 25, 2024 at 11:00 am in P1 auditorium. Shri. B. Pradeep Nair, Editor at The Hindu, Bengaluru was the resource person for the session. Nearly 180 students, from both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes of Department of Media Studies attended the session. Shri. B. Pradeep Nair stressed on the importance of improving one’s language and the need to continuously practice by writing news reports focusing on the facts, brevity, sentence structure and grammar. The resource person gave exercises for the students during the session to understand and correct the common errors that are made during journalistic writing. He also gave various tips and exercises that the students can practice to improve their writing. Students actively participated in the following question and answer session. The session was very useful for the students and highlighted on the important techniques and practices to be adopted for effective journalistic writing.
Insights 2024: Internship Experience Sharing Session
Date: 05 March 2024
The Department of Media Studies organised ‘Insights 2024,’ a session on sharing internship experiences on 05 March 2024, from 1:40 PM to 4:30 PM in P1 Conference Hall. The event was hosted by students of the II semester MA Journalism and Mass Communication programme. The event facilitated a platform for the final year students (IV Semester MA JMC) to share their experiences about the internship they have undertaken during their III semester break. Every student was given an opportunity to share their individual experiences, right from choosing the host organisation to the learning and experience they garnered through the internship. Students of II semester MA JMC, interacted with the final year students after each of their presentations, to clarify the doubts they had regarding internship. The event served as a learning platform for the students of II semester MA JMC to be prepared for the internship that they have to undertake in the upcoming semester.
Student Lecture Series on Development Journalism for Social Change
Date: 04-13 March 2024
The Department of Media Studies organised Student Lecture Series on key concepts related to ‘Development Journalism for Social Change,’ for VI semester undergraduate students of PYJO, JOEN and JOEC programmes from 04 to 13 March 2024. Six students were chosen and were assigned topics such as Social Media for Development; Agriculture & Human Rights; Advocacy for Environment Protection; Development Coverage in Print & Electronic Media; Gender and Development; and Media Intervention in Communication for Rural Development. The students carried out intensive research, prepared the outline for the lecture and upon approval by the course teachers Ms. Sreedevi V K and Ms. Alan Maria Jose, prepared interactive presentations. Each of the six lectures were followed by question & answer session and discussion. The Student Lecture Series provided a platform for students to embark on the journey of research and thereby explore and deliberate on the significant topics related to development journalism and role of media as a tool for advocating positive social change.
Unleashes Advertising Creativity with Discovery 2024
Date: 19 January 2024
In a bid to foster creativity and innovation among final year Visual Communication students, the Department of Media Studies organized the much-anticipated event, "Discovery 2024," on January 19, 2024, at 1.40 PM in the M2 Auditorium.
The event was designed to provide a platform for students to showcase their advertising prowess and explore various appeals used in creating compelling advertisements. The M2 Auditorium buzzed with energy as students eagerly took the stage to unveil their imaginative creations.
"The level of creativity and innovation displayed by our final year Visual Communication students is truly commendable. Discovery 2024 has not only provided them with a platform to showcase their talents but also equipped them with valuable experience for their future careers in the media and advertising industry,"opined Dr Juby Thomas.
A panel of judges,Ms. Pratvi, Mr. Arul and Dr Ravikumar evaluated the performances based on creativity, effectiveness, and overall impact. The competition was fierce, and the judges faced the challenging task of selecting the winners from the pool of outstanding entries. Three teams were awarded first, second and third prize respectively.
Verse Voyage (Book Discourse)
Date: 30 October 2023
Department of Media Studies in collaboration with the Library and Information Centre, Library Resource Usage Optimisation Committee organized the "Verse Voyage" Discourse on the Book.”Diverse Voices in Journalism: Significance of Inclusivity in Newsrooms" on October 30, 2023.
A discussion was held with the students by the editor of the book “Diverse Voices in Journalism: Significance of Inclusivity in Newsrooms", Ms.Sreedevi VK, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies , at Kristu Jayanti College, Bengaluru, and authors Ms Charvi Jain , Ms.Azra Khan ,Ms Akshara Vivek Nambiar , students of third semester Psychology and Journalism.
Ms Sreedevi VK shared her writing journey with the students. In her statement, she said, "As an editor, I have witnessed the evolution of this work.” I've seen the formation of topics, late-night discussions, the revisions, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. This book is a beacon of hope, a call to action, and a celebration of the diverse voices that make journalism a vibrant and indispensable force in our world.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Gopokumar AV, appreciated the faculty and student collaboration in his remarks, he stated that students had not only created a book, but also ignited a flame that will guide future storytellers.
Following the book discussion, the question-and-answer session was informative and inspirational for budding writers.
Re-launch of the newsletter ‘KJC Mirror’
Date: 03 October 2023
Department of Media Studies organized a relaunch of the newsletter ‘KJC Mirror’ on October 03, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Gopakumar A V, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Head, Department of Media Studies. Volume 7, Issue 1 of KJC Mirror was released by Dr. Gopakumar during the event. He also addressed the students telling them the importance of contributing to the newsletter and appreciated the faculties and students for their efforts. Mr. Jibin Thankachan, Student Coordinator of the KJC Mirror gave a brief overview of the newsletter. He explained the process of reporting, editing and designing the newsletter and the plans for the upcoming issues.
KJC Mirror features a wide array of content ranging from concise news briefs to thought-provoking articles by the students. The newsletter aims to cover all major events that are organized at Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, Bangalore. The newsletter is brought out by the first and second-year students of MA Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Media Studies.
Designsprint’23: An Online Layout Design Competition
Date: 15 September 2023
An online design competition titled ‘DesignSprint’23’ was conducted by the Department of Media Studies from 07 September to 09 September 2023 to design a layout for the front page of a newsletter. An online registration process was initiated wherein students can scan the QR code in the event poster and register for the event. Guidelines were given to the students through the event poster as well as through the WhatsApp group the registered students have joined. The submissions were filtered to a total of 08 final entries and were taken for judgment by Ms Sai Prathvi, Faculty of the Department of Media Studies. Three places were chosen from the submitted designs along with a consolation prize.
The prize-giving ceremony of DesignSprint’23 took place on 15 September 2023, 11:00 a.m. at M4 Auditorium at Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, during which the winners and participants were acknowledged. The event acted as a forum to encourage students interested in graphic design and give them an opportunity to showcase their talents. Ms. Ruth Dsouza Prabhu, an Independent Journalist distributed the certificates to the prize winners.
Winners
I Prize : Manthiankhawl - III SEM BA Visual Communication
II Prize : Catherine JP - V SEM BA Psychology and Journalism
III Prize : Rahul Shridharan KM - III SEM MA Journalism and Mass Communication
Consolation Prize : Nissi Anna Biju - V SEM BA Psychology and Journalism
Fresher’s Day Celebration FRESHER’S GALA
Date: 21 September 2023
The Department of Media Studies organized a Fresher’s Gala for the students of the first Semester of MA in Journalism and Mass Communication on September 21, 2023 in P2 Conference Hall. The event began with a heartfelt welcome address by Ms. Jesvin Joseph, emphasizing the College’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and unity among its students. To facilitate interactions and build connections, Junior students participated in engaging in Ice-Breaking sessions and games, allowing them to get to know their peers and seniors better.
