Govt to upgrade IIMC as International Media University

Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, on Thursday announced to upgrade Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) as International Media University eyeing the growing demand of Indian media industry.

The minister was speaking on the 41 st Annual Convocation ceremony of the top Indian media institute in New Delhi. ‘I&B Ministry is working on to transforming it into a world class media education, training and research University, by an Act of Parliament. This will fulfill the growing demand of the media industry to provide more trained and qualified professionals’, Dasmunsi added in his speech.

Addressing to the students, faculties and staff members, Dasmunsi said that former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi had conceptualised it in his father’s regime and ‘in 1965 this great institute was established’.

Showing the gratitude to her the minister said: “She was aware of the empowering power of information. She conceptualised this institute to provide trained information and media professionals to communicate change and development among our people. In the last four decades this vision has grown and IIMC is serving the nation by training hundreds of journalists, media and information professionals and development communicators.”

Expressing his view on unhealthy trends of media in which media is going towards mud and misleading path to gain popularity and money, Dasmunsi warned, ‘my ministry is receiving many complaints from the general public and concerned citizen groups….It is certainly a matter of great concern.’

‘In the rush of unhealthy growing competition among media companies, the company, organisations and the professionals are threatening the media norms and values’, added Dasmunsi.

Criticising the current unfortunate trends in media world, I&B Minister annoyed, “There are numerous instances of media excesses and media trials, fake sting operations, criminal tress-passing of privacy, glamorisation of criminals and mafia dons, promotion of hatred among communities and inflaming of raw emotions.”

“This is a very dangerous trend not only for media but for democracy and all humanity,” he added.

Speaking on the role of IIMC in this regard Priyaranjan said, “IIMC can play a great role by providing good, creative, trained and qualified professionals to the industry in adequate numbers.”

“For this, it (IIMC) needs to enhance capacity, start new and specialised courses and training programmes geared to the manpower needs of the industry,” Dasmunsi said.

Describing about the government’s efforts in this field, Minister said, “Our government is also giving top priority to the education sector. In fact the Prime Minister has rightly termed the 11th Five Year Plan as ‘Education Plan’”.

Indicating towards a recent report, Dasmunsi stated that currently media and entertainment industry has recorded a growth of 19 percent in last four years while it is expecting to grow at the compound annual growth of 18 percent in the next five years.

The Diploma has been awarded to the students and IIMC director Stuti Kacker presented the report.

IIMC conducts Post Graduate Diploma Course in Hindi Journalism, Post Graduate Course in English Journalism, PG Diploma in Advertising & Public Relations, PG Diploma Course in Radio and TV Journalism and Diploma Course in Development Journalism successfully.

Additional Secretary, Uday Kumar Varma, Media Heads, the faculty of the IIMC and distinguished guests were also present on this occasion.