Media Watch journal invites papers for a special theme issue—Exploring the Dynamics of Media and Communication Education & Research

Following from Deepak R Jena, Publisher, Media Watch   

Globally media education and research is in its dynamic flux after the emergence of new/social media. The traditional models/process of communications is redefined. Classrooms turned to be virtual and multi-mediated. Teaching and learning began to challenge the concepts of space and time. Teaching and learning becomes more stake-holder centered. Industry and market response is getting narrow casted. Catering for the niche world is vital.  Solutions for all problems are now in apps!.  Media education will very soon become apps centered.

Cyberspace provides everything from instructional to simulation effects. Media education and research is becoming more of need based.  Media education from the primary to the territory stages had diversified beyond imaginations. Generic subjects and syllabi were replaced by need based techno centered multi-disciplinary managerial entrepreneurship courses. Capstone subjects were replaced by innovative, creative, experimental and emerging disciplines. Cybernetics to cyborg studies, pop culture to celebrity studies, gaming to media entrepreneurship courses are getting prominence. An inevitable cross breed of humanities and social sciences with science and technology already happened in the media education and research. Standardization and centralization of curriculum becomes absolutely impossible. Diversity and creativity enriched in media education and research. The quest for an alternate world to a better possible world was absolutely realized and responded by the media education and research in each nation. Public redefining the concepts of the traditional ‘source and receivers’ gained the locus of attention in the contemporary media education and research. Mediations with these faceless flash and dynamic publics in utmost efficiency and effectiveness had repositioned the study of media process to a higher level.

This proposed special issue of Media Watch September 2013 on media and communication education and research is an opportunity to explore the critical/logical dimensions of media education and research in our higher education centers. The journal considers articles, essays, and book reviews related to the theme. We encourage submissions from scholars, professionals, researcher, and educators at any level and in any discipline. Your contribution must attempt to enhance and restructure all the dimensions of media and communication education and research to a higher level of enlightenment, to promote further construction and cross breed of educational environment in media and communication studies with other emerging disciplines. It will therefore be appreciated that the papers go beyond the descriptive dimension. Scientific, comparative studies, analytical and dialogic approaches and diverse, pluralistic methodologies are welcome on the following themes:

·        Social media practices in media & communication education.

·        Role of new media in curriculum development.

·        Stake holder centered teaching & learning approaches.

·        Journalism education and research in a cyber world.

·        Paradigm shifts in media and communication education.

·        Innovative practices by publics in media education and research.

·        De-westernizing media and communication education

·        Internationalizing the scope of media and communication research.

·        Experimentations from the grassroots level teaching and learning.

·        Redefining the value spectrum in media and communication education.

Contributors are encouraged to query the editors (mediajournal@ymail.com ) in a short e-mail describing their papers to determine suitability for publication.

Abstract: The abstracts should define objectives, theoretical framework and methodological approach, as well as possible contributions for the advancement of knowledge in the field. As a length measure, each submission should have an abstract of 150-200 words. All abstract submissions must be submitted in advance, preferably before May 20, 2013 through e-mail: mediajournal@ymail.com, sonyjraj@gmail.com, and mediawatchjournal@gmail.com. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

Length: As the journal is primarily print-based, we encourage articles or manuscripts, including references, tables, and charts, should range between 20-30 pages (6000-8000 words).

Deadlines:  Once the Abstract is reviewed and if it is found suitable, you will be asked to submit a completed manuscript by June 15, 2013. Review of the papers will be completed before July 10, 2013.

Style: References should also follow APA style. Visit:
http://www.mediawatchglobal.com/information-for-author/

Guidelines for submission are available at:
http://www.mediawatchglobal.com/instructions-for-authors/

Review Process: Authors are informed when manuscripts are received. Each manuscript is pre-viewed prior to distribution to appropriate reviewers. Manuscripts are anonymously reviewed. Once all reviews are returned, a decision is made and the author is notified. Manuscripts should consist of original material, and not currently under consideration by other journals. Author(s) have to submit the copyrights declaration permission to Media Watch before final consideration of the paper.

Cover Page (for review purposes): Include title of manuscript, date of submission, author’s name, title, mailing address, business and home phone number, and email address. Please provide a brief biographical sketch and acknowledge if the article was presented as a paper or if it reports a funded research project.

Software Format: Submit papers in both Word (.doc) and Pdf.