The program featured surprise cultural performances by senior students, adding an element of creativity and camaraderie to the evening. Junior students expressed their excitement and gratitude for their warm welcome, with many looking forward to being part of the college community. Kristu Jayanti College has a longstanding tradition of inclusivity, fostering unity, and creating an environment where students can thrive and grow together.
Cyber Shield Campaign
Date: 26 April 2023
As a part of a final project, Manisha M. Patnaik, Sanaaz Fathima Khan, and Reddy Kala Pujari, final year students of MA Journalism and Mass Communication, organised the Cyber Shield Campaign on the 26th of April 2023. The students have been actively promoting the campaign on social media like FaceBook, Instagram, Google Sites, and LinkedIn. The Cyber Shield campaign is all about supporting cyber security and safety. The campaign is designed to help students understand the importance of cyber security and the risks associated with being online. The campaign aims to empower students to take control of their online presence and protect themselves against cyber threats.
The event started at 3 pm with a silent prayer. The session was attended by the first and final-year students of the Department of Media Studies in the P1 conference hall, PG block. The resource person, Mr. Adrin PF was invited to address the crowd about cyber security and safety. After the dignitaries arrived and all the faculty members and students remained seated, Sanaaz Fathima Khan took to giving a prelude about the campaign, which was followed by Manisha Patnaik who welcomed the honorable chief guest, Mr. Adrin.
Mr. Adrin PF, TISA, Texial Information Security Auditor Certified Ethical Hacker (EC-Council), addressed the students and talked about what cyber security means and what are the different cyber crimes faced by people all over the country. He gave live examples of what hacking is and how to avoid malicious attackers. He interacted with the students throughout the session and urged them to actively participate in the various exercises. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Reddy Kala Pujari, after which the chief guest was presented with a gift from the three organisers of the campaign. The campaign was a very empowering event that will surely help the students have a safer online experience during their daily activities on the internet.
Career Counselling Programme – Germany: Land of Opportunities
Date: 16/11/2022
On the 16th November, Department of Media Studies (UG) in association with Office of International and Domestic Relations, organized a career counselling programme on educational and career opportunities that are available in Germany. Mr Thorsten Schildgen, German Trainer, Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, conducted an interactive session for students belonging to V semester BA Visual Communication and BA JPCS. The interactive session began with a silent prayer and Ms Pracheta Gupta, Student Coordinator, Journalism Club, was the master of ceremony who also welcomed the resource person.
Mr Thorsten Schildgen, German Trainer, talked at length about the life in Germany, the culture, educational system, career opportunities that are available in Germany. He also threw light on how the education system works in Germany which is surrounded by nine neighboring countries. Mr Schildgen then went on the answer several questions from the students during the Q & A session. Mohammed Sanaan, Student Coordinator, Journalism Club, rendered the vote of thanks with appreciation to the speaker for the insightful session.
Jayantian Eco Mela 2022- The Turning Point
Date: 15/11/2022
A dramatic performance of Jayantian Eco Mela -2022 was organized by the Department of Media Studies (PG) Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous, K. Narayanpura, Bengaluru on the 15th of November 2022. The event emphasized environmental concerns and aimed at spreading awareness regarding different environmentalists who have contributed to protecting our environment.
The events were conducted by the final-year students of Media Studies (PG). As a part of their curriculum, they put together a series of different programs where each one focused on a unique issue of environmental concern. The event commenced with the welcoming speech, given by Abiya Annie Varghese. She introduced the participants.
The event kick-started with a video showing how humans are destroying nature. Further, the program progressed with a role-play done by the students, who were divided into three groups. The first group spoke about ‘Sundarlal Bahuguna’, the second group spoke about ‘Saalumarada Thimmakka’ and the third group spoke about ‘Sugatha kumari’. Keeping the theme for the event in mind, an animated video titled “The Turning Point” was shown. The video revolved around a question: ‘What if humans exchanged roles with the animals?’
The event then concluded with songs named “We are the World” and “Heal the World” sung by the students, which created a sense of togetherness that is required to take the necessary action against environmental hazards. The event was an eye-opener for everyone which was undertaken by the students of III MA JMC, Department of Media Studies (PG). Dr. Ravi Kumar. P, the Development communication subject teacher concluded the event by appreciating the students for their efforts in an awareness session on environmental consciousness. He also congratulated the initiatives of the teachers and the support of the department to conduct a successful Jayantian Eco Mela in the year 2022.
Road Safety Awareness
Date: 20/10/2022
Department of Media Studies (UG) and Karnataka Civil Defense Corps (KCDC) in association with Devanahalli Traffic Police organised a road safety awareness campaign for the road users of the stretch between K. Narayanapura Cross to K. Naryanapura Government Primary School on October 20, 2022. The BA Visual Communication students designed posters depicting various road safety rules related to pedestrian safety, usage of safety gears and over speeding. The students. More than 100 BA Visual Communication students along with KCDC student volunteers and the traffic police started the campaign from 8:00am to 9:00 am. “These kinds of sensitizations will help to reinforce the road safety rules among the motorists and also the pedestrians as they often breach the rules creating inconveniences and traffic blockades”, opined a resident of K. Narayanapura.
2nd edition of Vidwat Sammilan on Digital Media Literacy: The Need of the Hour
Department of Media Studies, Kristujayanti college organized the second edition of Vidwat Sammilan on ‘Digital media literacy: The need of the hour. The resource person for the event was Prof. K G Suresh, Hon’ble vice-chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University.
The event took place in the SKE auditorium of Kristujayanti College. The event started with the lighting of the lamp followed by a welcoming address presented by Dr.Juby Thomas, Coordinator, Department of Media Studies (PG).
The session was taken over by the resource person Prof.K G Suresh who deconstructed the topic of discussion and explained it with various examples. He opined how digitization divided media history into two parts: before and after Google. Furthermore in his speech he discussed the concept of democratized communication, the digital divide, digital immigrants, and natives.
He explored cyberbullying and cyberterrorism that arise out of digital media literacy. In addition to this, he extended his discussion onto the monopoly practiced in media, especially print. The session was further taken into a question-and-answer segment.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Abraham coordinator of the Department of Media Studies (UG).
Remembering The Master- Jean Luc Godard
Department of Media Studies (UG), De Klass Film Club paid homage to the legendary filmmaker Jean Luc Godard on September 17, 2022. Dr. Gopakumar AV, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Nagendra, Programme Coordinator, BSc Computer Science Programmes along with faculty members and students of BA Visual Communication paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker.
MOVIOLA- Information Poster and Video Exhibition
Date: 01/10/2022
Department of Media Studies (UG), De Klass Film Club orgnaised information poster and video exhibition depicting the major milestones of World Cinema and Indian Cinema prepared and designed by BA Visual Communication students on October 1, 2022. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Gopakumar AV, Dean, Faculty of Humanities. Prof. Abraham, Programme Coordinator, Media Studies UG, Mr. Aby Augustine, Faculty Coordinator, De Klass Film Club, Mr. Varun Vijay and Ms. Ridha Sharieff, Student Secretaries, De Klass Film Club were also present during the occasion.
