The IIMC Delhi campus now boasts a state-of-the-art computer lab with 48 workstations. (Left) Sanjay Dwivedi, the director-general of IIMC. Image Source: IIMC
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will groom journalists of tomorrow to be tech-driven and survive the future world of robo-journalists and AI-driven news anchors.
“Technology, internet and smartphones have now completely changed the way the media functions. Robots and Artificial Intelligence are the reality of today's media. Technical competence is an important aspect of a journalist’s calibre today. Computers or robots writing data-driven stories, AI-driven news anchors reading out news should not be seen as threats but opportunities. And keeping that in mind we are launching our digital journalism course in 2022,” said Sanjay Dwivedi, the director-general of IIMC.
IIMC is ready with the curriculum and plans to launch the course next year. “For a new course to start, we would want our students to be on campus. Our curriculum is ready and has aspects like MOJO, digital media, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, social media, animation, gaming, apps and multimedia. Students will be taught the basics of using them” said Dwivedi.
“The print media has a huge challenge now as the media industry is undergoing a digital convergence. All media houses now have digital platforms. Till date, we had digital media as part of our existing courses. But our students got placed in digital media houses, content creating platforms, and edtech, among others. Now, through this course we will create communicators for these sectors,” Dwivedi explained.
To facilitate learners of the digital media course, the IIMC Delhi campus is also augmenting its infrastructure. “We have set up a state-of-the-art computer lab with 48 workstations. Having the right and updated technology would be an essential component for this course,” Dwivedi added.
IIMC is already conducting short-term courses on handling, responding and using digital media for the Indian Army, CRPF and various other government departments.
In addition to launching the postgraduate diploma course in digital journalism in 2022, IIMC will also introduce its Hindi journalism course on its Amravati and Jammu campuses next year. To begin with, all the new courses would have about 20 seats.
“In 2021, we are concentrating more on upgrading our infrastructure across campuses. In Amravati, Maharashtra, we have received five acres of land for the construction of our new campus. The foundation stone for it will be laid soon. The new buildings of our Aizawl and Jammu campuses are ready to be inaugurated. Additionally, we will continue to look for teaching talent and recruit them,” Dwivedi said.