Media Literacy Program: A One Week Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Media Literacy: Empowering Educators and Society” in collaboration with Express Media Services began at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ). The inaugural session was graced by the Chief Guest, Prof. K. G. Suresh, Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal.
In his address, Prof. Suresh underscored the importance of media literacy for citizens to navigate and understand media discourse effectively. He highlighted how platforms like Google and social media have revolutionized communication but also posed risks such as rumour-mongering, deep fakes, misinformation, and disinformation. Prof. Suresh emphasized the crucial need for the younger generation, who extensively use social media, to engage with these platforms responsibly.
The session began with a brief introduction to the FDP presented by Prof. Fakira Mohan Nahak, Director of the School of Media and Communication at MUJ. This was followed by a warm welcome address from Prof. Komal Audichya, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, MUJ, who greeted the chief guest, faculty members, and participants. She also stressed the necessity for the media community to continually adapt and learn in an ever-evolving media landscape.
Prof. Sushil Kumar Rai, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ, delivered a formal vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all attendees and contributors. The inaugural session was adeptly hosted by Dr. Vaishali Kapoor, Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The first day featured two enlightening sessions led by Prof. Raghvendra Mishra, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at Indira Gandhi National Tribal Central University, Amarkantak. The initial session, “Introduction to Media Literacy: Meaning, Objectives & Importance of Media Literacy,” covered a broad range of topics including media literacy, information literacy, information overload, and the social media environment.
The second session, “Media Literacy & Education: Role of Media Literacy in Media Education,” addressed the imperative of incorporating media literacy into education in contemporary times. Prof. Mishra discussed various government initiatives and curricula designed to enhance media literacy among citizens. Both sessions were highly interactive, concluding with a dynamic question-and-answer segment involving the participants.
The FDP will continue until Friday, featuring a series of sessions aimed at enriching educators and society with vital media literacy skills.
