New Media Stream

The advent of online journalism has marked a fundamental shift in the media environment. Indeed, it has emerged as the “fourth form of journalism’. No longer constrained by geographic or cultural boundaries, online users are actively involved in shaping the media through what British journalist Alan Rusbridger has called “mutualisation of news”. The New Media specialisation programme at ACJ trains students to function as journalists in the technology-driven, challenging and fast-paced world of online media.

The learning is specifically tailored to the context of the New Media environment in India and South Asia. Students will gain first-hand knowledge of the Internet, Worldwide Web, Web 2.0 tools and social media platforms. The course is designed to equip students to use the Internet and Worldwide Web for research and for sourcing news-related multimedia content, using a range of available tools and platforms; and as a medium to publish. Students will also examine the impact of new media on traditional media. Beginning with learning to critically view web sites, content and tools for user interaction from the point of view of effective design, communication, quality of information and user participation, students go on to specialized training in formatting content for the multimedia environment. They acquire writing skills specifically attuned to the requirements of the Web; develop the ability to combine graphics, text, video and sound to deliver a message effectively, and learn to encourage reader participation through layered interactivity. At all times, the emphasis is on journalism – its content, form, techniques, impact and potential – in the new media.

New Media students learn web authoring and design skills and gain familiarity in using advanced multimedia software to produce content for ACJ’s weekly e-zine, ACJ Newsline (www.acjnewsline.org). They plan and produce special editions, investigative reports and blogs for the site with an emphasis on value-added communication, research and interactivity. Students have the use of ultra-light portable digital video cameras, still cameras and audio recorders for newsgathering on the field in multimedia formats, as well as the latest Web and multimedia editing software.