National Seminar on Media Conscience - Changes, Challenges and Chance at Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal

Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) tries to embody the spirit of liberal democratic egalitarianism in eduction. A National Seminar on Media Conscience - Changes, Challenges and Chances was organised on 17th and 18th March at Fortune Inn Valley View Hotel Manipal.

Mukesh Sharma with M V Kamath

The welcome speech from the Director of  MIC Varadesh Hiregange set the tone of the seminar, which was inaugurated by Prof B P Sanjay, VC of Central University of Tamil Nadu; along with Dr. Ramdas Pai, VC Manipal University, Dr. H S Ballal Pro VC Manipal University, Ms Sandhya Pai Managing Editor Taranga magazine and above all Padmabhushan Dr. M V Kamath the Honorary Director of MIC.

Let there be light...

The conference saw the likes  of of luminaries like Padmashree Dr. Alok Mehta - Chief Editor of Nayi Duniya, Dr. Chandan Mitra - Editor and MD of The Pioneer, Vinod Mehta - Editor-in-Chief Outlook, Mukesh Sharma - Director Prasar Bharati, Kundan Vyas - Managing Editor and CEO Janmabhoomi, and T S Sudhir - Resident Editor of NDTV Chennai, to name some.

Kundan Vyas, Manasi, Dr Alok Mehta the stalwarts of print Journalism

The introductory remarks by Dr. M V Kamath set the ball rolling when he expressed his concern over the mind boggling change in media, paid news, trivialization of media, marginalization of editors and corruption at individual levels. He hoped that in the subsequent 48 hours this conclave would be able to come up with some solutions and answers.

Chandan Mitra And MV kamath

 Mukesh Sharma addressed the gathering with his topic - 'The Great Digital Divide' He explained the difference between the digital immigrants and the digital natives in the present digital era where the gap is widening. The Digital Divide is creating a generation disconnect and this is because of the advent of technological and digitized world. The Thinking and processing of information by ‘Gen- Next’ is becoming fundamentally different.” Further he added, “The younger generation approximately spends 10,000 hours meddling with video games, 20,000 hours talking on mobile or browsing, 10,000 hours on texting SMS." 

All about the Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

The topic was well received by the delegates and students alike. The session lasted for a full hour with a lot of questions posed by the students.
The seminar ended on a high note with Dr. Padmarani giving the vote of thanks, some queries were answered some are yet formulating in the Grey cells.