Indian Institute of Mass Communication

Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Name	Indian Institute of Mass Communication
Established	1965
Type	Autonomous institute
Campus	Multiple campuses

Indian Institute of Mass Communication is an Indian autonomous media training and research institute established in 1965 to provide professional education in Journalism-related fields and mass communication practice. Located in multiple urban campuses including New Delhi, the institute interfaces with national policy bodies such as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), collaborates with cultural institutions like National Film Development Corporation and professional bodies like Press Council of India and Prasar Bharati. It has educated cohorts who later worked at organizations such as Doordarshan, All India Radio, The Hindu, Times of India, and international outlets including BBC, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

History

The institute was founded in 1965 following recommendations from commissions and committees such as the Kuldip Nayar Committee and in the context of policy debates involving figures like Indira Gandhi and institutions such as the Planning Commission (India), aligning with initiatives by Central Bureau of Communication and Information and Broadcasting Ministry (India). Early collaborations involved exchanges with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNICEF, and training models from British Council and Columbia University. Over decades the institute responded to shifts prompted by events such as the Emergency (India, 1975–1977), media liberalization under Rajiv Gandhi, and the growth of private broadcasters such as Star India and Zee TV, expanding curriculum and outreach to match trends signaled by entities like Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act debates and technological adoption exemplified by Prasar Bharati reforms.

Campuses and Facilities

The main campus in New Delhi houses studios, newsrooms, and multimedia labs equipped to professional standards aligned with facilities at All India Radio and facilities used by Doordarshan Kendra. Additional campuses include locations in Aizawl, Dhenkanal, Kolkata, and collaborative centres near institutions such as Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University for guest lectures and shared resources. Infrastructure features include radio production suites comparable to BBC Radio standards, television studios similar to those at Film and Television Institute of India, archive collections referencing materials from National Film Archive of India, and libraries housing periodicals like Frontline, India Today, and Economic and Political Weekly.

Academic Programs

Programs include postgraduate diplomas and certificate courses in areas paralleling curricula at Columbia University Journalism School, Medill School of Journalism, and London School of Economics media offerings: print journalism, radio and television journalism, digital media, advertising and public relations, and development communication tied to practices at UNDP and World Bank communication units. Special short-term courses address skills used at Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Centre for Science and Environment communication programs. Faculty appointments have included practitioners associated with The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, NDTV, and academics with links to Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, and Annamalai University.

Research and Publications

The institute publishes research, periodicals, and working papers engaging topics covered by outlets such as Economic Times, Business Standard, and think tanks like Observer Research Foundation and Centre for Policy Research. Research themes mirror projects undertaken by UNESCO media studies, World Health Organization communication strategies, and case studies on media regulation referencing Press Council of India and rulings by the Supreme Court of India. Publications include journals and reports distributed alongside conferences attended by representatives from Reuters, Associated Press, Free Press International and academics from University of Oxford, IIM Ahmedabad and Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Admissions and Scholarships

Admissions follow competitive selection processes analogous to entrance systems at Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology with written tests and interviews reflecting selection models used by National Defence Academy and All India Institute of Medical Sciences postgraduate programs. Scholarships and fellowships have been sponsored by agencies such as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Ford Foundation, and corporate partners including Tata Group and Mahindra Group for meritorious candidates and regional initiatives supporting students from states like Mizoram and Odisha.

Student Life and Alumni

Student activities include campus publications, media clubs, and events modeled on festivals like Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and competitions similar to those held by National School of Drama and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, with alumni working across institutions including The Hindu, Hindustan Times, NDTV, Zee News, and international agencies like BBC World Service and Al Jazeera English. Notable alumni have been associated with public figures and organizations such as Arun Shourie, Barkha Dutt, Rajdeep Sardesai, Sudhir Chaudhary, and leadership roles at Press Information Bureau, India Today Group, and ANI.

Governance and Affiliation

Governance structures involve oversight by bodies tied to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) and advisory councils comprising members from Press Council of India, Prasar Bharati, Press Information Bureau, academic representatives from University Grants Commission, and professionals from All India Radio and Doordarshan. Affiliation and accreditation align with norms of agencies like UGC and collaborations with international partners such as British Council and university departments at Columbia University and University of Westminster.

Category:Mass media education in India