Moviola- is the culmination of a week-long celebration commemorating National Film Day. The celebration started on 23/09/2022 and is ending on 01/10/2022. This week-long celebration witnessed the creation of Instagram reels on notable Indian film makers like- Satyajit Ray, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Gireesh Kasaravalli, Amithab Bhachan, Lijo Jose Pallisseri, Rajanikanth, SS Rajmouli, Zoya Akhtar and many more compiled by BA Visual Communication students. There were competitive events like- Short Film and Film Review Writing.
Quality Circle Meeting
Date: 05/08/2022
The Department of Media Studies, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru conducted a quality circle meeting. The meeting is majorly concentrated on improving and upgrading the standards of the department.
Beginning of the meeting, Dr. Juby Thomas, Head of the Department presented the agenda of the meeting. The major agenda of the meeting was to discuss the Jayantian code of conduct, Best practices in the classroom, Identifying the strength, and further implementations and execution of innovative things.
Dr. Juby Thomas elaborated on the importance of following the best practices of the department. She discussed the production from the students, research publication for the academic year, organizing the fest and other department programs, and effective pedagogical practices in teaching in the academic year.
Further, the quality circle team discussed strengths related to practical classes, editing specifications, field experience in teaching faculties, and resources of the college.
Additionally, the quality circle team discussed implementation parts like introducing the aptitude test-related activities, concentrating on NET/SLET and Career counseling, frequent and efficient monitoring system, conducting different programs, world photography day, and introducing the effective pedagogical method in the department.
Mr. Vishnu Achutha Menon, Assistant professor of the Department of Media Studies (PG) concluded the session with a vote of thanks.
Student Presentations on Online News Portals
Department of Media Studies (UG), Kristu Jayanti College Autonomous organized a session with student presentations on Online news portals on 19th May 2022. Diya Daniel, Diya Susan, Gowri Sreekumar, Anu Priya, Manpreet Kaur, and Pracheta Gupta from across the various lV semester journalism batches presented an in-depth analysis of various news portals such as The Tatva, The logical Indian, The Vox, The News Minute, The Quint and The Better Indian respectively. The session helped the students understand the concept relating to online news portals and gave a more nuanced perception of analyzing the said portals. The session was divided into two parts. In the first part, the student representatives put forth their respective presentations to the gathering. They were detailed, well researched, and covered various topics such as layout, readership, policies, and objectives of the respective portals. The second session gave the gathering the opportunity to ask their questions in relation to the presentation as well as the topic of news portals in general. In conclusion, the session was well organized, informative, interactive, and helpful.
Young Minds at Kristu Jayanti College Envisioning India as a Trans- friendly Nation
“Who am I, I’m a Trans woman but more than that I identified myself as a human being. I am a proud woman.”, said Sana Suman in the panel discussion organized by Department of Media Studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru on “ Envisioning India as a Trans-friendly Nation”. The event was organized as a part of the campaign organized by the students of the department which took place at the college auditorium at 4.00 PM, on Friday 13th May.
The session began with an invocation song, followed by a welcome speech delivered by one of the student coordinators. The panel members of the day included- Alex Mathew, popularly known as Maya the drag queen, Sana suman - transgender activist who fights for gender identity and founding member of Swatantra Organization, Karnataka. She is also the first member of the transgender community to obtain higher education in India and the first trans journalist from Karnataka and Dr. Sruthi Sivaraman, Psychologist and faculty of Kristu Jayanti college were the eminent panelists for the discussion, which was moderated by Rasika Godbole, student from the Psychology Department of Kristu Jayanti College.
During the discussion, Sana Suman talked about how she voiced herself for the voiceless in her community by petitioning for IPC section 377, which talks about the acceptance of third gender. She also pointed out that social media often characterise transgender community with a humorous tone, trivialising their struggles, reinforcing common misunderstandings and negative stereotypes of what it means to be transgender. Alex Mathew, also the alumni of the college talked about the importance of sex education among children and elders which can give an insight into the different identities and sexualities. Being a journalist herself, Sana discussed how media plays a significant role in shaping society’s perspective and how it influenced her own family to accept her.
Dr. Sruthi Sivaraman discussed the various mental and emotional conditions that a Trans person is subjected to go through and highlighted that according to the 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by The Trevor Project nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide in the past year. Dr. Shruthi went on to add that, LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support.
“The best part of today’s session was the part where we were given an opportunity to interact with the panelists. It was so fruitful that it cleared several of the unanswered questions in the minds of many,” commented Sreelakshmi of IInd MA English Literature.
The panel discussion attended by over 250 students was coordinated by Ms. Gayathri R, Ms. Swetha Prasad and Ms. Lakshmi muralidharan from Department of Media Studies along with their faculties - Dr. Juby Thomas, Mr. Neerej Dev, Ms. Vipula PC and Ms. Keerthana Thankachan. The event also saw the presence of Dr. Molly Joy, Head - Department of Psychology at Kristu Jayanti College and Ms. Susan Sanny from the Department of English, Kristu Jayanti College.
The session concluded with teachers and students handing over saplings as a token of love to the guests, followed by a vote of thanks. The programme was indeed successful in its attempt to inculcate a sense of inclusivity in the minds of students.
Career Orientation for the Final Year Students
Date: 09/11/2022
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organized a Career Orientation session for the third-year BA Journalism students on 9th May 2022 in SKE Auditorium at 10.30 am. Dr Gopakumar AV, Dean and Faculty of Humanities, and Dr Juby Thomas, Coordinator, Department of Media Studies (PG) were the resource persons for the session.
The first speaker for the session, Dr Gopakumar AV, addressed the students about the different opportunities in the media world and enlightened them about the career opportunities if they choose to pursue mass communication and journalism. He encouraged the students immensely stating that “Do not think only extroverts can excel in the media industry. Introverts are also known to shine in the field”. He shared his journey in the media industry with the students, which motivated the students to pursue their career options in mass communication. His talk ended with a question and answer session with students regarding media opportunities in career development.
The next speaker, Dr. Juby Thomas spoke about the importance of the profession and how powerful the media is. She interacted with the students and spoke about the benefits of not just embracing media, but any stream, as a career. She also spoke about how the media industry has been flourishing exponentially due to the pandemic, explaining the scope of taking up mass communication and journalism as a career option.
The session was an eye-opener for the students to imbibe an interest in the media field. The career benefits of media as a profession were thoroughly presented to the students, which will help them in deciding their future based on media.
Deluxe Pre-placement Talks for the Students of Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous)
Date: 11 April 2022
On 11th April 2022, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) in collaboration with the Placement Cell of the college conducted a career talk lecture. The college invited the renowned company Deluxe to interact with the students of Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous, and provide an insight into the industry demands.
The recruiting team and a few higher officials of Deluxe presented a brief introduction and profile of the company. It included the naure of their works, the type of clients, and what they do in the competitive market for sustainability. Students were engaged in an interactive question and answer round after the presentation. The company encouraged the students to join their organization after the completion of their specific programs in the college. The students also got an opportunity to register to the Deluxe career portal, and apply for their preferred job designation.
Students from various departments were a part of this session. MA JMC students were also a part of the career talk and they had an interesting session to mold themselves as per the needs of the industry. It was an enlightening session that talked about the changing trends of the industry and how to stay focused in the competitive job markets.
