CUK’s DCJ holds lecture on ‘Conventional Media in the Digital Age’

Srinagar, Nov 6: The Department of Communication and Journalism (DCJ), School of Media Studies, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) organised a special lecture on ‘Conventional Media in the Digital Age,’ at Tulmulla campus here on Thursday.

A statement of CUK issued here said that in his keynote address, Director India Habitat Centre and a media luminary, Prof K G Suresh, reflected on the journey of conventional media in the digital era.

“Sometimes, we tend to believe that conventional media is finished, but it is not the reality,” he said. “Newspapers continue to be the symbol of empowerment in India, where politically conscious people still read them.”

Prof Suresh said that while several foreign newspapers had shut down, in India, except for a few small publications, none had closed.

“In fact, language newspapers are doing particularly well across the country,” he said.

Prof Suresh said that Indian print media had shown remarkable resilience despite global digital disruptions.

“India is a diverse country with thousands of dialects. Print media has learned to live with technology rather than compete with it,” he said. “The students must read at least two to three newspapers daily to build perspective and develop media literacy.”

About the credibility crisis, Prof Suresh warned against the growing tendency of people to “get carried away by social media hype.”

He urged media students to differentiate between facts and manipulated narratives and said, “As media students, you must always keep your learning curve alive and be skeptical of whatever you come across.”

Dean School of Media Studies, Prof Shahid Rasool, said that a true media professional strives hard with an open mind and doesn’t confine to parameters.

He reflected on the phenomenon of deepfake videos and the erosion of credibility, noting that credibility is hit when the media fails to verify information before dissemination.

Rasool said that when new media arrives, the old must reinvent itself to stay relevant.

Earlier, HoD, Arif Nazir, highlighted the relevance of the topic in the current media landscape. Senior Assistant Prof Asif Khan moderated the session and introduced the guest.

The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session.

Senior Assistant Professor John Babu Koyye proposed the vote of thanks.