Presidency College
By Shilpa Kalyan, Head - Centre for Media Studies
Professional and practical opportunities are key components of a productive learning experience for students in journalism and communication fields. While, the media industry is witnessing unprecedented changes, Centre for Media Studies at Presidency College leads the way with its unique blend of theory and practice, knowledge and implementation. Located in Bangalore, the hub of cutting-edge education, Presidency College is creating a new generation of media professionals who can find new ways to understand audiences by not only thriving in this exciting new landscape but also helping to shape it.
"Journalism is a creative field, cannot be taught like any other subject. We adopt our own unique strategies to train the students," states Shilpa Kalyan, Head - Centre for Media Studies, Presidency College. The Centre for Media Studies at Presidency, since its inception in 2010, has proved to be one with a difference. 'Be creative to understand the power of imagination' is the mantra of Presidency team, which helps the media students to get a good start in the industry. Kalyan adds, "We prepare each and every student to be resilient, independent, creative and individuated."
Presidency College has an extremely democratic work culture. The Department follows an inter-disciplinary approach with faculty members from diverse fields of expertise. The journalism course is very effectively synchronized with subjects like Psychology, Political Science and English Literature. The department also includes subjects that do not conventionally come under Humanities. There are faculty members specializing in Economics, Management and Environmental science. They ensure that the students acquire skills of journalism with a humane approach. Students are trained in soft skills and value added programmes to enhance their personal and professional skills. It is the understanding about the industry facilitating the learning and employability. On this behalf, the college maintains a strong bond with various constituents of media industry like Print media, Electronic Media, Advertising, PR and so on. To keep themselves in pace with the changing trends of the industry, the faculty members upgrade their knowledge and skills by participating in Conferences, Workshops, Faculty Development Programmes and Seminars. "The College was the proud host of the Global Apprentice Conference organized in partnership with the International Advertising Association (IAA). Top names from media, PR and Advertising guided students about the disruptions happening in the industry, professional opportunities and how to prepare for a career in the media industry," pinpoints Kalyan.
Students periodically go on field visits to understand the application of ideas that they learn in class. Students have visited Suvarna News and News 9 studios to study the working of newsrooms. "In order to expose them to the possibilities in radio broadcasting, students have been taken to All India Radio, private FM Radio stations and a community radio station in Hoskote," says Kalyan. Field trips to Vidhana Soudha and Karnataka High Court have enabled students to appreciate how places of political and judicial power work.
"Our students have been regularly interning with leading media houses like The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The Times of India, DNA and regional media like Mathrubhumi and Malayalam Manorama. Students have also interned at CNN IBN, Viacom, B. PAC, The Woman News, NDTV, ANN News, Via.com and Polka Cafe," claims Kalyan. To improve the employability of students and to bridge the gap between the academia and industry, the college provides professional certification courses in Film Making, Public Relations, Radio Programming, Television Production, Public Relations, Conflict and Resolution Policy, News Anchoring, Documentary Film Making and Page Design using InDesign and so on. The critical analysis being a vital characteristic for a media professional, the department also runs an active film club for cinephiles, which conducts film screenings on a weekly basis. By introducing students to the best of cinema and by engaging them in discussions and in-depth analysis of films, the club aims to develop in students a critical eye for film appreciation.
Additionally, to ensure the students with the awareness of the expectations of industry the college regularly invites speakers from various disciplines. Noted personalities like Ms. Dhanya Rajendran (Editor in Chief, The News Minute), Mr. Chidananda Rajghatta (Foreign Correspondent - Times of India), Mr. P Sheshadri (Film Maker), Ms. Manjula Veerappa (Sports Journalist), Mr. Manu Chakravarthy (National Award-winning film critic) and many more have interacted with students, addressing their questions and doubts about working of the media industry. "We ensure at least one industry interaction per week to give a 360-degree exposure to the media industry," says Kalyan.
The institute takes pride in the fact that, students from India and abroad choose this college every year; for they believe in the commitment to inclusive education. "In the coming years also, we at the Presidency, have made the choice to strive for excellence in all our activities and inculcate in our students the vision and the power to reach greater heights," concludes Kalyan.