“We expect such effective sessions in the future and hope that we can find our dream job one day. Such new companies and their placement talks help us to sharpen our skills as per the industry demands”, said a student who attended the session.
Career Enhancement Session
Date: 4th April 2022
On 4th April 2022, the Centre for Soft Skills & Aptitude Training (CSSAT) organized a career enhancement session on “New Age Corporate skills”. The resource person of the session was Dr Jonas Richard, Head of the Department of Social Work, Kristu Jayanti College. He is also the Director of the Centre for Life Skills Education, and the Director of the Centre for Continuous Professional Development, at Kristu Jayanti College.
The session was organized for the students of final year M. Com, MA Economics, MA English Literature, Ma Journalism and Mass Communication, and MSc Life Science. However, first-year MSc Computer Science, MCA, and MSc Counselling were invited to the session.
The session began at 3 pm, in the A3 Auditorium, Admin Block and the student coordinators hosted the session by giving a brief on the career talk. The faculty in charge introduced the resource person of the day.
Dr Jonas Richard started the session by conducting an ice-breaking session, where he asked the students about their career plans after their education. Later on, in the session, the resource person talked about recognizing the one talent and skill that defines each individual. He encouraged the students to identify one strength that can later be turned into an effective career plan. Dr. Richard conducted an informative session by motivating the students to find their Unique Selling Preposition. The students were happy and enriched by the session and had a lot of takeaways.
Career Orientation for IV MA JMC Students on New Age Skills for Media Professionals
Date: 03/03/2022
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organized a workshop in collaboration with the Centre for Employability and Corporate Relations (CECR) on 03rd of March 2022. The Resource person for the workshop was Prof. Sen B Mathews, Director, CECR. The workshop attendees were the final year MA JMC students, who were enlightened on the “New age skills for media professionals.”
Prof. Mathews started the session by throwing a question to the students. He asked them what they understand by the concept called new age. He pointed out that in the new age of media industry it is essential to possess certain skill sets. He implored the students to be globally aware, build on human capital and connections, and to have a creative and analytical mindset.
He emphasized on the importance of being patient, unbiased, inclusive and empathetic as a media professional. He said, “As a fresher you need to have the right attitude to accept things and take challenges. You need to be an agile person and be adaptable to situations that might be thrown at you.”
He elaborated on the concept of LISTEN which is crucial as a media professional, which means –
L – Look
I – Inquire
S – Summarise
T – Take notes
E – Encourage
N - Neutralize
He told the students to draw inspiration from the life of Lee Iacocca, who revived Chrysler Corporation from a deep low to new heights. Prof. Mathews conveyed that, “It does not matter whether you work for a small firm or an established firm, what matters is your capability to turnaround the company’s growth and take it to new heights.”
Prof. Mathews advised the students to possess design thinking while beginning their careers as a media professional. “Design thinking includes, being empathetic, having a beginner mindset, being user-centric, and being very observant of your surroundings” he explained. He implored the students to follow the Japanese principle of Ikigai, i.e., to live a life with purpose and to not let go what makes you happy. The session was highly interactive with many activities and enthusiastic discussions from the students as well. The session gave the students a good insight on what is expected of them from job recruiters in the new age as a potential media professional. Prof. Mathews helped the students with their queries regarding the etiquettes of e-mail and the dos and don’ts during a group discussion.
Professor ended the session with a thought-provoking advice. Professor Mathews said, “When you go for an interview, the very first question they ask is to tell something about yourself. So, know yourself and have an accurate self-assessment because you should clear with who you are and what you are capable of.”
Faculty Development Programme on Academic Aptitude Assessment Mechanism
Date: 26/02/2022
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organized a faculty development orientation on Academic Aptitude Assessment (AAA) on 26th February 2022. Dr. Manikandan Kathirvel, Assistant Professor of the Department of Life Sciences, was the resource person for the orientation.
Dr. Manikandan gave an introduction on Academic Aptitude Assessment and its objectives in measuring the learning level mechanism of a student. He discussed the different stages involved in the student assessment and the three stages of assessment within a semester. Dr. Manikandan deliberated on the need to identify the slow and the average learners from the students to provide them training and skill development activities for improvement.
Dr. Manikandan stressed the importance of observing the psychology of students so as to give individual care for helping them to improve their academic performance. He suggested collaborating formal and informal methods for assessment to identify the slow learners. He demonstrated how to assess the students in three levels in each of the timelines – Pre-Assessment, Mid-Assessment, and Post Assessment – and categorize them as slow, average, and advanced learners. He also explained how to devise strategies of learning engagement to meet the needs of the individual learners.
Following the session, there was a Q & A session where the faculties raised their queries and concerns. The session helped to bear a fruitful outcome for the faculties to develop their assessment skills and to identify their students based on their learning level.
Research Presentation as Part of Jayantian Media Research Forum
The Department of Media Studies (PG), in association with the Jayantian Media Research Forum, organised “The Fourth Estate: A Qualitative and Quantitative Retrospection” on 29th January 2022. It was headed and organised by Dr Juby Thomas, Coordinator of Media Studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous). The 1st Year MA JMC students presented their papers on different topics.
The event started with Abishek, who presented his paper on the topic “An Analysis of the Portrayal of Scheduled Tribes in the Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim”. It provided insight into how the scheduled castes have been portrayed in the movie Jai Bhim. He had very interesting analysis about the movie, and he came out with suitable parameters. It also looked into the living standard of the scheduled tribes with the other people that have been portrayed in the movie. The study depicted the reality of what is happening to the tribes.
The next paper was presented by Ms. Arathy, who had a quantitative study on “Young adult’s perception about the Malayalam film ‘Home’: A case study of Thrissur.” Her analysis helped to get an idea about the thinking style of this generation towards the people who don’t have any access to the technology. The study also revealed the portrayal of father-son relationships in a Kerala middle-class family. Through her study, it is revealed how the technical generation helps middle-aged people to get access to gadgets and social media platforms.
The third presenter was Ms. Ashmita, and the paper was titled, “Qualitative study on the portrayal of women and substance abuse on Bollywood Item songs”. The paper gave insight into how women are seen as mere objects portrayed only to please men. Item songs are often present in the movie even if it does not connect to the movie’s plot just to attract audience to the theatres or increase the movie’s viewership.
The next presenter was Ms. Sheba, who presented on “The effects of pandemic on the usage of mobile phones among teenagers.” Her study aimed to find the effects of the pandemic on the usage of phones among teenagers in Bengaluru. The relationships have become strained but have not been broken. The study figured out that teenagers use their phones more for entertainment rather than academics.
Ms. Mansi, presented a paper on “Effectiveness of Animation as a tool for communication in school education: A case study of Bengaluru”. She did extensive research on how traditional learning has been used for decades in schools in the form of chalk-and-talk way of learning but, in recent times, many schools have started adopting a digital mode of learning. This trend has accelerated during the pandemic situation. This study indicates that these changes have brought about a positive impact on students’ learning and attentiveness. Animation and other digital tools have also helped teachers in terms of analytics about students’ performance and made this process easier.
