Friday, 7 November 2014

MUMBAI DECLARATION ON MEDIA EDUCATION

MUMBAI DECLARATION
ON
MEDIA EDUCATION
(MDME-2014)

The result of the
 Indian Council for Social Science Research
(ICSSR)
sponsored
National Round Table Conference on
 ‘Media Education : Challenges, Problems and Future Prospects’
jointly conducted by the Department of Communication & Journalism in University of Mumbai and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India,
held at Mumbai on 29-30th September, 2014.


MUMBAI DECLARATION ON MEDIA EDUCATION
(MDME-2014)
The world has undergone profound changes in Information and Communication Technologies in recent decades. Digital technology applications have revolutionized the Entertainment and Media (E & M) industry globally. It has changed the media landscape giving global recognition to E & M industry as an independent economic sector. This recognition has generated new opportunities, new challenges, also need for appropriate changes and solutions in the field of information, education & entertainment. This multidimensional growth, progress of science and technology has changed man's place in the world, the nature of his communication, need, use of media for communication for establishing and strengthening social relations. Indian democratic dividend has paved the way for the various challenges, problems and solutions in media education.
The significance, scopes of media education, providing solutions to the challenges, problems are essential for the genuine and impartial human development of the individuals.
Despite today's increased opportunities available in Information, Communication and Technologies, the media education in India is also faced with serious difficulties, deficiencies at various fronts like technology, research, professional and academic domains. These deficiencies are growing, many conflict of interests have created in result lack of solutions and consensus in meeting the needs of common man for quality of life and market as well as economic reality of media product consumption.
As per the guidelines UN Millennium Development Goals and UN Convention of Persons with Disabilities, which India has ratified in 2007, it is the responsibility of the Mass Media Professional fraternity in India to provide accessible formats for Mass Communication in education, entertainment and information. It is therefore now more urgent than ever to establish closer collaboration among various departments of communication & journalism in India to guarantee more humane and positive approach to communication and use of media with respect for the rights of others and to ensure the exercise of the fundamental freedom of every human being, and of their right to information, education and entertainment. For matured democracies we need matured well-informed public and for matured public, we need matured media. For matured media we need matured manpower coming out Journalism / Media Departments/Schools. Hence, we expect qualitative change in democracy to make it Deliverable Democracy. Thus ultimately for enhancement of quality of democracy, the quality Media Education is essential.
More than ever it is urgent to construct a separate Faculty of 'Media and Communication’ encompassing sub-disciplines such as Journalism print and electronic, Communication Studies, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, Corporate Communication, Business Communication, Community Journalism, Alternative /Grass-root Media, Accessible Media, Cartoons, Comics, Disability Communication, Elections and communication campaigns, Folk-media, Film Studies, Social Media, Advocacy Journalism, Brand Communication, Gamming, Animation, Graphic Designs, Events Management, Citizen journalism, Communication Research and many such emerging areas in every University colleges of India.
  1. Recommendations for Information & Broadcasting Ministry :

1.1. Establish a separate Media Commission thorough scientific study of the entire media industry in the line of Press Commission, with directions for a free and responsible function of media.

1.2. Modify Press Council of India act to make it Media Council of India (MCI), converting PCI to MCI.

1.3. While reinventing Press Council of India (PCI) into Media Council of India (MCI), it must be entrusted with responsibility of regulation of Media /Journalism Education in lines with Bar Council of India, AICTE, MCI without permission approval of the MCI no media institution be allowed to function as a educational institute.
2.   Recommendations for UGC/Universities under 12th Plan :

2.1.  Appoint an Expert Committee to the study status of Journalism/Media Education in India.

2.2.  Appoint an Expert Committee to upgrade and revise and reinvent media/journalism programs. Every three years such review to be undertaken.

2.3.  In qualification norms of teachers recruitment in Journalism & Media Education, professional media experience be counted and considered for the appointment, along with academic qualifications.

