Good morning. And the headlines are...This is not the morning news, but words from a lecture room at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. For IIMC in Delhi — along with its branch in Dhenkanal in Orissa — is one of the most sought-after institutes for those hoping to make a career in journalism.

IIMC had a humble beginning. In August 1965, it was set up as a department in the information and broadcasting ministry of the government of India with a few staff. Today, IIMC is an autonomous body, providing courses as diverse as radio and television journalism, and advertising and public relations. There are courses for journalism in English, Hindi and Oriya. The institute also holds four one-year postgraduate diploma courses and two four-month diploma courses in development journalism.

Meeting goals

IIMC has the infrastructure to support its aims. Its campus is spread over an area of about 15 acres housing the teaching block, an auditorium, the library, many studios and a hostel for women (men have to find their own accommodation).

“Just look at the landscape,” says P. Bapaiah, registrar, IIMC, emphasising that the sprawling campus shows the intent of the institute to be counted as among the best. “And we are continuously updating our studios, cameras and other equipment,” he adds.

Admissions to IIMC are based on an entrance examination held in May, which is followed by a group discussion/interview. The examination deals mostly with current affairs, but has specific questions on the particular stream that a student hopes to take up. The examination is held at many centres, including New Delhi, Patna, Calcutta, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar.

The faculty at IIMC consists of both academicians and media professionals, some of whom have done significant work in their areas of specialisation. The visiting faculty, drawn from leading media organisations, regularly interacts with scholars and trainees. “These are known names in their fields and thus help us to take an intelligent approach to issues,” says a student of the advertising and public relations course. Bapaiah also stresses that IIMC has the latest curriculum.

Creative community

The institute publishes two journals, Communicator in English and Sanchar Madhyam in Hindi. The journals contain articles and book reviews examining a wide range of subjects in communication theory, research and practice.

The institute also brings out a newsletter, which gives details of IIMC’s academic work, reports on seminars or any other activity with which the institute is involved. “The students go out to cover assignments, broadcast radio programmes, bring out journals and papers — and thus get practical training,” says Bapaiah.

IIMC has a community radio, too. Students are encouraged to work on programmes aimed at the community around them for local broadcasts.

The canteen is a popular haunt for the students of IIMC. “Murli bhaiya’s dhaba is the best hang-out,” says Rimi, a radio and television journalism student.

The institute’s short-term training programmes have become popular over the years. “Short-term training programs are held for government employees,” says Bapaiah.

IIMC’s placement record is very good. “We have more than 80 per cent placement in every field,” he says.

“We are doing our best to make the institute better and to lead it to the top,” Bapaiah holds.

Vital Statistics

WHAT IS IT? A mass communication institute that offers postgraduate courses.

WHO’S THE BOSS? P. Bapaiah is the registrar.

How much does it cost? The fee ranges from Rs 19,000 to Rs 43,000 a year.

WHat about jobs? IIMC has an active placement cell.

Where to stay? IIMC has a girls’ hostel though the boys have to arrange for their accommodation.

WHere is it? Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), JNU New Campus,
Aruna Asif Ali Marg,
New Delhi-110067.
Phone: 011-26160940/60
Website: www.iimc.nic.in

Arunav Tewari

Old memories

Deepak Chaurasia, executive producer, Aaj Tak, recalls his time at IIMC

The infrastructure is incomparable — you won’t find such a sprawling campus in any other media institute.

But the biggest drawback was finding a small room for myself! I have to say that the canteen at IIMC was excellent and I would often bunk classes to discuss the next day’s headlines there.

Coming from Madhya Pradesh, Delhi was simply a bhool-bhulaiya for me but the professors at the institute helped me a lot. For me, it was like coming to the sea from a well. I learnt the most in those nine months at IIMC. . .

As told to Arunav Tewari