Emphasises making Media Education relevant in AI Era

Gov holds meeting with Heads of Media & Mass Comm Depts
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Mar: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) held a meeting today at the Lok Bhavan, here, with Heads of Departments and Deans of Media and Mass Communication from various universities across the state. The discussion focused on the theme: “Media Education in the AI Era and Digital Information Ecosystem: Challenges, Ethics, and Opportunities”.
Addressing the meeting, the Governor said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital media have completely transformed the way information is created and consumed. Therefore, media education must evolve accordingly. He emphasised that media is not just a tool for delivering news, but also plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and societal thinking. Hence, the objective of media education should not only be to produce skilled journalists but also responsible citizens.
The Governor highlighted that fake news and misinformation have become major challenges in present times. To address this, proper training of students is essential. He urged universities to include subjects such as AI, data analytics, digital security, and fact-checking in their curricula.
On this occasion, the Governor also asked department heads to consider measures to strengthen the economic independence of journalists, keeping their welfare in mind. He suggested promoting start-ups and innovation in journalism to enhance self-reliance and create new opportunities in the media sector. He further stressed that universities and media institutions should work towards providing guidance, training, and support in this direction to empower journalists in a rapidly changing environment.
The Governor noted that understanding rapid changes and adapting accordingly is essential in the present era. He emphasised that Artificial Intelligence should be used in the interest of the nation and society, ensuring public welfare. He also highlighted the need for widespread awareness to ensure the responsible and effective use of AI.
He added that such meetings will continue to be organised regularly in the future to ensure continuous dialogue and improvement. He expressed confidence that the deliberations in this meeting would lead to meaningful and positive outcomes, giving new direction to media education.
The meeting, organised with the support of Doon University, saw participation from Deans and Heads of Departments from various universities. The participants shared their views on the growing influence of AI, stating that it is rapidly transforming both media and education. They emphasised that instead of ignoring AI, it should be adopted wisely as a tool, without becoming overly dependent on it.
Participants stressed the importance of preparing students for the responsible use of AI. They noted that the spread of fake news and misinformation is a major concern in the AI-driven landscape, making it essential to develop robust fact-checking mechanisms.
They suggested that AI, fact-checking, and digital ethics should be made mandatory components of media education curricula. Additionally, they recommended introducing student exchange programmes across universities.
Participants also emphasised the need to go beyond theoretical knowledge and focus on practical training, enabling students to promote media literacy and awareness in society. The discussion also highlighted the importance of developing indigenous AI tools aligned with Indian contexts and needs to strengthen the media sector.
Among those present at the meeting were Additional Secretary to the Governor, Reena Joshi; Joint Director (Information) Dr Nitin Upadhyay; HOD, Media and Mass Communication, Doon University, Prof Rajesh Kumar; Prof Rakesh Rayal from Uttarakhand Open University; Prof Amresh Jha from UPES University; Prof Taha Siddiqui from Graphic Era Hill University; Prof Jaiveer Singh from DBS Global University; Prof Kartikeya Gaur from Uttaranchal University; Prof Ravi Shankar Upadhyay from Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University; Prof Parag Ranjan from COER University; Prof Sheel Shukla from Subharti University; Prof Ashish Kulshreshtha from SGRR University; Prof Pooja Dabas from Sparsh Himalaya University; and Prof Tausif Iqbal from Tula’s Institute.