NISCORT Pledges to Promote Human Values in the Media

Vaishali (Ghaziabad), Aug.8: “The Dharma of media is the promotion of human and divine values”, reminded His Excellency Gracian Mundadan, the Apostolic Visitator of the Syro Malabar Church in Delhi while addressing the staff and students of National Institute of Social Communication and Research Training (NISCORT) Centre here today. Inaugurating the academic session 2011-12, Bishop Mundadan gave the example of a German newspaper which had ventured to cover only the ‘good news’ had to be closed down within a year of its inception! “Though they found no good news to cover, yet NISCORT should make a difference in the media field and bring hope to the nation with the good news”, advised the Bishop.

Dr.Jude Bothelho, the director in his welcome address invited the gathering to ‘be the voice of the voiceless’. “Media is not a one-man-show”, he cautioned stressing the importance of working together as a team.

All the staff and students- new and old, introduced each other on the occasion. There have been some changes in the residential staff of NISCORT. Dr. John Edappilly, the dean has been replaced by Fr. Devassy Kullankudiyil and Fr. Dominic D’Abreo takes over as the new Registrar in place of Fr.Jackson, who will be helping the students at the studio. There are 23 in the new batch which has joined for the Masters in Audio-Visual, Print and Broadcast Journalism.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the NISCORT productions: ‘Insight’ and ‘Are Women Safe in Delhi?’ These audio-visuals were indeed inspiring.

The session was closed on a cautious note by Fr. Jose Edassery, the Co-Ordinatory of Syro-Malabar Church in Delhi. He highlighted how media ‘creates’ stories and warned, “Be aware of the world around because everything- your clothing, dress habits, attitudes... will be determined by the big ‘event managers’ of the media”. NISCORT, the media wing of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) is a premier national institute trying to make a difference in the field of media. In an age when the mainstream media is scrambling for commercial gains, NISCORT plans to set its own benchmark.

Reported by Thomas D'Silva, II MJ, NISCORT