Information: For further information and inquiries about the proposed issue and journal, in case of need, please do not hesitate to contact the co-editor of the journal, Dr. Sony Jalarajan Raj via e-mail: sonyjraj@gmail.com.

We strongly recommend you share this Call for Papers among researchers who you think may be interested in submitting papers for the issue of the journal.

If any organizations and institutions are interested to associate with Media Watch journal, please write to the Publisher: deepakranjanjena@yahoo.com

For more information about the journal, please visit the journal website: www.mediawatchglobal.com

Blog page: www.mediawatchjournal.blogspot.in

Dr. Sony Jalarajan Raj
Editor, Media Watch
St. Thomas University, Florida, USA
sonyjraj@gmail.com

Katju widens scope of committee on journalism standards

New Delhi: A day after issuing his controversial order to constitute a committee for recommending qualifications for journalists, Press Council chairman Markandey Katju on Wednesday widened the scope of the committee to enable the press watchdog to supervise and regulate journalism institutions in the country. Unfazed by the criticism of his decision on qualification for journalists, he issued a fresh order citing provisions in the Press Council Act that gives power to it to maintain and improve standards of journalism, including the power to supervise and regulate journalism institutions. “Hence the Committee constituted by me yesterday shall in addition to its mandate...shall also recommend in what manner the Press Council can supervise and regulate the functioning of the institutions and departments of journalism in India so that high standards of imparting knowledge in journalism are maintained,” a statement issued by Katju said. He also added three more members to the panel — PCI members Gurinder Singh and Rajeev Ranjan Nag and IIMC Director General Sunit Tandon. Yesterday, he had appointed PCI members Shravan Garg and Rajeev Sabade and Ujjwala Barve, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune as its members. Meanwhile, top editors found fault with Katju’s move describing it as a ‘silly’ and ‘misconceived’ step which ‘betrays’ lack of understanding about the profession. The South Asia Media Commission also said the move for prescribing ‘by law’ qualifications for journalists was ‘uncalled for and objectionable’ and it has to be ‘abandoned without delay’. “It is a silly move and betrays a lack of understanding about journalism,” said TN Ninan, chairman and Director of Business Standard and Editors Guild President. Rajya Sabha member HK Dua, who edited Hindustan Times, Times of India and The Tribune, said one cannot learn the qualities a journalist need like professional ethics and desire to serve society in a journalism school. “I don’t think Katju’s suggestion is good,” Dua said, adding that “country’s best journalists” like Frank Moraes, S Mungerkar, BG Verghese and Nikhil Chakraborty did not go to any journalism school. “Attending a journalism school does not make you a good journalist. You learn on the job,” Dua, who had gone to a journalism school, said. He also said that the comparison of a lawyer and a journalist was “totally wrong” as a lawyer needs special skill in law. “Journalism is vast spread out. In journalism you learn every day. The qualities a journalist needs like integrity, character, curiosity, desire to serve society, vast knowledge about society, courage cannot be taught in media schools,” he said. Vinod Mehta, Outlook’s editorial director, felt that the move was “completely misconceived” as a journalist do not require a qualification or a degree from a higher university. “There are best journalists who had just ordinary education. For a surgeon, you need special skills but for a journalist what you need is basic intelligence and ability to write. He (Katju) is completely wrong,” he said. Arindam Sengupta, Executive Editor of Times of India, also echoed similar views saying that Katju’s suggestion was “not practical”. “I don’t think it is the same as a lawyer needs a degree and a journalist should also have a degree,” he said. Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor of The Hindu, said he would be “wary of any suggestion” that seeks to prescribe a minimum qualification or to use a professional degree to regulate who can become a journalist. “The suggestion made by Justice Katju stems from his desire to ensure that we have better and more responsible journalism. This aim is laudable. But the setting of standards and ensuring their implementation is best left to editors,” he said. — PTI

Published Date:  Mar 14, 2013

Unfazed, Katju defends push for scribe qualifications

Amid criticism that his move to determine minimum qualifications for journalists is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of the profession, Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson, Markandey Katju, called for a ‘healthy debate’ on the issue and lashed out at ‘touchy journalists’. He has also expanded the mandate of the committee, meant to decide on educational standards for journalists, to suggest ways to regulate and supervise journalism institutes and departments.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Katju said that since journalism was now a ‘developed profession’, it required ‘formal qualifications’.

