With the popularity of e-paper and social media, print media is declining in western countries like United States of America and United Kingdom but there is much potential in print media in India in the next 15 years or more as it has yet to achieve cent per cent literacy rate, said The Pioneer, Chandigarh edition senior editor Amitabh Shukla while addressing students at a two-day national conference on emerging trends and future prospects in communication at School of Mass Communication in IMS Unison University on Monday. Interacting with the students, Shukla asked them to start developing their interest in news, habit of writing blogs and talking to the masses to achieve their desired goal in the field of journalism.
He also shared his initial experiences in journalism when computers had just made their entry. He said that typewriter was the only tool for writing reports and journalists use to fax the reports to the news desk. “Information technology has made the life of journalists easier now. There are some challenges in mass media but one who has good news sense and script writing skills can excel in the field of journalism,” he added.
Senior journalist, Doordarshan, Sudhanshu Ranjan expressed disappointment over commercialisation of mass media adding that media needs serious introspection on the involvement of market forces in its day to day activities.
Uttarakhand Open University vice-chancellor Prof Subhash Dhuliya talked about emerging trends in communication and highlighted its benefits and shortcomings to the students. There is a craze for social media among youths but it has yet to reach large population especially among rural masses.
In the last few years, social media has given new shape to media and through this, details of incidents occurring in any part of the world can be exchanged without spending much time, he added.
University pro-chancellor and officiating vice-chancellor Dr MP Jain highlighted the importance of technology and communication in the field of journalism and said that this conference will help the students to shape their future in right direction.
On the occasion, university Assistant Prof Dr Kumar Rajyavardhan’s book- “Critical Analysis of Novels of Amitav Ghosh” was also released.
Head of Communication, Doon University Dr Rajesh Kumar and Dr Ram Pujan Singh shared their views with the students on the occasion. Others presents on the occasion included university pro vice-chancellor Prof Vijayan Immanuel, university associate pro vice-chancellor Dr Pavan Kumar Aggarwal, head of department Dr Jayant Panda, Prof Deepak Uniyal and students.