Media Education: An Introduction
India has a 5,000-year history and is the largest democracy in the world. It has 28 states and eight union territories, and its population speaks 22 officially recognized languages and many dialects. The country’s diverse geography, climate, culture, and languages have influenced journalism and media education development.
In This Article
Media education in India has a complex history that reflects the nation’s democratic development. The modern Indian media industry has enormous power and vast markets (in terms of multilingualism), representing the interests of almost all population segments.
In India, private businesses manage the press, radio, filmmaking, and the transnational television industry, whereas government initiatives oversee public broadcasting and the Internet.
Journalism has become essential to the Indian media industry over the years. Parallelly, media education in India has significantly progressed since independence.
Institutional Landscape and Educational Diversity
Media education began in the early 20th century, initiated by Dr. Annie Besant, a British socialist and philanthropist. In 1920, she introduced the first journalism course at the National University at Adyar, Madras, under the Theosophical Society. This initiative created a strong journalism education system that developed across the country. In 1938, Aligarh Muslim University offered a diploma course in journalism.
After gaining independence, the University of Madras established the first dedicated Department of Journalism and Communication in 1947. This was one of the earliest journalism programs in Asia, outside Japan, representing a key development in media studies in the southern region. The department introduced bachelor’s, master’s, MPhil, and PhD programs for the first time in Tamil Nadu/South India.
Calcutta University, one of the oldest and top-ranked universities in the subcontinent, established the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1950.
The Department of Journalism at Maharaja’s College, Mysore, was established in 1951 and included journalism as one of three optional subjects.
In 1952-53, Hislop Christian College at Nagpur University established a journalism department.
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) was established in New Delhi on August 17, 1965, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with support from UNESCO and the Ford Foundation. It is a leading institution for journalism education in the country.
Media education began in the Northeast with its introduction at Gauhati University in 1967.
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication was founded in 1973 within the Faculty of Arts at Banaras Hindu University.
Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication (MCNUJC) was founded in 1990 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The university is named after Makhanlal Chaturvedi, a renowned Hindi poet, playwright, and journalist.
The Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) in Chennai is another prominent institution for journalism education in India. Founded in 1994, the college is known for its quality journalism education.
Since 1991, media education has experienced numerous positive developments. Training in electronic media became increasingly necessary. This era saw the rise of the Indian middle class, leading to an increase in young aspirants in journalism.
State-run institutes like IIMC, the National School of Drama (NSD), the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), and the National Institute of Design (NID) flourished and began to contribute to the media sector’s requirements.
Contemporary media education in India presents a diverse and complex institutional framework. The sector provides various options for aspiring media professionals, including private and state universities, central universities, and commercial institutes. Media education programs, such as undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas, degrees, and doctoral programs, are available at different levels.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) was instrumental in formalizing media education by establishing a subject panel in 1977. This panel standardized and legitimized media studies as an academic discipline.
The Second Press Commission recommended establishing a National Council for Journalism Training in 1978. However, that did not happen because of insufficient industry support.
Curriculum and Contemporary Challenges
Media education in India currently faces several critical challenges. There is a strong reliance on Western models and theories, which often do not properly reflect the rich legacy of Indian journalism. The curriculum is often inconsistent, relying on individual educators instead of established institutional guidelines.
The rapidly evolving media landscape demands continuous adaptation. Due to the digital revolution transforming communication platforms, journalism schools are incorporating courses in digital journalism, multimedia reporting, data journalism, and social media management. This change shows the industry’s evolving nature and the demand for skilled, tech-savvy media professionals.
Socio-Economic and Professional Barriers
Economic constraints create significant obstacles to accessing media education. The high cost of training at top institutions often prevents middle-income students from participating, which may limit diversity in the media profession. Moreover, the professional environment remains challenging, with media workers, especially newcomers, facing precarious employment conditions.
Press Freedom and Educational Quality
India’s press freedom status significantly influences the broader context of media education. Ranking 159th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the ecosystem raises critical questions about media independence, journalist protection, and the overall quality of journalism education.
