How to Prepare Students for Jobs in Emerging Media

The media is considered the fourth pillar of democracy. Yes, it is seen as being on par with the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, serving as a vigilant watcher over all three. And, to be precise, it has played its vital role in several incidents of the past and has proved its mettle. With its constant presence, the media has not just performed a duty, but has carried a responsibility, shaping democracy itself.

The role and importance of the media have never changed. What has changed over time is the way the media function. For over a few decades or centuries, Print Media was the only form of media. But in the 20th century, when radio reached the general public, the media found a human voice for the first time. Very quickly, it took a long leap forward and reached the television screen.

However, the biggest transformation in the world of media began with the arrival of the Internet age. With the internet came a new form of media that we now call Digital Media. Through online websites, apps and platforms like YouTube, its influence grew rapidly, and today it reaches a massive consumer base with great ease.

With the rise of digital media, many old misconceptions were broken. The skills, including technical and news reporting, required to work in media have changed significantly. Let us now understand how you should prepare yourself to have a career in the new media era.

What were the traditional job roles in the media?

In Print Media Era

• Journalists / Reporters
• Editors
• Photographers / Photojournalists
• Columnists / Critics
• Printers / Press Operators
• Advertising & Sales Executives

Roles Emerged with Radio & Television

• Radio Presenters / RJs (Radio Jockeys)
• News Anchors (TV)
• Producers (Radio & TV)
• Camerapersons
• Video Editors
• Sound Engineers & Broadcast Technicians
• Scriptwriters

Traditionally, these roles required a core understanding of Journalism and Mass Communication. And, very rarely, any technical skill was needed.

But with the rise of digital media, the landscape is changing very fast. AI, VR/AR, XR, etc, technologies are making their way at a very fast pace. This is where the traditional media courses start lacking. They are centred around the principles of Mass Communication.

The new media requires people who have both: Knowledge of Journalism and Technical Abilities. This is where the B.Tech. Computation and Media stand out.

B.Tech. Computation and Media (BTCM) is a four-year multidisciplinary degree that includes courses in Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Mass Communication and general engineering. It teaches students to be engineers capable of entering the news, entertainment and user media businesses, as well as other connected industries, with the necessary skills and competencies for the use of these new technologies.

The B.Tech. Computation and Media programme equips students with the technical foundation in computing, with creative and critical thinking skills. The complete syllabus of this programme is designed by integrating the concepts of Digital Media and Communication and Computer Science and Engineering.

In the B.Tech. Computation and Media course, students learn to:

• Do immersive storytelling with the help of AR, VR and XR.
• Use Data Visualisation, AI and automation for producing personalised content, analysing audience data and combating misinformation.
• Use technology for new forms of expression and communication, such as interactive and personalised narratives.
• Handle issues related to misinformation and media integrity in the digital age.

All students pursue a course in the hopes that they will be able to access enough job opportunities across a range of different sectors. It is, therefore, necessary to discuss which career fields students can enter upon completing this course:

1. News & Journalism

• Immersive Journalist / XR Journalist
• Data Journalist
• Broadcast Technologist
• Ethical Media Analyst

2. Entertainment & Film Production

• Film & Media Technologist
• 360° Video / VR Filmmaker
• Interactive Storytelling Designer

3. Gaming & User-Media Industry

• Game Designer / Developer
• XR/VR Game Producer
• Gamification Specialist
• Graphics & Animation Expert

4. Advertising & Strategic Communication

• Advertising Technologist
• AR/VR Communication Specialist
• Creative Technologist

These are some of the career roles you can pursue after doing the B.Tech. Computation and Media programme.

Mahindra University, with its quality education, advanced infrastructure and world-class faculty, has established itself as a premier educational university in India.

Taking a move forward, the School of Digital Media and Communication has designed a 4-year B.Tech. Computation and Media programme which combines Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Mass Communication and general engineering in a single interdisciplinary course.

The goals of this programme at Mahindra University are:

• Utilising emerging technology to be more interactive, personalised and diverse in the media world.
• Produce a trained, technically sound storyteller who also understands the core of Media and Communication.
• Equip students with the skillsets to work in an evolving environment of the policies, technologies and media roles.

If you are someone who wants to study media but with a technical lens, then B.Tech. Computation and Media at Mahindra University is the best way forward.

As the world of media is changing continuously, the in-demand skills and kinds of jobs available in the market are also changing to a greater degree in comparison to traditional norms. To equip yourself with the new-age media tools, expertise and be a perfect fit in the emerging roles in the media, B.Tech. Computation and Media is the ideal course you can pursue.

The programme is designed to equip you with the core understanding of Media Communication and technical skills like AR, VR, XR, etc. After completing the programme, you will be ready to work in multiple roles across sectors like News & Journalism, Entertainment & Film Production, Gaming & User-Media Industry, Advertising & Strategic Communication, etc.

Mahindra University offers this unique B.Tech. Computation and Media course and the admissions are open. Apply now before the seats get filled.

• What is the total duration of B.Tech. Computation and Media programme?
  The B.Tech. Computation and Media is a 4-year course, divided into 8 semesters.
• What are the subjects in B.Tech. Computation and Media?
  The programme includes subjects like French, Data Structures, Object Oriented Programming, Computer Graphics, DBMS, Media Psychology, Augmented, Virtual & Extended Reality, etc.
• Can I do a start-up in media after doing the BTCM course?
  The BTMC programme equips you with technical skills in computer science and core knowledge of media communications, making you a perfect fit to start and successfully run a new venture in this domain.