2.4.  Establish an independent faculty of Media/Journalism Education in the line of Commerce and Management Faculty.

2.5.  Minimum essential Academic and Professional Infrastructure for establishment of Department/School/College/Institutions, also insist existing
Departments / Colleges to develop these infrastructure. Provide additional financial support for developing this essential infrastructure.

                                                   i.  T.V.  Studio, with Teleprompter/ Multiprompter
                                                  ii.  Radio studio
                                                 iii.  Multimedia Lab with 20 computers & accessible editing master bundle, animation software.
                                                 iv.  New Media/Social Media Lab
                                                  v.  HD Video camera/still camera
                                                 vi.  Digital print lab
                                               vii.  Development of innovative teaching / learning aids, so that any other innovation can also be considered

2.6.  Minimum Faculty  Structure for University Department/Colleges imparting instructions in more than two programs.

a.   One Professor
b.   Two Associate Professor
c.   Four Asst. Professor
d.   Producer (New Media)/Asst. Librarian
e.   Cinematographer/Cameraman
f.    Digital Editor
g.   Programmer
h.   Technical Assistants-2
2.7.     Digital Library/Knowledge resource/Print library.

  1. Recommendation to University  and Departments/Schools/Board of Studies :

                       I.   Curriculum up-gradation ICT adoption/specialization
                      II.   Professional practical designs, in digital technology.
                    III.   Day to day application of ICTs in teaching & learning.
                   IV.   Increasing media industry-universities/colleges interplay activities/collaborations
                     V.   Inter-university/inter departmental/national/international collaboration/joint research projects
                   VI.   Undertaking basic research projects-theory building, adopting business incubation in media.
                  VII.   Research & development-R&D- Multidisciplinary research/multinational research/meta analysis.
                 VIII.   Capacity building of teachers training workshops/refresher courses
                   IX.   Student’s empowerment through multi-skills-short term & long term courses.
                     X.   Creating media critic/media researches.
                   XI.   Undertaking & designing new fulltime PG Courses in newer areas connected to digital ages.
                  XII.   Interaction at regional and national platforms for faculties, journalists and media professionals.
                 XIII.   Core faculty, Guest faculty & visiting faculty from industry
                XIV.   Industry-academic tie-ups
                 XV.   Minimum/appropriate infrastructure for hands on experience
                XVI.   Teachers training in new technology in industry
              XVII.   Specialization in research, content creation, T.V. Radio production, development communication.
             XVIII.   Use of social media, cloud technology and open sources.
                XIX.   Teacher as a learning designer & knowledge creator, online accessible lessons.
                 XX.   Content creation in regional languages with local regional national contexts.
                XXI.   Collaborative projects with other universities (faculty & students)

  1. Recommendations for Media Industry/Organizations:

a.    Pro-active partnership attempts with Entertainment and Media Industry is not seen, hence promote interactions/collaborations in journalism departments/schools/colleges.
b.    University/College/Departments/Schools can be a human resource providers to media/journalism industry, by deploying multi-skills among students to increase their employability.
c.    The newspapers/radio/TV/Advertising/PR Organizations can provide their media units/studios as Learning Labs. This will be mutually beneficial to media industry as well as Journalism schools/Dept./Colleges.
d.    University Departments/schools/colleges can undertake research assignments/projects from media industry.
e.    Entertainment & Media Industry (E&M industry) can provide scholarships to students for completing specific task/projects/promoting scholarships in this area.
f.     Support business incubation ideas/projects of media education institutions.
g.    Assisting media students and scholars in their research by helping them with information and sharing data. Allowing them to interact with media professionals in their organizations.

5.    Recommendation to Aspiring Students/Learners :

a.    Develop curiosity for convergence in media.
b.    Acquire multi-skills in digital media.
c.    Develop independent websites/blogs, video cv, audio cv  and promote web visibility for self branding.
d.    To acquire knowledge through e-learning methods through learning repositories and e-contents/digital libraries.
e.    To develop analytical and interpretative skills during over load of information.

