Journalism and Audiovisual Communication (AVC)

Admission

Course Content

Course Directors

Faculty

Affiliation/Collaboration

Infrastructure

Examination

Projects

Internship and Placement

Admission

Commits follows a transparent admission process. There are no quotas and all seats are filled only on first-come-first-serve basis and solely on merit.

Who can apply: Graduates from any university in any discipline with a degree recognised in India . Final year students awaiting results are also eligible to apply.

How to apply: The application form can be downloaded from the admissions page at www.commitsindia.com, completed and sent with a demand draft of Rs.850 (drawn in favour of 'Commits', and payable at Bangalore ) to: The Admissions Coordinator

Commits, #7, IV Main, Tavarekere Main Road , Bangalore 560029, Karnataka , India

Tel: 080 41114010 / 41114470, Tele-fax: 080 25530923, Email: commits@gmail.com

Selection Process:

Step I: Download Application Form
Step II: Complete Application Form in student's own handwriting
Step III: Mail Application Form to Admissions Coordinator with DD for Rs.850
Step IV: Scrutiny and shortlisting of candidates
Step V: Shortlisted candidates to appear for Written Examination
Step VI: Group Discussion and Interview
Step VII: Selected candidates will be informed by e-mail/post
Step VIII: Student to pay non-refundable admission fees of Rs.25,000 if he/she accepts the seat
Step IX: Student to pay the balance fee amount of Rs.80,000 and confirm admission
Step X: Students report at the institute and classes begin on July 02, 2008.

For students applying under NRI quota: The student applying under the NRI quota should mention 'NRI quota' on the application form and send it with an application fee of US$50. There will be no entrance examination or group discussion for students applying under the NRI quota. They have to appear for an interview with the dean and faculty.

Fees: Fees under Regular Quota will be Rs.1,05,000 (excluding laptop, camera, hostel and mess charges), Fees under NRI quota will be US$5,000 per year (excluding laptop, camera, hostel and mess charges)

Last Date: Last date for submission of application forms under general quota: March 20, 2008 (Kolkata) , Last date for submission of application forms under NRI quota: June 1, 2008

Entrance Examination: Entrance exam and group discussion in Bangalore on March 16, 2008; Interview (outstation students) - March 16; Interview (Bangalore students) - March 17 & 18.

Course Content

Semesters 1 and 2 are common. The specialization papers are taught in semesters 3 and 4.

Foundation courses in Semester 1 and 2: Basic Communication Skills, Theories of Communication, Research Methodology, Basic Print Journalism, Management Principles, General Studies, Development Communication, Communication Software, Introduction to Cinema, Media Laws, Basic Photography, Broadcast Journalism, Communication Technologies, Art of Communication, Marketing Management

Specialisation courses in Semester 3 and 4: Advanced Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Radio Programming, Television Production Fiction, Media Management, Documentary Production, Advanced Photography, Creative Advertising, Advanced Cinema Studies, Digital Imaging and Modelling, Dissertation and Viva Voce

Course Directors

All course directors are industry professionals.

• DR VINAY SAMUEL, Director, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK
• RAJSEKHAR, Partner, PurpleZebra
• DIPTI NAIR, Special Correspondent, Deccan Herald
• DEEPA SHREEKUMAR, Producer, National Public Radio , USA
• ANURADHA MUNDKUR, Research Fellow, Syracuse University
• ASHISH SEN, Director, Voices
• UMA MAGAL, CEO, Fenugreek Productions
• PARVATHI MENON, Special Correspondent, The Hindu-Frontline
• BALA MURALI KRISHNA , Business Correspondent, IndiaWest

Faculty

Commits draws from the vast talent pool of professionals who have taken up teaching as a passionate career choice. It is this rich blend of qualification, experience and passion for teaching that gives education in Commits its cutting edge.

• Ramesh Prabhu, Professor - Print and Broadcast Journalism
• B K Prabhakar, Professor - Audio Visual Communication
• K. Sai Prasaad, Professor - Marketing and Management Communication
• Vinod Charles, Lecturer - Communication Software
  

Affiliation / Collaboration

Commits is a recognised study centre of Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Evam Sanchar Vishwavidhyalaya (Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication), Bhopal . Web site: www.mcu.ac.in . As per the university guidelines, Commits follows the semester system. Examinations are conducted at the end of every semester and the degree is awarded by MCRPEV.

Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal , was set up by Act Number 15 of 1990 of the Legislative Assembly of Madhya Pradesh. The University is named after Makhanlal Chaturvedi, a renowned Freedom Fighter, Poet and Journalist. This University was formally inaugurated by Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then Vice President of India, on 16th January, 1991 . The University is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

MCRPV is not an Open University providing Distance Education. It does not provide education through correspondence. It is not a Conventional University having limited territorial jurisdiction. It has jurisdiction throughout the country. Consistent with the recent trend of globalisation and internationalisation of education, the University is imparting education outside the country also. In keeping with its national character the Vice President of India is the Visitor of the University.

