Synergy between media institutes and industry very important: K G Suresh
2 April 2016 12:40 AM GMT
His decision on the very first day — to take one class everyday alternatively in various courses of the institute; has received accolades even from the outgoing batches of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), who have just few weeks left in the campus.
The new Director General of IIMC, K G Suresh is concerned with the questions being raised on ‘credibility’ of media but is of the opinion that the reforms should come from within. He also asserted that the Indian media lag in research in comparison to the international counterparts in the West and emphasised on the need of more focus on research on issues before presenting it before audiences. In an interaction with Siddheshwar Shukla, K G Suresh shares his views on a wide range of contemporary journalistic issues. Excerpts:
Q: It’s just your second day in the institute, have you taken any important decision?
A: I always believe in leading from the front. I love teaching and interacting with students therefore, in my first meeting with the faculty and students, I announced to take one class per day; alternatively in each course and each section. I think in this way I would be able to share my interdisciplinary experience with the young generation and simultaneously be able to address their grievances at various levels. This will also be helpful for me to get feedback from students and induce necessary reforms to realise the potential of IIMC.
Q: What is your take on the gap between the quality of human resource produced by institutes and the industry requirement?
A: I feel there is lack of synergy between media industry and media institutes. It’s important that the industry also realises the importance of media education and share its resources with media institutes. The established editors, anchors, correspondents should devote their time to institutes on a regular basis and institutes should also carve accordingly.
Q: Some media houses have their own institutes. What do you think about them?
A: Training of Journalism should not be in isolation but in a comprehensive manner. It must include a strong theoretical base and professional skill. The training of a media organisations in a particular media like newspaper, television or online may not be good for any other media organisation.
Q: Today, the credibility of media is being questioned from various quarters. How do you view this discussion?
A: Media are definitely playing its role as the fourth estate but the questions are also genuine as instances of deviation are rising alarmingly. Media professionals must realise that India is a developing country and issues related to the poor, downtrodden and marginalised must be the central focus. India needs alternative journalism not the superficial journalism; we need journalists for development not for yellow journalism.
Q: What is your take on research in media?
A: The type of well-researched backgrounds of news and feature stories I see in foreign media is missing in Indian media. I think the media need quality research at both the levels — professional and academic — and I am of the view that media houses and institutes should invest more in research.
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