“Journalism is a specialised field now. Areas of super-specialisations like legal, financial, labour, agricultural reporting are growing. This requires formal training.” He argued that even peons needed a high school certificate. “What is the justification for journalists not meeting any minimum standards?”

Responding to the fact that many established and successful journalists never went to journalism school, the PCI chairman said they were good journalists ‘despite that, and not because of it’. “Many others could have become great journalists and blossomed, but did not because they did not have formal training.”

He also countered the argument that there were no legal barriers to become a journalist in any other democracy with a free and independent media. “Just because nothing has happened in the past and elsewhere does not mean it cannot happen in the future.”

Mr Katju also dismissed the notion that employers must be left with the right to judge whether someone was qualified and indicated regulatory bodies could set minimum standards.

Mechanism

Elaborating on his desired model, Mr Katju said that anyone who became a full-time journalist, even if the person had a masters or PhD in an academic discipline, must go through a journalism school. “They must obtain a diploma or degree. And then, like the Bar Council gives licenses to lawyers, journalists must get licenses. In case of any professional misconduct, these licenses can be withdrawn.”

He clarified that since the Press Council’s mandate was limited to the print media, the committee would not look at minimum standards in television or new media journalism. “But these mediums, like any social activity, must be regulated too.”

Mr Katju added that he was just making a suggestion. “The committee will give a report. The Press Council may accept or reject it, or accept it with modifications. It will then go to the government, which may accept or reject it. The government will then present it to parliament, which will send it to a Select Committee. The Select Committee will come back to the parliament. Both houses will debate it, and only after it is approved by a majority and the president signs it, the bill will become a law. Why make such a hue and cry instead of engaging in a healthy debate?”

Journalists, Mr Katju said, sat on judgement on everyone else but whenever anyone made a suggestion to reform the profession, they launched ‘furious attacks’. “Are they above questioning and criticism?” he asked.

Objections

The PCI move continued to draw criticism from media organisations. The Delhi Union of Journalists, in a statement, called it ‘regressive’ and said institutionalising minimum standards would make the professional ‘restrictive’ and reflect the ‘bias of the privileged’.

The South Asia Media Commission said the decision was beyond PCI’s ‘jurisdiction’, and would lead to the ‘end of press freedom’.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amid-criticism-katju-defends-push-for-journalist-qualifications/article4505335.ece 

A New Journalist Is Born: Digital media has brought about a sea change in the way news is presented and perceived

Anand Vaishnav 

“I am still an oldfashioned pen and paper person!” Ask a young online media reporter and he will tell you how often he has heard this remark from seniors or colleagues from the world of print. 
    These days, there seems to be a generation gap in journalism between mainstream and new media. The world of digital media is dominated by a generation that eats, sleeps, breathes and, most importantly, thinks online. For them, their tablet is the writing pad and the internet is pretty much the one-stop source for research. They do not labour over an article for days or rewrite endlessly in search of that perfect introduction. 
    As mainstream media houses expand their digital business units, there is now a clear difference in how these teams are approaching content. For one, as far as the digital medium is concerned, the perspective is product-centric; the content is totally interlinked with the product. 
    Reporters at a newspaper are not really expected to know how a printing machine operates! But in the digital space, content teams are expected to have knowledge about how search engines work, be receptive towards trending topics, drive the site’s interactive elements, use multimedia tools for better packaging and in general be aware of what goes into the management of the site. 
    While a print journalist will focus more on the language while framing a headline, a digital media person will think in terms of keywords, trending topics and ease of discovery for the user. 
    Writing style is another point of difference. Given that digital content today is not only consumed on the computer but across multiple platforms, writers are conscious about attention spans. While a print journalist may take pride over an elaborate article that spans pages, brevity is the name of the game in the digital arena. Writers are conscious of the fact that their stories are often 
being read on screens smaller than five inches. 
    Some of the clever expressions that would be a pleasure to read in print might not gel well with the digital consumer. Use of complicated phrases is also bad for content discovery, as the average user searches using terms from spoken English. For writers who switch from print to Web, this is usually the aspect they find hardest to unlearn. 
    The metric by which an article’s worth can be judged – feedback from readers – is another point of differentiation. Due to the two-way nature of interaction on the Web, online reporters are far more used to feedback than their print peers. 
    Web writers are accustomed to regular reality checks from users in case of errors or potentially polarising points of view. And due to this continuous stream of author-user interaction, Web writers are far more detached from their copy, flexible in style and less emotionally invested in their story. 
    Background research is of top priority to any good journalist, but online writers do not always have the luxury of time. In the era of phablets, digital teams have 24x7 access to their site. And page line-ups change several times in response to trending topics. So content that may be ‘hot’ in the morning might be totally irrelevant by the afternoon. 
    That is why there are more cases of irresponsible reporting based on Twitter rumours appearing in the online space. While basic rules of journalism do not change, content writers in the digital space have to have a strong sense of quality check and constantly filter the information overload. 
    Convergence of content and form also happens to a far greater extent in the digital medium. While traditional media still has the advantage of infrastructure, digital has the power of speed and multimedia presentation. Whether it is using a video from a TV bulletin or a slideshow of images, there are various engaging tools that digital journalists can use to hook the reader. The packaging and aesthetics of the content are of supreme importance. 
    Another differentiating factor is user-generated content; the internet exposes journalists to a plethora of it. At a time when camera-phones and social media have made citizen journalism a reality, reporters have to pay attention to the voice of the reader. So while purists may find ‘Kolaveri Di’ trivial, news websites cannot ignore viral content. A print journalist may wait for viral content to become a rage, before considering it for a story – but his online counterpart has to identify a trend way in advance and sense its potential. 
    Given the dynamic nature of the medium, and real-time access to analytics, digital content writers have to keep an eye on the performance of their story and make tweaks based on traffic rankings and search results. These reporters have earned their stripes in the age of social media, where headlines are driven by trending hash-tags. And the speed at which you publish your story, is almost as important as the story itself. 
    So while the internet still reports the same facts as traditional media, the ones writing for the Web care a lot more for user engagement than literary indulgence. 
    The digital journalist is more in tune with what’s on people’s minds, and is perhaps more of an opinion moderator/ aggregator than an opinion generator. News has become totally democratic and the digital medium is where journalists are truly talking to the people and not ‘at them’.

