CENTRE FOR JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION (CJMC)

About The Department

The Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication (CJMC) at Visva-Bharati University embodies the institution’s humanistic academic vision, combining teaching, practice and research in a comprehensive ecosystem of media and communication studies. Established in 2000, CJMC has evolved into a leading centre for media education, innovation, and community engagement, offering postgraduate, doctoral and multidisciplinary undergraduate programmes that integrate heritage with modernity, theory with practice and local perspectives with global trends.

Rooted in Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of holistic learning and intercultural dialogue, CJMC nurtures critical thinkers, creative professionals and ethical communicators equipped to navigate the complexities of global media. Its academic framework spans digital journalism, international journalism, political communication, audio-visual journalism, communication design and film appreciation, preparing learners to address diverse audience needs through both traditional storytelling practices and emerging technologies.

The Centre also places a strong emphasis on visual literacy, design thinking and multimedia storytelling, thoughtfully integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) to merge traditional aesthetics with contemporary practices. Students explore evolving strategies in communication design, branding and cross-platform content creation, equipping them to craft impactful narratives that resonate across cultures and audiences.

Development Communication is one of CJMC’s defining strengths, where learners design projects and campaigns addressing sustainability, rural empowerment, health awareness and social inclusion, fostering a strong sense of community engagement and participatory communication practices. Equally central is Personality Development Training, introduced early in the curriculum to prepare students for leadership, adaptability, effective communication and professional confidence. Through structured workshops, simulations and reflective exercises, students develop public speaking, collaboration, negotiation and problem-solving skills — essential for thriving as communicators across global and diverse media environments.

CJMC also integrates AI learning across its academic framework, providing theoretical understanding and workshop-based insights into emerging tools and trends. Students explore AI-driven concepts such as automation, content curation, personalisation, sentiment analysis and fact-checking, along with exposure to digital tools relevant to journalism, storytelling and campaign strategies. Emphasis is placed on digital ethics, governance and AI transparency, ensuring learners develop a critical and responsible approach to technology in media.

CJMC’s doctoral programme advances scholarly excellence by combining theory, research design and mixed-method approaches. Scholars receive training in bibliometric analysis, PRISMA-based reviews and digital research tools, supported by mentoring in academic writing, ethics and seminar presentation.

Over the past two decades, CJMC has evolved into a centre that blends heritage and innovation, development and design and community engagement with digital transformation. By integrating development communication practices, personality development training, digital and audio-visual journalism, political communication, international perspectives, film appreciation and AI-enabled insights enriched by Indian Knowledge System frameworks, CJMC continues to prepare responsible, adaptive and visionary communicators ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving global media ecosystem.

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Conferences & Events

The two-day seminar “Gig Economy and Digital Platform Workers in Semi-Rural India: Challenges, Communication and Policy Perspectives,” organised by the Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication, Visva-Bharati, in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) India Office, on 22–23 May 2025, brought together academicians, researchers, students, gig workers and practitioners for meaningful discussions on the realities of platform-based work. Day 1 featured a panel discussion on communication practices, gendered realities and digital labour activism, followed by an interactive workshop where students engaged directly with Santiniketan-Bolpur-based gig workers and explored creative social media campaigns around their concerns. Day 2 focused on survey findings, policy perspectives and the PAIGAM report, followed by a student roundtable reflecting on their first-hand interactions with gig workers. The seminar concluded with a valedictory session, marking a meaningful culmination of the Centre’s year-long silver jubilee celebrations through dialogue, learning and collective reflection on the future of gig work.

On 13th August, Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication, Vidya Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, in collaboration with the Viksit Bharat Cell, Visva-Bharati, and the Artificial Intelligence Committee, Visva-Bharati, jointly organised a special lecture on “AI for India: Charting the Road Ahead.” The lecture was delivered by Prof Manash P. Goswami, Professor and Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya. Prof Goswami discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in driving India’s development across diverse sectors. He highlighted the opportunities AI presents for innovation, efficiency, and inclusivity, while also addressing the ethical, social, and policy challenges that must be navigated to ensure responsible adoption. The session offered participants an insightful roadmap for integrating AI into India’s growth trajectory, inspiring meaningful dialogue on its future prospects.

Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication in collaboration with UNICEF, organised an online training session on “Green Journalism” on May 29, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The session brought together eminent media and environmental communication experts and journalists to discuss the growing significance of environmental reporting and climate-sensitive journalism in contemporary society.
The programme featured Dr Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) as an invited speaker. In his address, Dr Vashist highlighted the crucial role of journalists in addressing climate change, environmental degradation and sustainability issues through responsible and informed reporting.
Dr Jayanta Basu, Environment and Climate Change Communication Specialist, Senior Journalist, joined the session as both speaker and moderator.
The session also featured insightful remarks by Dr Snehasis Sur, who shared his perspectives on environmental communication and the responsibility of media institutions in promoting ecological awareness among the public.
The interactive session proved to be highly informative and engaging for scholars and journalists. It successfully created a platform for meaningful discussion on the role of journalism in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.

International Conference held on 26-27 February 2026

The International Conference on Communication & Media 2.0, “Media, Culture and Sustainability: Towards a Progressive India,” organized by the Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication, Visva-Bharati, in collaboration with UNICEF and in association with IIM Kozhikode, the International Communication Association (India), the India Japan Laboratory, Keio University, and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) India Chapter, concluded successfully at Bangladesh Bhavana, Santiniketan on 26–27 February. Over two days, the conference brought together scholars, academicians, researchers and media practitioners from India and abroad. The event fostered meaningful dialogue on media, culture, sustainability, communication ethics and inclusive futures, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and critical reflection.

Upcoming Events

Time Table

Achievements

Alumni Association

CJMC Alumni Association