She has been part of the academic fraternity for nearly 11 years. A UGC - NET qualified academician currently pursuing Doctoral Research from the Department of Communication, Bangalore University with specialization in Children and Broadcast communication Media. She is working on a UGC sponsored Minor Research Project on Community Radio.
"The Centre for Media Studies at Presidency, since its inception in 2010, has proved to be one with a difference"
"Journalism is a creative field, cannot be taught like any other subject. We adopt our own unique strategies to train the students," states Shilpa Kalyan, Head - Centre for Media Studies, Presidency College. The Centre for Media Studies at Presidency, since its inception in 2010, has proved to be one with a difference. 'Be creative to understand the power of imagination' is the mantra of Presidency team, which helps the media students to get a good start in the industry. Kalyan adds, "We prepare each and every student to be resilient, independent, creative and individuated."
Moulding versus Teaching
Presidency College has an extremely democratic work culture. The Department follows an inter-disciplinary approach with faculty members from diverse fields of expertise. The journalism course is very effectively synchronized with subjects like Psychology, Political Science and English Literature. The department also includes subjects that do not conventionally come under Humanities. There are faculty members specializing in Economics, Management and Environmental science. They ensure that the students acquire skills of journalism with a humane approach. Students are trained in soft skills and value added programmes to enhance their personal and professional skills. It is the understanding about the industry facilitating the learning and employability. On this behalf, the college maintains a strong bond with various constituents of media industry like Print media, Electronic Media, Advertising, PR and so on. To keep themselves in pace with the changing trends of the industry, the faculty members upgrade their knowledge and skills by participating in Conferences, Workshops, Faculty Development Programmes and Seminars. "The College was the proud host of the Global Apprentice Conference organized in partnership with the International Advertising Association (IAA). Top names from media, PR and Advertising guided students about the disruptions happening in the industry, professional opportunities and how to prepare for a career in the media industry," pinpoints Kalyan.
Students periodically go on field visits to understand the application of ideas that they learn in class. Students have visited Suvarna News and News 9 studios to study the working of newsrooms. "In order to expose them to the possibilities in radio broadcasting, students have been taken to All India Radio, private FM Radio stations and a community radio station in Hoskote," says Kalyan. Field trips to Vidhana Soudha and Karnataka High Court have enabled students to appreciate how places of political and judicial power work.
"Our students have been regularly interning with leading media houses like The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The Times of India, DNA and regional media like Mathrubhumi and Malayalam Manorama. Students have also interned at CNN IBN, Viacom, B. PAC, The Woman News, NDTV, ANN News, Via.com and Polka Cafe," claims Kalyan. To improve the employability of students and to bridge the gap between the academia and industry, the college provides professional certification courses in Film Making, Public Relations, Radio Programming, Television Production, Public Relations, Conflict and Resolution Policy, News Anchoring, Documentary Film Making and Page Design using InDesign and so on. The critical analysis being a vital characteristic for a media professional, the department also runs an active film club for cinephiles, which conducts film screenings on a weekly basis. By introducing students to the best of cinema and by engaging them in discussions and in-depth analysis of films, the club aims to develop in students a critical eye for film appreciation.
Additionally, to ensure the students with the awareness of the expectations of industry the college regularly invites speakers from various disciplines. Noted personalities like Ms. Dhanya Rajendran (Editor in Chief, The News Minute), Mr. Chidananda Rajghatta (Foreign Correspondent - Times of India), Mr. P Sheshadri (Film Maker), Ms. Manjula Veerappa (Sports Journalist), Mr. Manu Chakravarthy (National Award-winning film critic) and many more have interacted with students, addressing their questions and doubts about working of the media industry. "We ensure at least one industry interaction per week to give a 360-degree exposure to the media industry," says Kalyan.
The institute takes pride in the fact that, students from India and abroad choose this college every year; for they believe in the commitment to inclusive education. "In the coming years also, we at the Presidency, have made the choice to strive for excellence in all our activities and inculcate in our students the vision and the power to reach greater heights," concludes Kalyan.
Shilpa Kalyan, Head - Centre for Media Studies
She has been part of the academic fraternity for nearly 11 years. A UGC - NET qualified academician currently pursuing Doctoral Research from the Department of Communication, Bangalore University with specialization in Children and Broadcast communication Media. She is working on a UGC sponsored Minor Research Project on Community Radio.