Editors from NE States
Brainstormed at USTM-Media Round Table 2018

USTM announces
fellowships and other programmes for North East
journalists
USTM, Ri Bhoi, January 18, 2018: With a strong
conviction that media plays a pivotal role in
educational development of the region, the University of
Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) announced
several media fellowships for journalists of the region
at a Round Table held on 18 January 2018 in the
University campus amidst a galaxy of editors of
newspapers and television channels as well as stalwarts
and opinion makers from different states of the
Northeast. Titled “USTM-Media Round Table 2018”, the
event was organised by the University to seek advice and
suggestions from the media personalities on how USTM can
contribute to the media fraternity and to the society as
a whole by offering free education to the aspirant
children of journalists as well as by way of offering
fellowships.
Addressing the distinguished media personalities in the
Round Table, Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor, USTM said, “We
must acknowledge the contribution of both print and
electronic media towards knowledge dissemination and for
building public awareness for the need of education in
order to develop oneself and one’s society, and the
country as a whole. We believe that we have to learn a
lot from the veterans and thinkers working in the field
of media, on an on-going basis”. He said that an
Academia-Media Committee will be formed as a follow up
to the Round Table to finalise the topics and other
details of the fellowships to be awarded by USTM to
journalists from the North East. He also informed that
the fellowships will be formally launched by USTM in
July 2018.
Appreciating USTM’s role in education and research
initiatives, the veterans of media houses agreed that
the efforts of the University for development of
education among the poor section of the society by way
of providing various scholarships and also free
education to 35 per cent students of the total enrolment
in the University is really laudable. They greeted the
Chancellor of USTM for his educational entrepreneurship
through relentless endeavour towards development of
education among the people. The presence of 55 per cent
girl students in the University too is a sign of support
towards women empowerment, agreed the participants in
the Round Table.
During the brainstorming session, the editors of the
print and electronic media from the North East suggested
different topics for both the major fellowship programme
leading to PhD and the minor fellowships. The topics
suggested for the major fellowship include floods and
erosion, lack of livelihood options in the North East,
healthcare needs for senior citizens, use of alternative
media, sufferings of women in conflict zones, crises
before the media industry, human resources drain from
the North East, gender sensitiveness, environment and
wildlife issues etc. For the short term fellowships, it
was proposed that issues relating to promotion of
positive news by media, customs and food habits of North
East, development of tourism, entrepreneurship and skill
development, community resistance to conflicts, and
effects of globalisation on small communities could be
considered.
While PJ Baruah, Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune
suggested that traditional methods adopted in flood
control and future of small newspapers could be topics
of research, Wasbir Hussain, Chief Editorial Advisor,
North East Live, said that there has to be research on
lack of livelihood options in the North East which is
causing brain drain. Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor, Imphal
Free Press stressed on new media standing as a challenge
in the media world. Eminent journalist Naba Thakuria
said that there should be some study in the healthcare
sector in the region while Maini Mahanta, Editor,
Nandini emphasised on gender sensitiveness as an issue.
Samudra Gupta Kashyap, Assistant Editor, Indian Express
emphasised on human resource development in the North
East. Some of the distinguished media personalities
present in the Round Table were: Jarpum Gamlin, Editor,
Eastern Sentinel, Arunachal Pradesh; Rajib Baruah,
Assistant Director, Regional Office, All India Radio;
David Laitphlang, President of Shillong Press Club;
Sujit Chakraborty, IANS correspondent, Agartala;
Paragmoni Aditya, Editor, News 18; Ravi Shankar Ravi,
Editor, Dainik Purvoday; Dilip Chandan , Editor, Asom
Bani; Zodin Sanga, Editor, Newslink, Aizawl; Emilo
Konyak from Nagaland Post; Nasreen Habib, Editor, The
Eclectic; Basistha Pandey, Editor, Purvanchal Prahari;
Samim Sultana from Dainik Agradoot, Ratul Baruah from
Meghalaya Guardian, Utpal Bhuyan from Gana Adhikar and
Monmoromi Mahanta from Prag Channel. The interactive
session was moderated by Ashim Kumar Kazi, Senior
Programme Executive, All India Radio.
In course of his presidential remarks, Prof NK Choudhury,
former VC, Gauhati University and Principal Adviser,
USTM said that this academia-media interface would go a
long way to help the society as a whole in a meaningful
way.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Dr RK
Sharma, Pro Vice Chancellor, USTM while the introductory
address was made by Rani Pathak Das, PRO, USTM. The
programme came to an end with the formal vote of thanks
offered by Dr Alaka Sharma, Dean, School of Social
Sciences & Humanities, USTM. The Round Table was
supported by the ERD Foundation, Guwahati.
It must be mentioned here that USTM is one of the
fastest growing Private Universities in the entire North
East India having all the statutory approvals of UGC,
AICTE, NCTE and BCI. At present, USTM is running seven
schools of study viz. School of Applied Science,
Biological Science, Business Science, Engineering &
Technology, Education, Law & Social Sciences and
Humanities. Currently, 4,700 students are pursuing their
education in the University.
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