Report on BAJMC Pre-Induction Program

About the session:
The Student Pre-Induction program was conducted for the First year newly admitted students of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at IMS Ghaziabad University Courses Campus on September 17, 2022. The central theme of the program was “Readiness for Media Industry in New Age.” Stalwarts from the media industry, including Mr. Rajeev Singh (Consulting Editor – Amar Ujala), Ms. Medha Chawla (Senior Journalist – Time Now Digital), and Ms. Radhika Ramaseshan (Consulting Editor – Business Standard), were the Guest of Honor for the event.

The event began with offering flowers to Goddess Saraswati. Followed by it, Director Dr. Arun Kumar Singh took the dais to welcome the new batch to the IMS family. Explaining the legacy of the esteemed IMS Group of Institutions to the students, Mr. Singh stressed the importance of interactivity and collaboration between the multi-disciplinary courses on the campus. He advised the students to take long strides in order to match the ever-changing and evolving field of journalism and mass communication in today’s scenario.
The Head of the Department, Dr. Anil Kumar Nigam, addressed the students with a promise to provide the skill and knowledge required to excel in the field of journalism and mass communication. He stressed the responsibilities that journalists have in the post-pandemic world.
Session-1
The first session of the day was taken by Mr. Rajeev Singh, Consulting editor, Amar Ujala. He began his address to the students by emphasizing the need for sensitivity in media personnel because of the nature of their work that extensively affects society. While talking about the challenges in the field of media, Mr. Singh recounted the history of media and the challenges it has faced since time immemorial. While acknowledging the change in the way the media industry works, he also talked about the various new avenues and opportunities that have opened up in the sphere.

Session-2
The second session of the day was taken by Ms. Medha Chawla, Senior Journalist, Times Now. She began her address by stating that the field of journalism is not just a profession but a responsibility. Ms. Chawla advised students to read beyond their textbooks and understand the basic components of the industry. She stressed learning the technological skills given their increasing importance in the media industry. While concluding her speech, Ms. Chawla also warned the students to avoid over-sensitization and harmful use of social media.

Session 3
The final session of the day was taken by Ms. Radhika Ramaseshan, Consulting Editor, Business Standard. She discussed the various pros and cons of stepping into the media industry. Ms. Ramaseshan also recounted her 40 years of experience in the field of journalism while reminiscing about her contemporaries of the time which brought to light some of the most important pieces of investigative journalism. She also talked about the worrying trends of corporate interference in media houses and what will be the impact of such actions on the media industry.
Following the sessions, students interacted with the guests and asked questions regarding several issues. The event was concluded with the National Anthem.