Mr. Jack presented his paper on the topic “Vloggers as social influencers: Impact of YouTubers in the life of youth in Kerala”. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of Youtube among the Youth in Kerala. The study found that there was no significant impact of Youtube vloggers among the Youth in Kerala. A small number of populations are being influenced by vloggers or the products introduced by vloggers. This study also indicated that not many people are involved in spending a lot of time on Youtube, and Youtube is not impacting their daily life activities or behaviour.
Mr. Hrishikesh spoke on the influence of the OTT platform and online content in shaping Gen-Z perspective on romance and their new take on life. The rise in popularity of OTT platforms can be significantly seen in the gen-z population, i.e. within the age group of 13-25 years. The research was mainly done to find out how this has affected their perspective on life and see whether people know about this and still do the same. His paper title was “Role of OTT platforms in shaping Gen-perspective on romance and life.”
The event ended with Ms. Manisha’s presentation on “Study on the perception of Covid-19 vaccination among the youth in Bengaluru.” She spoke about how vaccine fear poses a risk to global public health. Since an enormous global effort is ongoing to produce a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about community acceptability. People consider COVID-19 as a dangerous disease, hence demand for a vaccine increased. When deciding whether or not to accept a vaccine, vaccine safety concerns may outweigh perceived disease risks. Those who thought of COVID-19 as a severe disease started to accept COVID-19 vaccine for protection. The study’s goal was to learn about peoples perspectives on the Covid -19 vaccine.
The session was very insightful for all the students, and it was interesting to find out about the different findings each one came out with. The session provided much new knowledge to all the students of II MA JMC.
An Interactive Series to 'Meet the scholar'
Date: 28 & 29 December, 2021
Department of Media Studies (PG) conducted a panel discussion ‘Meet the Scholar’ on December 28, 2021, and December 29, 2021, under the guidance of Dr. Juby Thomas, Coordinator of Media studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College. Students from the 1st year MA JMC provided insight into the life of different scholars exploring their education, contributions, awards, and their achievements.
The event took place over two days, on December 28, 2021, the presentation started with Abhishek by introducing the scholar, Aristotle. He said that “Aristotle believed in experimentation with real objects and he became a teacher to Alexander the Great”. Arathy continued the discussion and introduced Wilbur Schramm who was the founder of the field of mass communication and was also known as the father of ‘mass Communication’. She introduced the biggest irony that Schramm suffered from stammering and yet he came up with the first program for the field of mass communication. He was also known for winning O. Henry's prize for fiction 1942 for his work ‘Wind wagon Smith’. The presentation was carried forward by Abiya whose scholar for discussion was an American psychologist Charles E. Osgood. He came up with the terms semantics, semantic differential, cross-culturalism, and psycholinguistic theory. Clark Hull was the main person who influenced Osgood.
On the next day, December 29, 2021, Ashmita carried on with the ‘Meet the Scholar’ presentation spoke about Harold Dwight Lasswell, an American political scientist and communications theorist who graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and economics and was a Ph.D. student there. He was the president of the American Political Science Association (APSA), the American Society of International Law, and the World Academy of Art and Science, among other organizations (WAAS).
Another famous American communications theorist introduced by Irin P.P was David Kenneth Berlo, (1929-1996) who was Illinois State University's ninth president. He was interested in communication and graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a doctorate in communication. Berlo’s ‘The Process of Communication’ is a prominent textbook on the subject of communication. He became the first chairman of Michigan State University's new department of General Communication Arts in 1958.
Finally, the first half of a two-day session of ‘Meet the Scholar’ was concluded with the last scholar Claude Shannon who was an American mathematician and an electrical engineer. Shannon was known as the father of information theory. He came up with various inventions such as rocket-powered flying disks, motorized pogo sticks, flame-throwing trumpets, etc. The last speaker of the day started his talk on Claud Shannon the father of information theory, also a mathematician and Electronic Engineer. He contributed fundamental work on codebreaking also wrote a Landmark Paper which was Mathematic Theory of Communication, He also made models of plains Radio-controlled model boats, one most important feat was a most famous thesis which he wrote at the age of 21, Boolean Algebra problems. He won various awards such as the national medal of science in 1966.
Overall, the sessions opened the door to a lot of knowledge and information about the life of the scholars in communication. After each presentation, there were effective discussions among the students. ‘Meet the Scholar’ helped the students understand the scholar’s life and their contributions to society. The presentations were lively and the enthusiasm behind every thought was brought to the forefront. This event also gave good exposure which helped in developing the student’s confidence and our passion for the subject that keeps growing day in and out, we are looking forward to learning more in the upcoming session which will be held in the new year.
Jayantian Eco Mela 2021- A Green Expression
Date: November 30, 2021
A theatrical performance was organized by the Department of Media Studies (PG) on the 30th of November, 2021. The event emphasized the modern environmental concerns, and the second-year students of Media Studies (PG) put together a medley of performances to showcase the importance of Mother Earth and its uproar when humans take it for granted.
The event was divided into four different performances. It commenced with ‘Nature’s revenge: A Karagiozis’ being the first. This act was a puppet show where the students used planets as characters. A light is thrown on the problems of air, water, and land pollution caused by human greed, through a small video showcasing the disasters that have taken place in the last few years. The puppet act ended by conveying the message of how humans have exploited earth for their greed and comfort.
Following the puppet show, there was a futuristic skit titled ‘Is this Earth?’. This was a comical performance with a strong message at the same time to protect Mother Nature for the present and future generations to enjoy its existence. The third skit titled ‘Captain Planet on Holiday’ showcased how planet earth thrived before evolution and how humans exploited it with the advancement of technology. The event concluded with ‘Nirvana’ a musical drama that depicted the struggles and exploitation faced by both mother earth and girl child.
The event was an eye-opener for everyone which was undertaken by the students of III MA JMC. Media Studies (PG) coordinator, Dr. Juby Thomas concluded the event by appreciating the students for their efforts for an awareness session on environmental consciousness. She also congratulated the initiatives of the teachers and the support of the department to conduct a successful mela in the year.
Research Proposal Presentation for the III MA JMC
Date: 15/11/2021
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organized a research proposal presentation for the III semester Journalism and Mass Communication students. The presentation was held on the 15th of November 2021 in the presence of Dr. Gopakumar A V, Dean of Humanities, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous); Dr. Juby Thomas, Department Coordinator and other faculties of the department.
All the students of the class participated and presented the proposal pertaining to the different areas of Communication and Journalism. They utilized the opportunity to get the approval of their topics for research as a part of their dissertation. The topics of the proposal covered different areas like broadcast communication, corporate communication, advertising, film studies, public relations, and print media interventions. Dr. Gopakumar AV, Dean of Humanities, appreciated the extensive areas that the students explored for their research. Dr. Juby Thomas, the Coordinator of the department appreciated the students for their efforts and wished them all the best for their research. The guides were allotted for the students after the presentation.
Value Added Course on Basics of Data Visualization
Department of Media Studies (UG) offered value-added course on Basics of Data Visualization to V BA(JEENG) and III BA (JPCS & Visual Communication) students from 9th October 2021 to 19th October 2021. The 30-hour course was designed to enable students to understand the importance and need for data in today’s world. The course content was carefully developed to give comprehensive knowledge on data visualization that included infographics, theories of visualization and data acquisition and processing. This course was taught through lectures, discussions, presentations, and hands-on training in Google spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel, thus equipping students with skills that will help them to efficiently organize, and effectively present data in visual forms. At the end of the course, an assessment was conducted to evaluate the learnings of the students.