Sourced: timesofindia.com, March 15, 2013

National seminar on Recent Trends In Broadcast Journalism

Dr. M Gangadharappa has mailed me the following: 

Karnatak University, Dharwad

M.Sc Electronic Media

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism

 Is Organising a National Seminar on

“Recent Trends In Broadcast Journalism"

5^th and 6^th April 2013

About the Seminar

The rise of the Internet and other digital media pose a particular challenge for traditional news outlets including print and broadcasting. The recent developments in broadcast media need to be explored in their totality.  With that aim, the Electronic Media, Karnatak University, Dharwad, organising national seminar on “Recent Trends In Broadcast Journalism" on 5^th and 6^th April 2103.

The Sub-Themes of the seminar include:

Ø Breaking news vs news that breaks

Ø Scope for developmental journalism in broadcast media

Ø Citizen journalism, scope or two way participation.

Ø Trend setters in broadcast media

Ø Freelance journalism

About the Organisers:

The Electronic Media of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism offers two years industry oriented M.Sc Course in Electronic Media. The course provides intensive training in planning and production and marketing of television, radio and web-based programmes. This skill development oriented course is designed to meet requirements of booming broadcast industry.

Registration Fee:

The registration fee is Rs.1, 000 for faculty members, Rs.500 for research scholars.  The registration fee covers free accommodation on twin-sharing basis, boarding and seminar kit for faculty and research scholars. We request you to contact us immediately for accommodation in the University Guest Houses. Those who prefer to stay outside can contact us to book rooms in hotels. There are a number of hotels where the tariff ranges from Rs.450 to Rs.2000 per day per person.

Submission of papers and abstract:

You are welcome to present papers based on original research or critical reviews and analysis at the seminar.  Please send upto 300 words abstract of your paper on or before March 27^th 2013.

We are planning to publish abstracts, therefore, we request you to follow APA style in quoting sources. As soon as possible.

Besides inaugural and valedictory functions, there would be four sessions for paper presentations. We request you to prepare a PPT presentation of 5+1 minutes incorporating the main points of your study. Send your papers/abstracts only on MS Word format (Times New Roman, font size 12).

We will make sure that your stay and proceedings would be very beneficial.

How to reach Dharwad:

Dharwad is well connected by road/rail network and could be reached via Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Panaji and Bengaluru. It is located in between Pune and Bengaluru (around 430 kms). Hubli-Dharawad are twin cities under one Corporation.

Dharwad is also connected by air. SpiceJet operates a daily evening flight from Bengaluru to Hubli. The airport is 24 Kms from Dharawad.

