IIMC-Jammu Takes the Lead

Over the years there has been a considerable decline in professional journalism. The reason being the lack of training to learn the nuances of journalism. With the advent of digital media platforms the conventional media has taken the back seat. This has led to dilution in high quality journalism. The decline in the readership of the newspapers has its own pitfalls .It reveals many things. One that the people have been kept away from the internalisation of the utility of the editorials that define the soul of the newspaper. The advent of superficial reporting devoid of primary research has led to the creation of a generation of journalists who fall short of developing the narratives and opinions. The usage of diluted  language and lack of content has created a void when it comes to serious journalism. This acute crisis of professionalism in journalism has affected all levels. It includes the national dailies. That includes both English and Hindi newspapers besides the vernacular newspapers. The dearth of original thinkers and opinion makers has led to a crisis in terms of editorial. For a long time there is a shortage of thinker editors who can shape the national narrative and add scholarship to journalism. It is in this context that the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC),Jammu has taken the lead .A three day comprehensive workshop that commenced on 5th April at its campus on the theme “Unsung Heroes of Jammu and Kashmir “ aimed at documenting  the contribution of the freedom fighters who have been relegated to the backyard of  independence history is a welcome move. This three day media skills workshop aims to cater to all issues being faced by journalists in both print and electronic media. It lays emphasis on the hands-on training in the various areas of journalism to equip the students with both conventional and new media techniques. So that they can tackle the emerging challenges in  all the areas of journalism. Experts of national repute from various areas of journalism and research have been taken on board to develop the capacity building. This is much needed to do the course correction so that the dearth of professional journalists being felt on the ground can be resolved. Prof.(Dr.) Anil Saumitra, Regional Director, IIMC, Jammu is right when he says that the students of journalism have to use all senses  of listening, reading ,viewing and expression to emerge as  professional journalists. Laying the thrust on the practical learning in journalism he has rightly underlined  journalism as an art and science both. It is this approach that will lead to training a human resource of journalists who can be the game changers when there is a complete disarray. Role of experts like Prof.(Dr.) Anil Saumitra  is of immense importance to develop the institutions like IIMC in Jammu and Kashmir so that the desperation of more than three decades is compensated with  developing professional journalists who can present the real situation to the nation. And act as the sentinels of national building defeating the subversive narratives that are far from ground reality. It is the duty of the  civil society to join hands in this noble cause to motivate the young students to take journalism as the career option and become the leaders of national change for renaissance. We hope that IIMC, Jammu will emerge as the game changer in the coming years for the quality journalism blended with professionalism.