Value Added Course: Introduction to Cultural Studies and Semiotics
Date: 24/09/2021 to 01/10/2021
The Department of Media Studies (PG) had organised a Value Added Course for the I MA JMC students on Introduction to Cultural Studies and Semiotics. The course was conducted from 24/09/2021 to 01/10/2021 with various sessions on Culture, Semiotics, Feminism, and Brands that create identity.
The course was designed thereby including practical and theory sessions to widen their conceptualisation of culture and semiotics. The sessions were lively with activities that help them to explore different cultures and advertisements that bring creative inputs to the students. The analysis of advertisements and the perspectives of feminist ideas opened the floor for dynamic discussions and debates.
The course was modelled with an assignment that helps the students to have creative thinking by exploring sign language. To understand the efficiency of the course and the syllabus, a test was conducted in the final session and the department got positive responses regarding the course from the feedbacks of the students.
The course was taken by 11 students of the I MA JMC and they were able to come out with new dimensions and contributions to cultural and semiotic studies. The classes were conducted through the zoom platform.
Photo Analysis Competition
Date: August 19th, 2021
On August 19th, 2021, the Department of Media Studies (PG) conducted a ‘Photo Analysis’ competition. The event was conducted under the expertise of Dr. Divakar through the Zoom platform.
During the session, the second-year PG students were provided with popular images and were asked to analyse them. They were also given the task to give captions for each of the presented images. Through these innovative and interactive sessions, the students were able to come out with new ideas that help them to provide meaning and emotions to the photographs.
Every image which was selected was popular photographs that are known to the participants. The competition created a new outlook and led to a change in perspective while approaching photographs. The competition was held for an hour and was done creativity opening the unique perspective of each student.
Essay Writing Competition
Date: 14th of August 2021
On the occasion of Independence Day this year, The Department of Media Studies (PG) organised an Essay Writing Competition for the blooming buds of III MA JMC. The competition “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” brought the spirit of freedom and pride among the students.
The competition was conducted on the 14th of August 2021 at 11. 00 AM and there was active participation of 13 students from III MA JMC. The students were happy about the event and reported that they could reiterate the spirit of nationalism.
The students also said that during the occasion they were able to remember the brave heroes who dedicated their lives to the nation.
Value Added Course: Art and Visual Culture
Date: 09/08/2021 to 19/08/2021
The Department of Media Studies (PG) organised a Value Added Course for the III MA JMC Students from 09/08/2021 to 19/08/2021. The course was on Art and Visual Culture to provide an insight into visual literacy. The impact of visual forms of thinking and the role of art in culture were the major topics covered in the course.
The course which was conducted with different sessions helped the students to explore the art and art forms from traditional and modern outlooks. The course also opened the window of visual culture and they were able to research the development of popular and alternate culture.
The shift of culture over the years was major eye-opening to the students and the active participation of the students to come up with novel ideas draw the success line of the course. The course was arranged in zoom platform for 28 students and the course was successful in culturing creative skills among students.
]Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
Department of Media Studies (UG) commemorated the 75th Independence Day with a virtual photography competition on the theme ‘Servants of the Nation’ and a collage competition with the theme ‘We are One’ on August 15, 2021. Students from BA Visual Communication and BA JPCS stream actively participated in the event. Mr. Emmanuel Edwin, III Sem BA Visual Communication, secured first place in the photography competition and, Ms. S. Aaqifah Hilmi, III Sem BA Visual Communication secured first place in the collage competition.
“The collage competition encouraged the use of recycled materials. I found myself scanning through newspapers for relevant cut-outs and text. More importantly, the theme helped me reflect on the idea of Unity in Diversity- a trait that India is most known for”, said Ms. S. Aaqifah Hilmi when asked about her experience in the competition.
National Reading Day Quiz
Department of Media Studies (PG) of Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, organised an Online Reading quiz on June 19 on the occasion of National Reading Day for the postgraduate students via the Zoom Platform at 4 pm.
The programme coordinator of PG, Dr Juby Thomas, and the class teacher of first-year PG students presided over the event. Haptarshi Roy Saikia and Abhiram JP of MA Journalism and Mass Communication were the quiz masters.
The quiz consisted of around 40 questions. "Who wrote the famous book 'We The People'?" was the first question, and Kritika Mohinta of MA Journalism and Mass Communication answered, "Nanabhoy Palkhivala" and won the first point.
Students excitedly chimed in with answers to questions ranging from asking guessing the authors of famous books and other media-related questions. Several students reaped points, and after totalling, Prathana Neoge was titled as the winner of the quiz.
The event ended with a concluding note from Dr Juby Thomas. She spoke about the importance of reading and urged everyone to read the Constitution of India to be aware of the rights bestowed on the Indian citizens.
Finally, the vote of thanks was given by one of the quiz masters, Abhiram JP. He thanked the college, Principal Rev. Fr. Augustine and the Dean of Humanities Dr Gopakumar for encouraging them to organise the event.
International Day for Biological Diversity 2021- Intra Collegiate Fest
On the occasion of International Biological Diversity Day, Department of Media studies (PG) organized ON REC Media Fest 2021 through virtual mode on 22 May 2021. The theme of this fest was “We are part of the solution #for nature”. The idea behind choosing this as a theme was to draw student’s attention towards the fact that biodiversity continues to be the answer for a significant number of sustainable development challenges. The fest provided a platform to the creative minds with artistic challenges to empower them to think beyond boundaries and it also aims at bringing the best talent among the students.
The valedictory session was held at 4.30pm. Dr Sakila Nongmeikapam, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies (PG), Kristu Jayanti College gave the valedictory address. Dr Juby Thomas, Head, Department of Media Studies (PG) felicitated the organisers and the participants. Throughout her speech, she encouraged the budding journalist to think differently and think out of the box. She also mentioned the significance of competitions a in a student’s life and how events are helpful in providing students with a great learning experience. She also motivated the students and appreciated the class animator for organizing such an important event and the participants for their enthusiastic participation.
The results for the events were announced, with enthusiastic applause and encouragement from the audience. The events, namely, Best reporter, Best TV News Anchor, Best RJ and Best Cartoonist, the submissions were taken through Google forms. The competition was opened to all first year MA Journalism & Mass Communication students. Media. Twelve students participated in the ON REC Media Fest and the winners were awarded. The students who received the awards in the four categories were:
Best Reporters – Rumi Besra and Swetha Prasad
Best TV News Anchor – Karan Ashwath
Best RJ and Best Cartoonist – Chanchal V Thilakan
The response for the fest was heartening as the entries received from the young competitors left an positive impression on everyone associated with the event.
E- Magazine iCAN releases at the 44th Edition of Vichaarmanthan
‘iCAN’, an e-magazine from the Department of Media Studies was released at the 44th Edition of Vichaarmathan on 18 December 2020. The chief guest, a renowned professor in the field of development communication Dr. Srinivas R Melkote and Fr. Dr. Augustine George, Principal, Kristu Jayanti College virtually released the e-magazine “ iCAN” in the presence of more than 800 students, faculty members and students from other institutions from various parts of India.