Please send your abstracts/papers or queries to: seminar.electronicmedia@gmail.com  

for more details contact : +91 9449079878, +91 9448746899, +91 9686861710

Dr. M Gangadharappa

Coordinator

Electronic Media, Dept of Mass Communication and Journalism

Karnatak University Dharwad

+91 9448147878

New book 'The Essential Art of Communication: Lessons from the Epics & Digital Interactions.'

Dr Hema Hirlekar has come out with a book 'The Essential Art of Communication: Lessons from the Epics & Digital Interactions.' I believe this new title should be of interest to communication researchers, teachers, and students besides lay readers of Hindu scriptures.

She has to her credit doctorate in Communication from University of Pune's Department of Communication and Journalism.
Her books include ‘On the verge of life and death’, a book on medical cases, translation of Shivchhatrapati, ‘Nuances of Hindustani Classical Music’.

In her new book, Dr Hirlekar has dealt with the following broad topics:

Part I: Let's Talk Well! (Pages 17 to 89)

She has discussed Hanuman as Communicator, Tapaswini Sulabha's suggestions for Proper Speech, Epic Lessons in Today's World

Part II: Let's Talk Business (pages 93 to 167)

This section discusses Corporate Scenario, Lessons from the Military adapted to the Corporate World, Change Communications, and Work Communication.

Total pages:191

ISBN 978-81-7806-321-8

Publisher: UNICORN BOOKS, www.unicornbooks.in, info@unicornbooks.in

F-2/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002

Price: Rs. 196.00

Dr Hema Hirlekar's e-mail: hemahirlekar@gmail.com 

About the author - Dr. Hema Hirlekar

Hema has worked in field of communication for over 25 years in a multitude of roles. A copywriter in advertising agencies, a freelance journalist covering a variety of subjects and issues, a corporate publications consultant for engineering multinationals, a documentation executive for an engineering software firm, a communication consultant for an IT company providing high-productivity problem-solving software products, writing policy manuals, user manuals, engineering educational content for math-modelling.

Hema has worked on both sides – inside multinational corporations and as an external communications consultant. This experience has given her a vision that sees beyond the obvious. That is why, she saw a great communicator in Hanuman!

About the book

The book is about modern communication principles contained in our epics – Ramayan and Mahabharat.

Ram’s analysis of Hanuman’s speech, when Ram and Lakshman meet Hanuman for the first time, explains what we call the Seven Cs of effective communication. Ramayan has the most effective communicator in the legendary Hanuman. Even Mahabharat gives some key guidelines about proper speech and interpersonal skills.

This book has connected these epic guidelines of successful communication with the digital age.

---

Read about her earlier book:

Nuances of Hindustani Classical Music

http://mediasceneindia.blogspot.in/search?q=Hirlekar 

Synopsis of her doctoral thesis

The Role of Communication during Change Management in IT industry

http://mediasceneindia.blogspot.in/search?q=Hirlekar&max-results=20&by-date=true 

The Write and the Wrong

Mahesh Vijapurkar has revived his blog. I am confident that journalists, media teachers and students will benefit from writing. He is, after all, a veteran journalist who retired as deputy editor of the Hindu. Have a look at his first blog after revival and you will keep following his writing at http://thewriteandthewrong.blogspot.in/2013/03/when-use-of-out-when-in-would-have-done.html

When use of 'out' when 'in' would have done.

In a news item on March 4, 2013, The Hindu said this: "They got two children born out of their wedlock". That was not the newspaper had meant to convey.

The report was about a couple who quarreled and then resumed their marital life after which they had two children. That is very much within the wedlock.

It is possible that the writer literally translated what is said for the same thing in any Indian language - it happened from out of it, or because of it. The outhere is not the same as saying, for instance, out of frustration, he screamed.

That error could mean a lot to the couple. The man in has been identified by name, about how a criminal case against him following his wife's complaint - fortunately not named - led to a criminal case. That led to denial of a job for which he otherwise qualified.

We do not know if the person complained to the newspaper or threatened it with a suit because children out of wedlock reflected adversely to their reputation. The Reader' Editor corrected it in his Corrections and clarifications column on March 7.

There is another issue with the construction of that unintended mischievous sentence in the report. Why"got two children born out of their wedlock? Why not merely the two children (if it were really so, and I am pushing it here only  for argument's sake) born out of wedlock?