teaching media
TRANSCRIPT
Challenges in Teaching Media
in a Changing Global Scenario
Dr. Mrinal ChatterjeeProfessor
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)Sanchar Marg, Dhenkanal 759 001, Orissa
We live in a world where media are omnipresent.
- UNESCO Declaration on Media Education, 1982, Grunwald, Germany
A brief history of Communications
• 60,000 years ago People started to speak• 5,000 years ago People started to write• 600 years ago People started to publish• 110 years ago Radio was invented• 80 years ago Television was invented• 45 years ago Internet was born• 30 years ago Mobile telephone was
given patent right
A brief history of
Mass media in India1780 First newspaper was published 1924 Radio was introduced1959 Television was introduced1990 Internet was introduced1995 Mobile telephone was introduced
Media use in India• 1940s
– Newspaper, radio, cinema, theatre• 1960s
– Newspaper, radio, cinema, theatre, TV• 1990s
– Newspaper, radio, cinema, theatre, TV, Satellite TV, VCR, Internet
• 2000-– Newspaper, radio, cinema, theatre, TV, Satellite TV, VCR,
Mobile phone, DVD, E mail, Webcam, blog, podcasting. CONVERGENCE
Mass media in India now
• 62, 000+ publications• 18 crore copies of newspapers are circulated
daily• 300+ radio stations• Footprints of 500+ television channels• 32 lakh internet connection• 2.5 crore mobile handsets in use
A brief history of Media Teaching in India
• First systematic journalism course was introduced in National University at Adyar in Madras (now Chennai) in early 30s
– Source: Dr. Nadig Kishna Murthy former Professor of Journalism at Mysore University,
• 1938 Aligarh Muslim University • 1941 Punjab University, Lahore• 1947 Madras University • 1950 Calcutta University
Status of Media Education in India
• 100+ universities offer PG courses in Mass communication- Journalism: print, television, radio, web; public relations, advertising, etc. Besides there are several private institutions providing short and medium term courses.
• There are several media-related courses, with more emphasis on practical applicability e.g. media management, media relations, event management, etc. More such courses are being introduced.
Challenges in Teaching Media in a Changing Global Scenario
• Growth: Vertical, horizontal and spatial • Change: Content, presentation, technology• Approach: Media tends to be simultaneously global
and ultra local• Industry-Academics synergy• Infrastructure and Logistics
Challenges in Teaching Media
growth• Media is an umbrella term. It encompasses
– entertainment, – education, – information
• It has grown over the years with invention of new technologies. With the advent of each new technology existing media dynamics changes. Change affects all existing media.
Challenges in Teaching Media change
From news media to entertainment –the only constant thing is –change.
BOTH will CONTINUE
Change in Media
Was• Linear• Text Web• Copyright• Advertising• Professional Creators• Pay with cash• One way Push
Is/Will be• Interactive• Audio & Video Web• Usage Right• Ads as Content• User / Usator Content
• Pay with attention• 2-way Pull
Challenges in Teaching Media Change in C ntent
– The content of media is changing with new situations, new developments, new problems, new opportunities and new needs (actual and/or perceived).
Challenges in Teaching Media Change in Presentation
– With change in audience profile and technology, the presentation is changing.
– News on television is more ‘in your face’ now.– Average length of stories in newspaper and magazines
are shortening.– Web is creating a new medium of communication-
combining reading, listening and viewing experience.
Challenges in Teaching Media Specialisation
• Growth in media and audience demand/warrant specialisation- in content and form.
Challenges in Teaching Media Industry-Academics synergy
– Industry expects academia to deliver industry-ready person with right skill and attitude.
– Academics is heavily biased towards imparting theoretical input.
– Often there is mismatch /disconnect/ disharmony
Challenges in Teaching Media Infrastructure and Logistics
– Most of the media teaching institutes of India lack right kind of infrastructure to teach technology-driven modern media.
– There are logistical problems thanks to typical bureaucratic red tapeism.
Can we meet the challenges?
Y E SWe can.
It’ll require efforts by the Teachers and the Management of Media Teaching Institutes.
Some suggestions For the Teachers
Some suggestions For the Teachers
• Update• Work hands on• Engage with media• Familiarize yourself with technology• Use internet and web resources
Some suggestions For the Teachers
• Use more visuals. Use info graphics, videos, etc. The technology is simple.
• Class Room teaching is also performance. Prepare.
Some suggestions For the Media Institutions
• Be clear: theoretical input is as important as skill training.
• Provide infrastructure and logistics for hands on work experience. You never learn unless you do.
• Provide learning and growth opportunity for the faculty.
Some ideas for teaching media
• We do these in Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, Orissa.
Daily News on Television
• Students present 10 minute live bulletin in English and Oriya at 9.30 a.m.. News selection is done by them. Analysis and discussion on the news follow.
Daily Newspaper
• Students produce daily newspaper in English and Oriya. Deadline: 5.30 p.m. Analysis and discussion on the news follow.
Daily News for Radio
• Students present 5 minute news bulletin in English and Oriya at 5.50 p.m.. News selection is done by them. Analysis and discussion on the news follow.
Daily Presentation
• Students are required to deliver presentation on a socially relevant subject (assigned about a week before). It is followed by QA session.
Periodicals
• Students produce lab journals in print (18 issues; 4 pages in tabloid size) and web format.
Live Projects
• Students are engaged in live projects like publishing bulletin for the local Book fair committee and festival for differently able children.
• Students are engaged in live media research
Engagement with media
• Students are encouraged to write articles, features, even letters to the editor and send them for publication
• Students are encouraged to write blogs• Students are encouraged to write in citizen
journalism sites• E.g. merinews.com, youthejournalist.com, ohmynews.com
Engagement with technology
• Reading materials are provided through group mail• Students are encouraged to submit assignments
online• Students are encouraged to research online and do
computer assisted reporting
Some more suggestions
Update Syllabus
• Curricula should be updated periodically and also reviewed by a board of studies, which should include academics and media industry professionals.
• There should be attempt to initiate and support comprehensive media education programmes- from school to university.
Forge stronger academics-industry interface
• There should be industry input in preparation of syllabus
• Persons from industry should be invited to interact with and teach/train students
• There should be cross movement between industry and academics.
Mid career refresher for teachers
• Mid career refresher and orientation programmes should be organised.
• A few well equipped institutions like say IIMC could be identified for this purpose.
Networking of academicians
• There should networking of academicians and research scholars on a continuous basis for sharing of ideas and information.
• Training and related material could be distributed through this network.
• This could be done cost effectively through internet.
Encourage teachers to engage productively with media
• Teachers should be encouraged to engage productively with media– For example: Teachers should be permitted to work in media houses, say for a
couple of months every two years.
Useful Books
• Communication Education and Media needs in India: A study conducted by AMIC; 2002
• Teaching the Media: Len Masterman, Comedia Publishing Group, London, 1985
Sources for Web resources
• Education-Specific Search Tools– TekMom.com: A one stop shop for searching. Contains
a variety of search fields that allow students/teachers to search for a wide range of topics both in general search tools and subject specific ones.
– Bluewebn.com: A site that features many resources for teachers categorized by subject and activity type.
Sources for Web resources
Teacherlingo.com is a great website for teachers to write helpful articles for each other.
Teachervision.com This website saves time for teachers and provides free resources.
Teachertube.com is a great resource for educational videos.
• Some social networking sites for teachers are – Nextgenteachers.com– Crowdvine.com – ning.com