The e-magazine was released after a one-hour enlightening talk by Dr. Srinivas Melkote, Professor Emeritus, School of Media and Communication Bowling Green State University, USA on the “Role and Place of Communication in Development: Implications for the Field”.
iCAN is an e-magazine initiated by post graduate students of Journalism and Mass Communication (MA JMC), Department of Media Studies to create awareness about the various aspects of COVID-19 and to provide invaluable information about the pandemic. The initiative is a part of the continuation of the noble initiatives taken at Kristu Jayanti College, both offline and online to support neighbourhood community and its stakeholders in response to the current pandemic situation.
The Department of Media Studies, Kristu Jayanti College organises the prestigious “Vichaarmanthan” programme every year, inviting dynamic global and Indian visionaries to impart insightful knowledge and generate stimulating dialogues on the significant role of media and communication in contemporary society.
Kindly find iCAN 2020 Magazine link from Kristu Jayanti College Server.
https://kristujayanti.edu.in/ICAN2020.pdf
Wellness hour for I MA JMC students
The students of the first-year JMC course conducted an hour-long wellness session to bond and interact with their classmates and their class animator Dr. Juby Thomas on 20th OCtober at 3.00 pm. The event, conducted over the Zoom platform, was hosted by J Padmaja, a student of the class.M
Padmaja started the meeting by conducting a treasure hunt. The students were given 45 seconds to find and show objects that were yellow, sharp, spherical or unusual. While some could find all the objects that matched the criteria, a few were unable to do so. Nonetheless, this game ensured the participation of all attendees and served as an effective ice- breaker for the session.
The next challenge was to solve a puzzle displayed for them on the screen. Participants were also encouraged to guess the words associated with that puzzle. This was followed by another game in which students had to extract as many smaller words as possible from a bigger word that was cued on the screen.
The last game of the session was ‘Continue the Story’. The host started the game by displaying a phrase on the screen while the students took turns to continue the story by adding other phrases to it. Although the completed story was quite different from the one they started with, it presented them with an opportunity to unleash their creativity.
The success of the first wellness hour prompted students to plan the consecutive sessions with a different host every week to guarantee the participation of all students in the class.
Group Discussion on Relevance of Gandhian Thoughts in 21st century
“Relevance of Gandhian Thoughts in 21st century" a group discussion was organized by the third semester MA JMC students on 2nd October 2020 to enlighten the different aspects of Gandhian thoughts with regard to the present day scenario.
The final year students of MA JMC started the discussion by touching various aspects of Gandhian ideologies. Gandhi as the prophet of future of technology was highlighted by Bal Francina, a final year, MA JMC student by referring to Gandhi’s book ' Swaraj'. “Gandhi's vision of the secular state is a place where religious values and discourse are cherished and respected in all spheres of life, the public as well as private, but no religion is allowed to dominate the other, " stated Nishitha S Phirangi, final year MA JMC student while highlighting Gandhi’s views on secularism, and also reminded “Our constitution is a ray of HOPE, H for Harmony, O for opportunity, P people's participation and E for equality". Ms Aileen Sara Jacob, final year MA JMC student led the discussion on Gandhi's vision on women empowerment, “He was of the opinion that until and unless women develop with regard to knowledge and education, they can't find a proper place in society and economic fields”. And she concluded by saying even today the struggle continues.
Gandhian approach to untouchability, working conditions in the 21st century, and ideas on the Swadeshi movement by Gandhi its relevance today and Gandhian thoughts on humanity were also echoed during the discussion. “Gandhi's view on economics is idea of swadeshi, mechanization, industrialization, trusteeship, villagism and decentralization of economy” mentioned Joyce Joyson and Sristy Chhetri, focused on the idea “ Nature belongs to everyone and no one should get more or less of it rather it should be equal”. With examples from real life Mayank Kabtiyal, final year MA JMC student addressed the need to adopt Non-Violence for a better world and the participants posed a question on the recent rape incidents. Senorita Lakra, final year MA JMC student engaged all the participants in a pledge regarding Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. "I will not litter and will not let others do so".
The program was initiated by Ms. Nishitha Phirangi and Gopinath K M the student coordinators under the guidance of Dr Juby Thomas, coordinator, Media Studies (PG).
With the involvement of faculty members and first year MA JMC, the group discussion was successfully conducted to enlighten the minds of the students with the ever green Gandhian thoughts. Prof. Abraham, Prof. Aby Augustine, Prof. Anju Michael and Dr Sakila were the other faculty members present.
Value Added Course
The Department of Media Studies (PG) commences its 14-day Value Added Course (VAC) from 14 September to 28 September. The VAC in Cultural Studies and Semiotics are particularly offered for Master in Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) students who have enrolled for the academic year 2020-2021, aiming to enable students to inculcate research skills and critical thinking.
“The objective of providing Value Added Course (VAC) for fresher is to nurture research skills and critical thinking and also aims to provide a better understanding of society and culture among the students”, said Dr. Juby Thomas, coordinator, Media Studies-PG.
The first day of the program saw student’s engagement and active participation, making the classes interactive and beneficial for the students. ‘The sessions were “inspiring and engaging”, and the best way to start one’s academic journey’, Karan Ashwath, I semester student told us when asked about his feedback on the first day of VAC classes. The thirty-hour VAC program will have three sessions a day from 9:15 a.m-1:15 pm.
Dr. Juby Thomas, along with Prof. Anju Michael, Prof. Aby Augustine, and Prof. Sreesanth from the Department of Media Studies will discuss multi-dimensions on cultural studies and the applications of semiotics in communication research.
TWILIGHT TALKS
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of Kristu Jayanti College in association with the Department of Media Studies, Christ BRG Campus, organised Twilight Talks – a month-long online lecture series from May 6 to May 30, 2020. The collaborative platform brought 21 accomplished resource persons from the media industry and academics to share their experiences and insights. The half an hour online session on every evening provided an interactive platform for the media students to interact with them.
The webinar series began on May 6 with a lecture on the ‘role of media in the time of crisis’ by Mr Dominic D’Souza, Vice President, Legal Regulatory with the Hinduja Ventures and former journalist. He explained the trends in media during the time of the pandemic. He also presented the challenges faced by the media and also the ethics that needs to uphold during crisis and distress situation. In the following day, Prof Umesh Arya, Life Coach, Healer and Corporate Trainer, Media Teacher took a session on 'Fact-Checking and Data Verification' where he introduced students various fact-checking tools and methods. The first week of Twilight Talks also had sessions from Dr K G Suresh, Director General at Indian Institute of Mass Communication and Mrinal Chatterjee journalist-turned-media academician.
The second week of Twilight Talk had six prominent speakers from different areas of journalism. The second week started a talk with Mr Arun PR, a screenplay writer, a director associated Malayalam film industry, who shared his journey from a screenplay writer to director. Ms Keya Acharya, President of the Forum of Environmental Journalists in India (FEJI) spoke about environmental journalism and Mr Vasuki Belavadi author and a Faculty Fellow, UNESCO Chair on Community Media at the University of Hyderabad expressed his views about ‘Fake news: Newsfeed and Diffusion of Misinformation.’