By gathering in Mumbai for the ICSSR sponsored roundtable conference on ‘Media Education : Challenges, Problems and Future Prospects, the Mass Communication Professionals and Academia from various parts of the country decided to contribute effectively to the closer communion of peoples and to greater understanding among academia and industry in largest democracy in the world.


Prof. Dr. Sudhir Gavhane                                                             Dr. Sunder Rajdeep
Professor and Head,                                                                       Head, Dept. of Communication
Dept of Mass Communication & Journalism,                             & Journalism,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University,                University of Mumbai,
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.                                                 Mumbai, India.
Email : profgsudhir@gmail.com                                             Email : sunderrajdeep@gmail.com
(M) : 09096950035.                                                                  (M) : 09969145350.

Chairperson Declaration Draft Committee

Prof. Dr. P. J. Mathew Martin
Mass Media Officer (AYJNIHH) Govt. of India, (MSJ&E) &
Adjunct Faculty of DCJ, University of Mumbai,  India.

Organizing Committee
From University of Mumbai, India.
Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajan Welukar
Hon. Pro- Vice Chancellor Dr. Naresh Chandra
Hon. Registrar Dr. M. A. Khan
Dr. Sunder Rajdeep
Dr. Mangesh Karandikar
Mrs. Daivata Patil
Ms. Lubna Moosa
Mrs. Anushka Kulkarni.

From Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University,
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. B. A. Chopade
Prof. Dr. Sudhir Gavhane
Dr. V. L. Dharulkar
Prof. Jaidev Dole
Dr. Dinkar Mane
           
Advisor : Mr. Shriniwas Belsare

The suggestions came from following Participants : 

1)     Padmashree Kumar Ketkar
Editor, Mi Marathi TV channel, Mumbai.
2)     Mr. Bharatkumar Raut
 Former MP (Rajya Sabha) & Sr. Journalist. Mumbai.
3)     Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajan Welukar
University of Mumbai.
4)     Hon. Vice Chancellor Dr. B. A. Chopade
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University, Aurangabad.

5)     Hon. Pro- Vice Chancellor Dr. Naresh Chandra
University of Mumbai.
6)     Hon. Registrar Dr. M. A. Khan
University of Mumbai.
7)     Dr. Sunder Rajdeep
Head, Dept. of Communication & Journalism, University of Mumbai.
8)     Dr. Mangesh Karandikar
Asst. Prof. Dept. of Communication & Journalism, University of Mumbai.
9)     Mrs. Daivata Patil
Asst. Prof. Dept. of Communication & Journalism, University of Mumbai.
10)Ms. Lubna Moosa
Ad-hoc, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Communication & Journalism, University of Mumbai.
11)Mrs. Anushka Kulkarni
Ad-hoc, Asst. Prof. Dept. of Communication & Journalism, University of Mumbai.
12)Prof. Dr. Sudhir Gavhane
Professor and Head, Mass Communication & Journalism,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University, Aurangabad.
13)Dr. V. L. Dharulkar
Professor, Mass Communication & Journalism,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University Aurangabad.
14)Prof. Jaidev Dole
Associate Professor, Mass Communication & Journalism,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University Aurangabad.
15)Dr. Dinkar Mane
Associate Professor, Mass Communication & Journalism,
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathawada University Aurangabad.
16)Mr. Shriniwas Belsare
Consultant advisor, University of Mumbai.  
17)Dr. Durgesh Tripathi
Asst. Professor, University School of Mass Communication,
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi.
18) Dr. Kiran Thakur
Adjunct Faculty, Dept of Communication and Journalism, University of Mumbai. And Sr. journalist and Former head Dept of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune.
19)Dr. Sanjay Ranade
Professor and Director, School of Media and Communication
Jagran Lakecity University, Bhopal.
20)Mr. Vishram Dhole
Assistant Professor, Dept of Communication Studies, University of Pune.
21)Dr. Ujjwala Barve
Associate Professor, Dept of Communication and Journalism,
University of Pune.
22)Dr. Sanjeevkumar Bhanawat
Professor & Head, Dept. of Mass Communication & Journalism, Rajasthan University.
23)Mr. Roy Pereira
     Course Coordinator, Advertising & Marketing Communication,
Xavier Institute of Communication. Mumbai.
24)Dr. Onkar Kakade
Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Jo & Mac, Karnataka state University, Bijapur.
25)Prof. Dr. M. S. Parmar
Professor and Head, Dept of Journalism,
Devi AhilyaVishwavidyalaya, Indore, MP.
26)Prof. Pushpendra Pal Singh
Head, Dept. of Journalism, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National Journalism University, Bhopal.
27)Prof. Dr. Deepak Shinde
       Director, School of Media Studies, Swami Ramanand Tirtha Marathawada University,     Nanded.
28) Dr. Shahid Ali
Head, Dept of Mass Communication, Kushabhau Thakre Journalism and Mass Communication University, Raipur.
29)Dr. Ravindra Chincholkar
Head, Dept of Journalism, Solapur University, Solapur.
30)Dr. Dharmesh Dhawankar
       Head, Dept. of Mass Communication, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University,
         Nagpur.
31)Dr. Malti Mehta
Former Director, EMRC, and Head Centre of development Communication ,
         Gujarat University. Ahmadabad.
32) Mr. Ravindra Ambekar
Editor, Mi Marathi, Mumbai.
33)Dr. Tapati Basu
 Professor, Dept. of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Calcutta.
34)Dr. Surbhi Dahaiya
Associate Professor, English Journalism, Indian Institute of Mass Communication,
Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi.
35)Mr. Rajeev Sabale
Jr. Journalist, Member of Press Council of India. Pune.

