The Department

The Central University of Kashmir launched an innovative Post Graduate program in Convergent Journalism from the academic session in 2011 under the aegis of School of Media Studies. Journalism today is changing fast field with a major influence of technology particulary New Media & Social Media. While the previous two centuries will be remembered for the advent of different technologies, the current century will go down the annals of history for the convergence of technologies, ideas, ideologies and cultures. Just like other spheres of life, in journalism too, convergence is taking place at the levels of technology, media ownership and the presentation and packaging of news. In the year 2024, the Department was renamed as Department of Communication & Journalism under the School of Media Studies and the nomenclature of the course was changed to Masters in Mass Communication & Journalism in order to broaden up the scope of the department and to include all areas of mass communication and journalism field.

At the Department of Communication & Journalism, School of Media Studies we ensure that we keep up with the pace of Journalism in the world and make students learn to produce and manage content across multiple platforms, including print, radio, the Internet, television, social media and other digital and interactive platforms, with our cutting-edge convergent media master’s programme. The coursework has three semesters of practical and theory based teaching/learning and the fourth semester is a -no written examination- full term practical based capstone media project semester with four optional-specializations in Advanced Media Productions, Narrative Journalism, New Media and Research Dissertation work. Besides, the students are sent to various local, national, international media houses for a three-week Internship program after completing third Semester. Students gain a strong theoretical framework while developing practical skills in photography, writing, reporting, media production, film production, documentary making, design and web development and media research. Internships with media houses provide on-the-job training and have lead to employment of the students. The degree program in convergent journalism/ media prepares students to pursue rapidly changing communication and journalism profession. The department prepares students for the world of media/journalism where they can be placed as content managers, creative managers, reporters, editors, public relations specialists, social media specialists, filmmakers, production managers, cinematographers, photojournalists and more. The main objective of this course is to produce skilled and trained journalists for all the streams of journalism who are committed to the issues of ethics, social relevance and human rights. Convergent Journalism is taught at very few institutions/universities in the world and in South Asia we are the second institution to offer this programme.

The department has a well-equipped Multimedia Studio where students belonging to DCJ and various other departments of the university are trained. The studio is also being used for the creation of content for MOOC’s. The department also set up Community Radio Station, Radio CUKashmir 90.8 FM, which is fully functional and has already broadcasted a series of programmes including talk shows with the Deans, Heads and Coordinators of various departments of the varsity. Community Radio is currently playing a transformative role by not only supplementing and promoting education among masses, but also by creating awareness about combating social evils, challenges and malpractices like drug abuse, corruption etc. that the masses, especially youth are facing in the society. Besides that, the Radio also broadcasts programmes related to Viksit Bharat and NEP 2020