The School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed to be University organized orientation programme for Semester-IV students of Integrated Master of Communication and Journalism (IMCJ) programme on 15th December 2021 via online mode. Mr. Tirtho Banerjee, Assistant Editor in Khaleej Times, Dubai, a senior journalist, poet, and author, graced the programme. He encouraged the students for a bright career in journalism.
Mr. Banerjee shared experiences of his journalistic journey that began as a freelancer and continued to evolve through the years as he became a reporter, sub-editor, news editor and assistant editor. Speaking about what skills the media industry is looking for in the budding journalists, he advised, “You have to be very prompt, start thinking visually and editing. Try making stories more interactive”.
He told students, “Read more and language will be better. Give a lot of importance to deadlines. Skill is important but attitude is more important.” Mr. Banerjee spoke about how important it is for a Journalism student to have a nose for news. It is important to have a brief knowledge about segregating between what information is important and what is not to attract readers. He also spoke about various aspects of journalism including fact-checking, building relationships with the sources, and a lot more.
Mr. Banerjee has been in the journalism field for more than two decades. He has been associated with many popular and reputed media outlets. He has worked with The Gulf Times – Emirates Business in Dubai, The Times of India, Muscat Daily, Daily News and Analysis (DNA), The Hindustan Times, and The Telegraph in India.
Earlier, the orientation programme began with Dr. Bidu Bhusan Dash, Assistant Professor and Course Coordinator of the School of Mass Communication. He introduced the School and welcomed the speaker for the event.
Later the course instructors, Dr. Anurag Sahu, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Panda, Dr. Pradyumna Sathua, Ms. Ruby Nanda, Mr. Souptik Garai, Ms. Sananda Mukherjee and Ms. Chinmoyee Deka, discussed their respective courses and oriented students for a better understanding of the courses in the Semester. Ms. Ruby Nanda, Assistant Professor and mentor faculty for the batch proposed the vote of thanks. Ms. Baishaki Mishra, a Semester-IV student from School of Mass Communication moderated the event.