Shimla News
HPU Mass Comm: No Labs, No Future?
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, has had a struggling story from a thela to its transferring to the Gandhi block.
The professors’ struggles including that of Dr.Vepa Rao had been tremendous in building up the roots of the department.
NAAC Accredits A+ Grade to the University
During its recent visit to the University NAAC visited the Mass Communication Department and didn’t check the incomplete infrastructure as per the curriculum of the subject.
The students of the Department, do get a studious environment, with expert professors and good theoretical sync, but practicality in the department in comparison to the syllabus/curriculum seems to be a big question of worry.
The Following is the curriculum offered by HPU Mass Communication:
The curriculum offered by the HPU Mass Communication department has a two years curriculum with the following subjects along with the semesters:
| 1st Year | Semester-1 |
| 1. Communication Theory
2. Modern Journalism 3. Introduction to Multimedia Production 3.Convergence Media 4.Introduction to Media and Cultural Studies |
|
| Semester – II | |
| 1. Advertising and Online Promotion
2. Broadcast Journalism and Production 3. Public Relations and Public Opinion in Digital Age 4.Cross-Media Laws, Ethics 5.Development Communication |
|
| 2nd Year | Semester – III
|
| 1. Communication Research
2. Visual communication and Design 3. Mobile and Social Media Journalism 4. New and Old Media Management and Research 5.Community and Community Media
|
There are about four internships in total, but the focus is at the end industry internship, which is at the end of semesters making the students cramming parrots, trying to cram the syllabus during their exams and not getting the essence of the subject which they’re dealing with. The subjects that involve practicality here include Introduction to Multimedia Production, Convergence Media, Advertising and Online Promotions, Broadcast Journalism and Production, Visual Communication and Design and Mobile and Social Media Journalism.
The Curriculum should be sinking in one subject or Swimming equally in all ponds.
The Curriculum should include, either specification in one subject such as Masters of Mass Communication in (Advertising and Online Promotions.) or should have a blend of practicality so, as students grasp things, before he/ she actually enters an office.
To Escape Mere Imagination
Subjects such as the convergence media, and its course contents talk about terms that can be merely imagined without actual tools such as related to AR, MR. Either such subjects should be eliminated or the department should have enough tools so that the students not need to cram about these.
Enabling students with these technologies help the student grow with the current advent of time, the reality is that the department doesn’t have basic tools such as the teleprompter and a fine computer lab with basic software needed.
The Resultant of the scenario ends up being bashed in the offices.
The Students that set off their journey are either dependent on internshala, or need to have done this course post 3-4 years’ experience in the field.
Meaning to say they need to have a experience in the Bachelors and Master’s degree to understand the course fine.
Most students need to hear, if they know about certain things or not ?
Concluding at Last
The Current situation of the lab of the Mass Communication Department lies in vain, as the department lacks the basic facilities such as good Cameras/Video Cameras, Good Editting Softwares such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Video Editting software, Quark Express Pantry lab lies full of dust, A Basic Computer Lab, except a big LED Screen for presentations, A teleprompter, leave about the tools or equipments needed for those mentioned in the Convergence Media.
A few scholars from the department claim that the good days are about to come with technology likely to be enhanced, when the department moves onto a bigger block , almost in a year.