The General Council of the University, which is its Apex Body, consists of the following members:

• A member of the Lok Sabha, nominated by the Speaker of Lok Sabha
• A member of the Rajya Sabha, nominated by the Chairperson of Rajya Sabha
• Chairman of the Press Council of India
• Ten members representing different States of the country. Five of them are nominated by the Chief Ministers of respective States. The remaining five are representatives of five prominent Indian languages.
• Three members representing three All India Professional Bodies.
• Five eminent professionals from various parts of the country.
  

The University aims at developing excellent professionals with social commitment by imparting education through

• its teaching departments at Bhopal
• its campuses at Noida and Khandwa
• a network of study institutes spread over the whole country, which are run by non-profit societies and trusts registered under the relevant laws
  

The relationship between Makhanlal University and its study institutes comes closest to, and can be best described as, that existing between a conventional university and its affiliated colleges.

The University prescribes norms for infrastructure, qualifications and number of faculty, eligibility for admission of students, norms of admission of students on merit, curriculum, number of teaching days (at least 120 days per Semester), minimum number of hours for Class Room-teaching, Laboratory and Practical Work per week, attendance required (95%) for students to be eligible to appear for the university examination and for other matters for which a conventional university ordinarily prescribes norms for its affiliated colleges.

Infrastructure

Commits has a self-contained, state-of-the-art media campus consisting of,

• Auditorium with 150 seats
• Three classrooms exclusively for media courses that can seat up to 60 students each
• Spacious library
• 24-hour dedicated broadband access
• State-of-the-art Linear Video Editing Suite
• Sound Recording Studio
• Sony DFS 700 special effects generator
• State-of-the-art Apple Macintosh Nonlinear Audio-Video Editing Suite
• Final Cut Pro Studio software
• Studio with teleprompter
• Exclusive commentary room
• Computer Lab
• Audio-Visual Room
• Canteen with entertainment system
• Recreation hall with Table Tennis and Carrom Board
• Dark Room
• Basement parking for bikes and cars
  

Separate hostel accommodation, run by reputed private parties is available for boys and girls, close to the college. Students are advised to bring their own laptops and buy their own cameras.

Examination

Commits follows semester pattern, and university examinations are held at the end of every semester. Odd (1 and 3) semester exams are held in December. Even (2 and 4) semester exams are held in June. All examinations are strictly monitored by external examiners appointed by the university.

Projects

COMMUNITY THEATRE: As part of the Development Communication paper the students organise theatre workshops and performances on a socially-relevant themes.

NEWS BULLETINS: The students produce television news bulletins as part of their course work. They select stories, write the script, shoot the footage, edit it and compile it into a 10 minute news capsule. Stories range from investigative and political to hard news and features.

Newspapers and TV channels have followed up on some of the stories and have published them or broadcast them.

RADIO FEATURE: Commits students regularly feature on programmes on All India Radio, Bangalore . They are given slots to produce programmes that target the student community.

SHORT FILM: The students produce a 20 minute fiction film which helps them to learn the intricacies of film making. It is also fun as they conduct screen tests for aspiring actors, and work on make up etc. Some of their films have been nominated for awards in prestigious film festivals.

DOCUMENTARIES: Several social anomalies are highlighted through the documentaries that the students produce independently. Their documentaries so far have highlighted child labour, child prostitution, problems of the disabled, community communication and civic matters.

YOUR OPINION: The monthly college newspaper is a jewel in the Commits crown. It has grown to be a much-loved and admired newspaper for the students, by the students. This provides a unique opportunity where students learn all aspects of journalism, newspaper production, marketing and distribution.

Internship and Placement

Students have to undergo three internships - one in each semester, three different areas. The final placements will be in the fourth semester.

Commits follows a proactive placement policy by allowing the students to take up jobs in the IV semester itself. Since a majority of the students have taken bank loans it will help them to earn and repay their loans faster. Commits aims not to place students but to make students placement-worthy. Towards this end Commits creates a near real-life work situation at college to prepare students to face the challenges of the real world. Commits students get offers from leading media organisations as early as their third semester. Commits students are always appreciated for their grasp of the subject, alertness, hard work and comprehensive skill sets.

Students specialising in Audiovisual Communication (AVC) have made a mark in some of the best media organisations such as, CNN, NDTV, Times TV, Sahara Samay, Zee News, Star Plus, CNBC, IBN, All India Radio, Aaj Tak, S S Music, Star Vijay, Ramoji Rao Film City, The Times of India, Deccan Herald, The Hindustan Times, New Indian Express, The Statesman, Mid Day, Contiloe Productions, and Emirates Today.