A new Outlook

Updated on: Thursday, February 04, 2010

Kolkata: Outlook ’10, a media seminar on emerging opportunities in the industry, was organised by MOP Vaishnav College, Chennai, in collaboration with St Xavier’s College and in association with Education Times on February 2.

The event offered a platform for students to interact with professionals.

Dr Felix Raj, principal, St Xavier’s College, seemed to appreciate the effort, “It’s the first time and initiative like this has been undertaken in organising a seminar on media,” said Dr Felix.

“I would like to congratulate the department of communication of the Chennai college,” he added.

The principal said that he planned on having more collaborations with various colleges in the future.

Speaking on the diversity media offers, he said: “Each course has its role to play in our lives and I think the media does matter in terms of uplifting the country and wealth”.

The speakers did not require any introduction. Pranav Mukherjee, a well-known figure in theatre, inspired the audience with an animated speech.

Mukherjee threw light on the approach one should opt for in documentary filmmaking. Voicing his opinion, he said: “Documentary filmmaking is all about the treatment of the filmmaker on the subject. You can cover 30 book launches, 16 jewellery launches and 30 discotheques, but that won’t help you land up covering the war in Iraq,” he said.

Bob Roy, editor, Education Times (East), had a lot to offer from his repertoire. He spoke on media becoming overtly sensational.

Roy made the session interactive and interesting by taking the perspectives of the students into account.

When asked his opinion on the matter, he said, “The media is a mirror to society and we have a lot to offer to everyone through the news we provide”.

He also cleared the air by saying that there was no doubt on the media not being sensational. “We associate sensationalism with tabloids,” explained Roy.

Adjudging the attributes of Indians, he said: “We are a vibrant race and everybody around us is animated.”

“In a normal situation, a journalist’s job is to objectively report after gathering all the information,” he added.

The comprehensive examples he gave inspired all.

The last speaker for the evening was Heena Gorsia, general secretary, Bhawanipur College. She spoke about the influence of politics and corporate have on advertising.

Stepping down from the stage, she made the second session of the seminar a lot more interactive. “Politics influences everyone and plays an integral role in our day to day life, said Gorsia.

Speaking on advertising, she said, “You have to be careful about the emotions of the people.”

Offering a piece of advice to all the future ad-gurus, she said, “You have to be creative, one step ahead of others and sceptical of what you do”.

A new Outlook

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