The students of School of Journalism and Mass Communication, K.R. Mangalam University, ventured out to the town of Sohna today to learn first hand about the local residents and their experiences. The main objective of this visit was to understand the perspective of the people regarding media literacy and gather valuable insights through survey and interviews.
The day began with vendors opening up their shops and doing their morning prayers, thus filling the town with a serene yet lively atmosphere. It was quite challenging at first to convince the residents to take part in surveys or interviews, but with some efforts, a few agreed to share their thoughts.
The conversations were very insightful. Many residents were surprisingly aware of topics like online payments, fraud prevention, and how e-governance works. It was refreshing to see their level of understanding and awareness in these areas.
While moving around, filling up survey forms, and collecting data, they not only gathered information but also were able to observe the day-to-day activities of the locals. They were given the hands-on experience of understanding how things operate in small communities like Sohna.
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Prof. (Dr.) Amit Chawla, Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) at KRMU, highlighted the importance of the media literacy and community engagement initiative held in Sohna. He said, “This initiative provided our students with a unique opportunity to explore the intersections of media, society, and culture within a real-world context”, Prof. Chawla said.
Dr. Ritika Choudhary, Assistant Professor at KRMU, emphasized the importance of media literacy in the modern world. “Media literacy is a crucial skill for aspiring journalists and media professionals,” Dr. Chaudhary said. “At SJMC, we aim to provide our students with experiences that extend beyond the classroom, immersing them in real-world challenges and grassroots realities”, she added.
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Dr. Ritwik Ghosh, Assistant Professor at KRMU further added, “This initiative in Sohna enabled our students to engage directly with the community, deepening their understanding of the significant role media plays in shaping societal perspectives. Such experiential learning is essential for developing the critical thinking and analytical skills that today’s media professionals need”, he remarked.
At the end of the visit, there was more taken back than only survey results for the students: the value of patience and effectiveness in communication and how it makes a difference during interaction with folks from all walks of life. It was an eye-opener enriching experience because it brought the practicality of learning into the class room and gave students a glimpse into the practical journalism angle.
It wasn’t so much about getting data during this visit but connecting with people, learning from them, and stepping into their world. This is just for a short time, but these experiences help students grow into more informed, empathetic, and responsible media professionals.
(Written by Anjani Sondhi, Student of BA (JMC) 1st Year, K.R. Mangalam University, Sohna Road, Gurugram).
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