National Education Policy 2020
Recent policy changes, especially the National Education Policy 2020, have changed media education in India. This framework focuses on digital transformation in education, encouraging technology integration in teaching and supporting regional language journalism and content development. The policy aims to create educational environments that respect India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Ranking of Media Institutions 2024
The India Today Group’s annual ranking of the Best Colleges of India in mass communication according to the India Today-MDRA survey:
| 1 | Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) | New Delhi |
| 2 | Department of Media and Communication Studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University | Pune |
| 3 | Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication | Pune |
| 4 | Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad | Hyderabad |
| 5 | Xavier Institute of Communications | Mumbai |
| 6 | Manipal Institute of Communication | Manipal |
| 7 | Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media | Bengaluru |
| 8 | Department of Media Studies, Christ University (deemed) | Bengaluru |
| 9 | Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM) | Kottayam |
| 10 | Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication | Bhopal |
| 11 | Amity School of Communication, Noida | Noida |
| 12 | Kishinchand Chellaram College | Mumbai |
| 13 | Social Communications Media Department, Sophia Smt Manorama Devi Somani College | Mumbai |
| 14 | St Joseph’s College (Autonomous) | Bengaluru |
| 15 | Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication | New Delhi |
| 16 | Madras Christian College (Autonomous) | Chennai |
| 17 | Department of Media Studies, Jain University (deemed) | Bengaluru |
| 18 | St Joseph College of Communication | Kottayam |
| 19 | Jagran School of Journalism and Communication | Bhopal |
| 20 | School of Media and Communication Studies, Galgotias University | Greater Noida |
| 21 | Department of Mass Communication, Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh |
| 22 | School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Institute of Management Studies, Noida | Noida |
| 23 | University School of Mass Communication | New Delhi |
| 24 | Amity School of Communication, Jaipur | Jaipur |
| 25 | Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College (Autonomous) | Ujire |
| 26 | Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) | Bengaluru |
| 27 | St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangalore | Mangaluru |
| 28 | Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women | Chandigarh |
| 29 | National Institute of Mass Communication & Journalism, Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad |
| 30 | Tilak School of Journalism & Mass Communication, CCSU Meerut | Meerut |
| 31 | Amity School of Communication, Manesar | Gurugram |
| 32 | Amity School of Communication, Lucknow | Lucknow |
| 33 | School of Communications, XIM University | Harirajpur |
| 34 | DAV College, Jalandhar | Jalandhar |
| 35 | Amity School of Communication, Panvel | Navi Mumbai |
| 36 | Amity School of Communication, Gwalior | Gwalior |
| 37 | SS Jain Subodh PG College (Autonomous) | Jaipur |
| 38 | Chitkara School of Mass Communication | Patiala |
| 39 | Rathinam College of Arts and Science | Coimbatore |
| 40 | School of Mass Communication, IMS Unison University | Dehradun |
| 41 | Department of Communication and Media Studies, Bharathiar University | Coimbatore |
| 42 | Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, PSG College of Arts & Science | Coimbatore |
| 43 | BBK DAV College for Women | Amritsar |
| 44 | Hindusthan College of Arts and Science | Coimbatore |
| 45 | Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar | Jalandhar |
| 46 | Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (Autonomous) | Jalandhar |
| 47 | Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s College of Commerce | Pune |
| 48 | Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Thevara | Kochi |
| 49 | St Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda | Thrissur |
| 50 | Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, The Oxford College of Arts | Bengaluru |
| 51 | St. Pauls College | Bengaluru |
| 52 | Amity School of Communication, Raipur | Raipur |
| 53 | Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS) | Chennai |
| 54 | SAFI Institute of Advanced Study | Malappuram |
| 55 | Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya | Chandrapur |
Recommendations for Progress
To remain relevant and effective, journalism programs must:
- Create curricula that are more localized and contextually relevant.
- Combine practical skills and critical thinking.
- Enhance partnerships between industry and academia.
- Highlight the ability to adapt to technology.
- Promote diverse and inclusive representation.
The draft of new UGC regulations (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) released in December 2024 proposes several changes that could amount to sweeping reforms in higher education, such as biannual admissions, interdisciplinary learning, multiple degrees, and changes to stream requirements for admissions to both UG and PG courses.
It aims to transform higher education in India by introducing greater flexibility, removing disciplinary rigidity, promoting inclusivity, and providing students with multidisciplinary learning opportunities.
Conclusion
Media education in India stands at a critical juncture, balancing traditional journalistic principles with the demands of a rapidly digitalizing world. By addressing systemic challenges and embracing innovation, the field has significant potential to shape media professionals and the broader discourse of democratic communication in one of the world’s largest democracies.
Despite challenges, there’s notable optimism in the field. The growing number of students in media schools and the diversification of career paths—including roles in public relations, corporate communications, and digital content development—indicate a robust interest in media education.
