Dr. J.B. Mistry:

He is the Academic Dean and Board Member, Xavier Institute of Communication. He is a former physics professor and a PhD holder and has taught for over 38 years at St. Xavier's College.

The Indian Entertainment & Media (E&M) industry over the recent years has grown by 11.8 percent and has reached Rs. 918 billion and is expected to grow over Rs. 227000 crore by 2018.The Indian economy continues to perform strongly and one of the key sectors that benefits from this fast economic growth is the E&M industry. This is because E&M is a cyclical industry that grows faster when the economy is expanding. Overtime the media industry has seen changes and has varied needs. Internet access has overtaken the print segment as the second-largest segment contributing to the overall pie of entertainment and media sector revenues. There is a need in media business strategies to fit for a digital age. The industry needs to get closer to the consumer and adopt more flexible business models that empower innovation. The Indian Media sector has hence come out of its infancy and has opened doors for talent and new opportunities with its expanding advent; providing a platform for new talent to these fields is Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC). Established in 1969 by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India to develop scholarship and professionalism in the media, the institute actively fosters to the needs of the industry by producing media professionals of a new magnitude.

"Journalism is no longer print. Journalism today embraces radio, stories, documentaries, broadcast journalism, niche journalism and social media," says Dr. J.B. Mistry, Dean, Xavier Institute of Communication. The institute offers courses across domains like advertising including marketing through social media, sound editing, video editing, photography, VFX, and PR. C4D - Communication for Development is a full-time, post-graduate diploma program, a first of its kind offered in India. Through this course, XIC aims to go beyond generating awareness, to creating a grassroots level democratic dialogue about development in which citizens would have a consultative/co-creative role.In collaboration with UNICEF, the institute has developed a curriculum framework for C4D Course that includes theory on approaches to development in India, poverty discourse and various other 'isms'. It also includes Research, which is the first step in design of the C4D strategy, skill sets such as journalistic writing, public service advertising, film-making and screen writing for television. "A substantial part of the program is conducted through 'assisted learning' which involves students undertaking assignments, research and case studies, projects done individually or in groups under the guidance of the faculty," says Dr. Mistry.

The faculty at Xavier Institute of Communications is drawn from distinguished professionals in the field. Over the years, they have developed excellent rapport with the student body, which explains the high degree of involvement and participation which characterizes the activities of the Institute. They have cinematographers, editors, sound specialists, journalists and many industry specialized people that strive in guiding media students on the industry frontier. In pursuit of their endeavor to produce industry ready media professionals, Xavier Institute of Communications provides ample opportunities that meet world class amenities in support of the C4D programme. In its campus, the institute boasts of a fully equipped sound studio, editing studio, computer labs that are being constantly upgraded for VFX, Gaming and other forms of media activities. They have large lecture rooms that enable active delivery of syllabus. The institute has recently received access to databases like E Library USA where a student can gain access to many reference books, research projects, newsletter and much more.

The institute provides support to its students in their training and placement by offering internships and pre-placement activities. The students actively get themselves interned at many top media organizations such as Viacom 18, and others which maintain close tie-ups with the institute. These MoUs help in providing industry insight to the students and help them attain a transition from a pupil to a media professional. The institute also encourages the entrepreneurial zeal of students as many of its alumni lead many production houses. "The institute vigorously facilitates placements and has received its highest package of over six lakhs p.a. which is subjected to grow with the rise in student intake every year," reveals Dr. Mistry.

Xavier Institute of Communications has broken barriers in admissions through innovative admission methods like online admissions, Skype interviews and others. It maintains close ties with Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The institute is in talks to provide VFX training with experts involved in Hollywood films. With a roadmap ahead to expand their campuses and broadcast community radio service for social outreach, Xavier Institute of Communications, is one amongst the frontrunners in making India a hub for media professionals to flourish.