National Seminar New Media Technologies and Emerging Challenges in Communications.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Commission for Social Communications, New Delhi, in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, is organizing a national seminar for students of media departments and faculties of colleges and universities in India. The theme of the seminar is New Media Technologies and Emerging Challenges in Communications. The two-day seminar will be held on December 1-2 at the American Center, Kolkata. We invite each university and college to send a maximum of four students and one faculty member of the Department of Journalism/Mass Communication/Media Studies to participate in the seminar. While the participants have to bear the travel costs, the seminar costs- including food and accommodation during the seminar days will be taken care of by the organizers.

The Commission founded in 2009 a national network called Media Faculties Network (MFN). The network conducted a two-day national seminar in 2010 at Christ University, Bangalore. The objectives of the network include fostering greater professional exchange, staff development and student exchange programs, internship, creation and exchange of media books and resources, promotion of media research, conducting national seminars on current issues in media, engaging faculty and students in outreach media education programs as part of their academic and co-curricular activities.

The theme chosen for the 2011 National Seminar is - New Media Technologies and Emerging Challenges in Communications. The seminar aims at providing student delegates of media and their teacher representatives a platform to interact with each other and foster greater participatory learning and collaboration in academic field. Sub themes include:

•           New Media Enhancing Participatory Democracy in India

•           Mobile Phones Bridging Information Divide

•           Internet as a tool for Empowerment

•           Do we communicate better or worse in the age of New Media? A critique of media

•           New Media as a tool of Empowerment for the Masses

•           New Media and the Global Village, Global Citizenships

•           Is new media a threat to traditional media: how to synergize?

•           New Media and Gender Issues

•           Convergence in Communication Technology and its Impact

Colleges and Universities are invited to send the names of a maximum of 4 students who would benefit by the seminar and are able to contribute to the deliberations. They may be accompanied by one faculty member. Student delegates would be offered useful information on opportunities of higher studies in media in the U.S., and an info-pack comprising useful materials on the theme of the seminar.  

Colleges and institutes wishing to send student delegates may kindly register by completing the following form and send it to the address, mentioned in the attached registration form latest by October 31st.

With warm regards,

Sincerely,  

George Plathottam sdb                                                                                        Scott E. Hartmann

Executive Secretary                                                                                             Public Affairs Officer and
CBCI Commission for Social Communications                                                        Director, American Center