Future media newsroom and classroom

Will mobile journalism be the norm in the future? What role would Artificial Intelligence and gadgets such as drones play in field reporting?

“Gone are the days of journalists doing the rounds of political corridors for news,” said Mr. Bhupendra Chaubey, talking about the transformation that journalism has undergone in wake of all the technological advancements and their impact on our lives.

The UPES School of Modern Media organized an insightful and interactive webinar on how ‘Future Media Newsroom & Classroom’. The  interaction between Professor KG Suresh, Dean, School of Modern Media and Mr. Bhupendra Chaubey, Former Executive Editor, CNN News 18, currently the host of #TalkToBhupen, revolved around key issues such as exploring convergence media, integrated newsroom and how the future newsroom would look like.

They also took questions from modern media aspirants, their parents and educators. Excerpts:

How has modern technology influenced the modus operandi, thought process and functioning of journalists and media altogether?

Mr Bhupendra Chaubey: Technology has dramatically changed the way news and content is picked up and processed these days – about 60-70% of our content comes from the videos contributed by the public. The definition of conventional journalism is changing; mobile journalism (mojo) backed by crowd journalism is becoming the latest trend. Now-a-days, journalists are not dependent on political circles for news or content. The media market today is highly welcoming of professionals having a strong instinct of content spotting, a great sense of articulation and sassiness towards modern editing tools and platforms. New age reporters are expected to have a thorough knowledge of technology, core ethics like the knowledge of the judiciary, law of the land, parliament and culture and the knowledge of production values and processes. Artificial Intelligence (AI), algorithms to read data and strategize as per that are going to be the top skills in demand.

Considering the fascination of the young generation towards travel shows, automobile and drone journalism, what is the future of niche journalism?

Mr Bhupendra Chaubey: Segmentation of the content and the availability of various platforms like TV, the Internet, OTT apps offer great scope for niche journalism. During my recent conversation with Ritesh Agarwal, Founder, OYO, he mentioned about new age concepts like contactless/keyless/reception-less hotels being envisaged. Hotel and hospitality industry is keen to collaborate with travel journalists to expand their reach. I see a great opportunity in this domain.

Automobile journalism is also in demand provided you have in-depth knowledge of engineering concepts and product designing. The industry thrives on marketing and promotion and if you can do it well for them, the future is bright.

Drone journalism, again, is a great space to be; the world post corona will see a lot of drone-based reporting. Even now, if you look around, the police, NGOs and media drones are everywhere. A lot of experimentation is going on, not only in news but even in the world of fiction, drones have a dramatic presence. People with knowledge of operating drones effectively will have a great chance.

Is being active on social media platforms enough for being a journalist? If not, then what does it take to be a successful media professional?

Mr Bhupendra Chaubey: Being active on social mediahelps you in a certain way but it takes much more than that. One needs proper hands-on training focussed on extensive reading, strong command over language and exceptional data handling skills. Today we need journalists who are well-versed in scrutinising the data to ensure relevant content, hence building the credibility of the work.

Do you feel that journalism offers opportunities equally to girls and boys?

Mr Bhupendra Chaubey: There are several bright women in media and they are doing a brilliant job. They are fearless, head turners and immensely successful role models for many. More than gender it depends on how much you know. You will be in good space if you are well-trained mentally, conceptually and spiritually. Your inner game needs to be stronger.

Adding to this, Professor KG Suresh also mentioned about the special scholarships to support girl education under UPES’ flagship initiative ‘Shakti’, dedicated to the cause of women empowerment.

To view the complete discussion, click here https://www.upes.ac.in/webinars/future-media-newsroom-classroom