It is a 14-month (12 months plus two month internship between and at the end of the programme) intensive programme designed for those who are interested in pursuing journalism as a career. The programme is based on the belief that a good student needs proper mentoring to become a good journalist. The programme involves a complete commitment to learning and practising the calling of journalism for 14 months based on a curriculum that in its breadth, depth and rigour compares with any such programme in the world. Here are the key features of the programme:
- It is meant for those who are serious about exploring journalism as a career.
- The teaching method involves reading and discussion for substantive areas of study, and extensive reporting, writing and editing for practical areas of the programme.
- Anyone in the country can enrol in the programme without moving their place of residence. Mentoring will be done face-to-face for those living in Mumbai or planning to move to Mumbai and will be done via Skype or equivalent facility for those outside Mumbai.
- It is meant for those who are self-motivated, since it is a mentoring programme and not a teaching-learning-reproducing programme.
- It is open to those who have completed graduation and above. It is also open to those who are pursuing a Master’s programme, and to young journalists who want to improve their ability.
- Entry to the programme is based on the application and the interview, which will have a written component. Students will be expected to study subjects ranging from history to economics and accounts to anatomy. Writing skills, use of technology and study of viewer/reader behaviour shall also be part of the larger course structure. The course will exemplify Terence’s dictum humani nihil a me alienum p**o, which means there is nothing human that is alien to me, because we believe that for a journalist nothing human can ever be alien. A good journalist is a good generalist. So what is called for is not knowing less, but knowing more and the ability to see the interconnection between
Journalism Mentor is about learning, research and practical training. It will require the mentees to interact with and discuss ideas with the best and brightest of mentors. And it will require them to read and write and think every day. Journalism Mentor is not meant for the casual student who looks upon journalism as a career for those without option or for journalism to be a means to stardom, fame or access to power and pelf. It is meant for those who believe that journalism is necessary for democracy and its proper practice ranks alongside other forms of public service that strengthen and deepen democracy.
