This document outlines an innovative news-based approach to journalism education. It proposes using the latest news developments as the basis for classroom discussion and analysis. Students would research and discuss selected news stories in small groups, analyzing the key issues and points. This would help students stay up-to-date on current events while gaining a deeper understanding of important issues. The approach was successfully implemented at Zee Institute of Media Arts and received positive feedback from students, with many going on to successful journalism careers.

1. WJEC 2019 PARIS: IGNITE COMPETITION
Best New Ideas In Teaching Journalism
JOURNALISM EDUCATION: INNOVATIVE
APPROACH IN CONTENT AND DELIVERY
Presented by: Dr. Ambrish Saxena, Dean, DME Media
School and Director, DME Studios and Production
&
Dr. Susmita Bala, Head, DME Media School, Delhi
Metropolitan Education, Noida, Delhi National Capital
Region, India

2. Innovative Approach in Journalism
Education
 Curriculum based stereotyping be avoided
 Society driven pragmatic approach be
preferred
 Learning based system be encouraged
 Knowledge to be the key in journalism
education

3. Journalism Education: Identification of
Major Components
 Thought: Society, polity, economy and culture
 Theory: Communication theory and models
 Skill: Handling of equipment, new technology
 Practices: Functioning of news media
organizations
Thought Theory
Skill Practices
Major
Components

4. Major Components: Focus and the
Drive
 Thought: Story ideas, News sense
 Theory: Purpose of communication,
Application in Media
 Skill: Production process, Web to AI
 Practices: Composition of departments,
Integration

5. Journalism Education: Weightage of
Major Components
75%
10%
10%
5%
Thought Theory Skill Practices

6. Thought Component: Top Priority
Areas
 History: historical developments, heritage
 Culture: Religion, customs, life style and
language
 Social Issues: Communalism, Caste and
community divide
 Social unrest: Dissention, Protests, Violence,
Suppression
 Economic Issues: Low income, Poverty,
Unemployment

7. Thought Component: Top Priority
Areas (Cont…)
 Political Issues: Public Policy, Governance and
transparency
 Legal Issues: Constitutional Amendments, Acts
by Parliament
 Bureaucracy: Accountability to people, Delivery
of services
 Police: Law and order, Security of people and
role of police
 Gender Issues: Women empowerment and
emancipation

8. Thought Component: Additional
Priority Areas
 Geo-political situation: Conflict zones
 Relations with neighboring countries
 International trade and world forums
 Science and Technology: Innovations, New
Products
 Sports: Tournaments/Championships, Sports
bodies

9. Teaching and Learning Through News
Based Approach
 News based approach be adopted in
journalism education
 Latest news development be picked up for
study on a particular day
 Daily newspaper hard copy/web edition be
used for teaching in the class

10. Mode of Teaching and Delivery in
Class
 Students be asked to come to the class after going
through latest news developments
 Hard copies of major newspapers be made available
in the class
 Classroom be equipped with screen and internet
connection
 Facility of news broadcast (with DTH connection) be
provided in the classroom

11. Selection of News Stories and
Identification of Fine Points
 Students be asked to select news stories for discussion in the
class
 News stories be picked up in consideration to top priority
areas and additional priority areas
 Students be asked to dissect each selected story so as to find
out fine points of that news development
 Class be divided in groups and news stories be distributed to
students

12. Three-tier Approach for Understanding
News Developments
 Teacher needs to be in the class for about an
hour for finalization of major stories
 Following this, students be given an hour for
research and group discussions
 Rest 2 to 3 hours of the day be reserved for
discussion on these stories in the class
 Teacher needs to address the issues and
answer the queries raised by the students

13. Example of News Based Approach in
Learning Journalism
 News: Terrorist attack in Pulwama kills 40
CRPF soldiers
 This news story covers the following core/subsidiary
areas
 Issues of internal security, policy of the government
 Enforcement of Armed Forces Special Powers Act
 Deployment of forces in Kashmir: Army and para
military forces
 Composition, powers and service conditions of these
forces
 Intelligence collection and apathy of internal security
machinery

14. Example of News based Approach in
Learning Journalism (Cont…)
 Problem of home-grown terrorism, dissention
among local people
 Problem of Pakistan sponsored terrorism, funding
and training from the across the border
 Role of State Government/Governor
 Attitude of Kashmiri separatist leaders
 Response of the Government of India
 Fall out of this incident on Indo-Pak relations
 International fall out of this terrorist act

15. Benefits of News Based Approach in
Journalism Education
 News based learning most appropriate in
short-term journalism courses
 Keeps students abreast with latest national-
international developments
 Helps in having an in-depth understanding of
pertinent issues
 Facilitates in the growth of socially inclined
journalists

16. Success of News based Approach in
Learning
 Successfully implemented at Zee Institute of
Media Arts (ZIMA)
 As Academic Head of ZIMA, I conceived and
executed this model
 Received very positive response from the
students
 Students trained in this mode doing good as
journalists