36) Prof. Dr. P. J. Mathew Martin
             Mass Media Officer (AYJNIHH) Govt. of India, (MSJ&E) &
             Adjunct Faculty of DCJ, University of Mumbai.
37) Mr. Anurag Dwary
Associate Editor, NDTV India, Mumbai.  






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Thursday, 6 November 2014

Partha Thakur is non-fiction programming head for Essel Vision Production




MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (Zeel) has announced the appointment of Partha Thakur as non-fiction programming head for Essel Vision Productions. He will take charge from 3 November.
Zeel is looking at strengthening its content and develop different genres of production. Thakur will report to Essel Vision Productions business head Akash Chawla. With over 15 years of experience in media and entertainment, he has produced content for broadcasters such as Zee TV, Star plus, Star World, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, MTV, Sun TV, Vijay TV, NDTV, Pogo, Disney Network, UTV and Fox Traveler.
He has worked with Wizcraft Television, Miditech Productions, Optimystix Entertainment, Searchlight Productions and MTV India. He has worked on multiple seasons of shows such as Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Indian Idol, Fame Gurukul, IIFA Awards, GIMA Awards, Apsara Awards, Zee Rishtey Awards, Dare to Dance, amongst others.
Thakur has also worked on shows in South Africa, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. His last assignment was at Sol Productions as the non-fiction head and creative director.
Essel Vision’s objective is to be a one-stop shop for all film, television, digital, events and IP creation related services where it will produce, co-produce, market and distribute.
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Sunday, 2 November 2014

Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ lives on


BY MAHENDRA VED - 1 NOVEMBER 2014

MOHANDAS Karamchand Gandhi, who led India’s freedom movement against the British, is gaining currency beyond the currency notes on which his photo is published. On his 145th birth anniversary on Oct 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a cleanliness campaign that was joined by political opposition and critics, their grins replacing grimaces for the cameras.
Gandhi was denied the Nobel thrice. That “mistake” is now corrected with the Norwegians choosing child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi for pursuing the Gandhian ideals.
To my mind, and I am not alone, the richest tribute to Gandhi has been the 1982 film of the same name. The followers of his ideals, everywhere, shall remain grateful to its producer and director, Sir Richard Attenborough, who died in August. His film contributed immensely to place Gandhi’s life and work on the global map. India, too, found recognition that was either grudging or absent in the developed world.
It covers Gandhi’s life from a defining moment in 1893 as he is thrown off a train in South Africa for being in a whites-only compartment, and concludes with his assassination and funeral in 1948. A practising Hindu, Gandhi’s embracing of other faiths is vividly depicted.
Immortalising Gandhi on the celluloid was not easy. The film was conceived for 20 years and got the final push from then prime minister Indira Gandhi. She received flak from many, who objected to someone from the former colonial power and one who had played a war hero and not a peace-loving man in movies when young.
There was resentment at Attenborough being assigned the privileged facilitation of shooting across India at the actual spots where Gandhi lived and worked. The government was seen as discriminating against Indian film-makers, and there were many who had won international recognition.
Parliamentarians demanded a debate. Then information minister Vasant Sathe read out passages from the Gandhi script (written by John Briley; it contributed immensely to the film’s success). His persuasive rendering of the way Briley and Attenborough interpreted Gandhi brought tears to the eyes of senior members of parliament who had marched with Gandhi.
By any reckoning, it was a tremendous filmmaking effort. More than 300,000 “extras” were used for the funeral scenes, the most for any film, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Attenborough used Indian artistes , and not white men with brown make-up, to play the big names of the freedom movement. Roshan Seth, who played Jawaharlal Nehru and Rohini Hatangadi who played Kasturba, Gandhi’s wife, although they won the Bafta Awards, got branded for life, unable to outdo their Gandhi performances in their latter careers.
Having auditioned many leading Indian actors, Attenborough chose his own Gandhi in Ben Kingsley. Son of a Gujarati, born Krishna Bhanji, he brilliantly portrayed Gandhi through his evolution over 55 years.
The white characters were played by some of the best actors of that era — Trevor Howard, Sir John Gielgud, Sir John Mills, Geraldine Page, Martin Sheen, Candice Bergen and many others.
Attenborough was fair to history and to characters, by and large. There was suspicion, however, that he did guard Britain’s “sovereign” interests. His General Dyer, who had infamously ordered firing on unarmed civilians’ rally, killing more than 400 at Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab, had no insignia depicting the British sovereign, on his cap. Still photographs of Edward Fox, who played the general, distributed at the film’s media preview, however, showed the crown. When I pointed this out, he apologised.
I walked up to him saying that I had extensively reported on the criticism of the project by the Indian intelligentsia. But on seeing the film, I had “converted”. He smiled, and playfully punched me.
The criticism died down once the film was released in India and abroad, taking the world of cinema by storm. It won a record eight Oscars at the 55th annual Academy Awards. Besides Best Film, and Attenborough as the Best Director, and Best Screenplay by Briley, the Best Actor Oscar went to Kingsley.
Bhanu Athaiya, who painstakingly designed costumes that fitted Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Ghaffar Khan, Acharya Kripalani, Sarojini Naidu and others, and won accolades from those who had seen them all, also got the first Oscar for an Indian.
Of the numerous moving scenes, Gandhi’s funeral scene was perhaps the best. As his ashes are immersed in the holy Ganga, there is a voiceover: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always.”
Attenborough’s film was a wholesome interpretation of what Gandhi stood for. His Gandhi is still discussed in classrooms and homes across the globe. But to say that it should be the only one would defeat the very idea Gandhi stood for. Views may differ. Gandhi has even been pitted against his assassin, Nathuram Godse.
A proposal to install a second statue in London has been opposed by some British Indians. We are living in times when controversies are the staple of the media and social discourse.
To confine Attenborough’s work in terms of Gandhi alone would be wrong. As an actor and director, he was part of too many classic films of his era to be listed here. Indian legend Satyajit Ray had him in Shatranj Ke Khiladi. The younger generation would remember him as the failed theme park developer in Jurassic Park.
He was an untiring advocate of British Cinema that, like much of the celluloid world, remains threatened by Hollywood’s onslaught. Other cinemas, particularly Indian, now that it is 119 years old and hopefully, matured, should draw a lesson from Attenborough so as not to get swept out in its zeal for globalisation.
From: New Straights Times Online