Mr Ravi Kumar Dhulipala imparted his insights to the budding media enthusiasts about the scope of anchoring as a profession. Students got a glimpse of ‘ scope of digital advertising ‘ through the informative interactive session by Sherya Krishnan, VP – Marketing and Communications. Bhargav Roy, Technical Director at Doordarshan, talked on the changes happening in the post-production stage in television and broadcast industry.
The third week series of Twilight Talk has five experts. Mr Arun Bose, writer-director shared his journey and experience in the film industry. Following days had a session from Mr Anup Menon and Ms Kavya Narayan, Client Servicing, DNA Entertainment who shared insights about their areas of expertise in media. Ms Kavya explained in details about planning events and making a career out of it. Prof Manu Chakravarthy, an author, gave an insightful talk on the wonders of cinema. He explained how the concept of time was experimented by different filmmakers. Dr Juby Thomas, Faculty of Kristu Jayanti College provide a positive talk about the future of journalism and its scope.
The last week of Twilight Talk had insightful sessions by various experts. Dr Tan Ee Lyn, a veteran investigative journalist spoke about her journey in the field of journalism. Her talk had an insight into the eastern perspective of journalism, especially when covering the crisis. The following day had a session by Dr Ashwini Falnikar, Faculty Christ Deemed to be University. She session covered the topics of government, communities and communication which were always interlinked for the development of the nation. She shared her ten years of work in different areas in the country and how it benefitted the communities. On May 27, Wednesday, Mr Joseph Ammakutty Jose, RJ Radio Mirchi, shared tips on how to be an effective RJ. He said a good storytelling skill is essential to connect with the audience. The following day’s session was by Mr Adarsh Nalam, independent content strategist and PR Consultant who spoke in detail about the PR industry, media developments, shifts in agencies and branding tactics to the audience. The last session of the Twilight Talks was by Mr Edison Thomas, Editor, Indulge-New Indian Express Supplement, Chennai. He said print media has a long way to go and audience trust print because the information in the newspaper is validated and verified.
The twenty-one day long online lecture series ended on May 30, Friday. It connected more than two-hundred journalism students and academicians of Kristu Jayanti College and Christ University. In the pandemic crisis, the Twilight Talks helped to provide well-rounded understanding about the role of media and journalism and the changing trends in the coming future.
For almost 1.5 years the residents of Hennur, Narayanapura and Kothanur have been witnessing road menace in their localities. The roads have turned into a dust bowl. The dug up roads to lay pipes haven’t been repaired and the prolonged exposure to dust and pollution has invited a lot of health concerns. The Jayantians’ decided to take a step to create awareness. Final year BA JPENG students organized a voluntary ‘free mask distribution campaign’ to create awareness on the seriousness of the issue on February 7, 2020; in the tri-junction of K.Narayanapura Cross. The news about the campaign was published in 15 newspapers and TV channels in Kannada, English, Malayalam, Marathi and Hindi for seven continuous days.
During this initiative students interacted with shopkeepers, vegetable vendors and bakery owners. Majority of them reported a drop in their business due to dust and the inability to display the products due to dusty air. Security guards of the nearby apartments and other offices were on the view that a single mask is insufficient to them and such initiatives by students are highly beneficial to them due to the nature of their job.
The campaign also intended to build a positive attitude towards wearing a mask, this awareness campaign aimed by students enhanced a positive attitude. Students of Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College, Autonomous saved their pocket money to help people around K.Narayanapura beat air pollution by supplying masks. Their independent efforts are really commendable to empower the pedestrians, students, auto drivers and the shopkeepers who are exposed to air pollution.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little Extra!!! And Kristu Jayanti College always goes the extra mile to make its students into socially responsible citizens and this initiative is proof of it.
The students of Kristu Jayanti College celebrated the importance of life among the underprivileged fellow beings. A three day campaign in Bengaluru was organized by the final year undergraduate students of Journalism. The campaign began with paying respect to the elders in the society and commemorated their contributions. With a theme “Light amidst the Darkness,” a three-hour programme was conducted at Gunella Preethi Nivas – Home for the old on January 16 and 17, 2019 to bringing hope, light and joy to the elderly members of the home for the old. “We were overwhelmed by the positive response from the members, as an elderly gentleman expressed his gratitude on behalf of the house. He also encouraged us to be strong, bold and passionate in all our endeavors as they consider us as the future of the nation,” opined Yana Sylvester, a final year student.
“The purpose of the campaign was to nurture kindness and compassion among the students and teach them to make a difference in their local community after the college hours. Around 150 students actively participated in the campaign and it was overwhelming to see them spreading happiness in the life of the deprived fellow beings in the neighborhood,” opined Dr. Juby Thomas, coordinator for the campaign.
The three-day campaign ended on January 20, 2019, with an exclusive gathering of Jayantians at JMJ Sneha Sadan Children’s Home. It ended with mirth and fun abound as all the children were treated to delicious snacks and gifts that enlightened them. The students empowered the children to shape their story, where organizers, as well as the children, enjoyed a great deal with much exuberance and enthusiasm. The little ones relished an evening of entertaining activities which included fun games, dancing, and sing-offs where the children were able to showcase their talents in different ways. “Seeing the smiles on their faces just made our day,” said Diya Ann, a final year Journalism student of Kristu Jayanti College. “Parting ways with them was the most painful part,” she added.
Being able to dance together in unity was the highlight of the campaign; each and every one who were part of the initiative learnt the value of unity and friendships and that no obstacle can put an end to one’s happiness as long as they’re in unison. Every single student jumped and leaped and laughed wholeheartedly with the children and elderly members, proving that age does not act as a barrier between them.
Rural exposure program organized for MA Journalism students
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kristu Jayanti College, Bengaluru organized a rural exposure programme for the second semester MA JMC students in Kesaregere Village, Mallur district on December 17, 2018. The first part of the journey was to the Government Higher Primary School, Kesaregere. The school has 102 students. Journalism students conducted parallel sessions on health and hygiene for the children. They also taught them basic communication skills and rhymes. A group of students were involved in painting the benches, desks and walls of the school and also helping in cooking for the children. Several indoor and outdoor games were organized. Outdoor games like musical chair, lemon and spoon race, throw ball and kabaddi were organized for the children.
In the afternoon students were split into various groups and went to each house in the village and conducted a media exposure survey. The program ended with a valedictory session in the school at 3.30 PM. Dr. Juby Thomas, faculty coordinator for the program presided over the function. Mr. Venkatesh, The Headmaster, two teachers Sarasvati S V and Muniratna distributed the prizes to the winners.
Rural Exposure Program
The Department of Mass communication and Journalism organized a rural exposure program for the first and second year postgraduate students on 27 February 2018. Students visited Byalahalli, a village located at Kolar District. The day began with a formal session with the teachers and the students in the government school. Drawing, craft and sports competitions were conducted for the students in the school. Journalism students made all possible ways to create awareness on various safety tips and conducted sessions on spoken English and ethical values.
In the afternoon students were split into various groups and went to each house in the village and conducted a media exposure survey. The program ended with a valedictory session at 4.00 Pm in the school and Prof. Juby Thomas distributed prizes to the school children.