More skill development courses need to be installed in communication and journalism institutes in the State, Minister for Cultural Affairs K.C. Joseph has said.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the ‘Take One – Media Fest 2012’, an initiative of the Communication Club and the Alumni Association of the Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Kerala, on Friday.
“Visual media in the State — with over 10 regional channels, and four more to be launched — is still growing. Though there are many media institutes, there is still a need for more professionals. Courses must be made more practical and work-oriented,” said Mr. Joseph. Addressing students from over 40 institutions across the State, he also warned against sensationalism and focus on commercial rating.
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His call for “not compromising on the truth” and media’s role as “the voice of society” was reiterated by the former Minister for Forests Benoy Viswom, whose lecture delved into objectivity in journalism and the dangers posed by a globalised, commerce-centred world.
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The three-day camp at the Vyloppily Samskriti Bhavan is the first such endeavour to bring together aspiring media professionals from across the State. This “communication carnival” includes seminars, interactions with eminent personalities in the field, competitions assessing writing and reporting skills, debates, quizzes, and spot placements.
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The Head of the Department of Communication and Journalism Subhash Kuttan said during the presidential address that this first-time initiative could be made an annual affair if the following week’s general body meeting decided so. The inaugural function was followed by a seminar, ‘Journalism in the age of the Fifth Estate’.