Faculty's Say,  Nitin Volvoikar, Asst. Professor

Today we appreciate our graduates no matter where their careers have taken them. If we understand that journalism education is a valuable step into any number of professions, we should not just celebrate the graduates who have gone on to fame (if not fortune) in journalism, but also to those who have established themselves in other allied fields of media as well; as we train students to do journalism not only in print but also in other fields of media.

Infact, the kind of response the Department of Journalism has got over the years is only encouraging, as after getting trained in the industry many of our students undertake higher education in many allied fields, that shows wer are on the right track of encouraging students to pursue knowledge of varied fields and specialize in a particular niche subject.

All this suggests a considerably broader mission for the journalism course of Xavier’s, but it also suggests a huge opportunity for Journalism schools in Goa. The need for this kind of training has never been greater than today. The media industry is on a war footing to expand in Goa, as today many Goan newspapers, tabloids, niche magazines, cable channels and online sites are planning to launch new niche publications/channels/sites.

Journalism is, in most respects, the backbone of the media industry. Therefore many media jobs require some aspect of journalism. It can be exciting, nerve-racking, interesting and at times, very very annoing. But unless you’re a film critic or showbiz correspondent, it’s rarely glamorous.

Yes, many young aspiring journalists presume the media job to be glamorous and jump in the industry for the glamour part of it. But those aspiring ‘Journos’ should think a hundred times before taking up jobs in the media, as the amount of hard work is more than any 9 to 5 job. At the same time its highly rewarding not only in monetary terms; it also helps you to build good contacts in the society, which could last for lifetime.

So, what’s an aspiring journalist to do? Take everything with a grain of salt, and I mean ‘everything’. Industry news, trends, compliments, success, advice, a good bit of rejections and even, regrettably, taking on a few pro-bono assignments (which sounds a lot better than saying ‘I write for free’).

Writing for free isn’t the way to do it, but ultimately may lead to a stronger resume and better job. No one knows the future of media, but i can guarantee the trade of journalism isn’t disappearing any time soon...

              The power of journalism

          The power to make and the power to break....

                                                       By Solandra D'souza, SYBA

To make you laugh with joy or cry with sorrow, to unify to divide, to destroy or help, to entertain and to shock. It will make you feel sad at the news of a person who died, who you never even knew existed in the first place.. That is the kind of power that journalism beholds!

Journalism, is a revolution. It has brought a change in our lives; our thoughts, actions and behavior, all are partially influenced by what we read in newspapers and magazines. It makes us more aware about what is ‘really going on’ rather than merely what ‘seems to be going on’.

Journalism is not all about news and newspapers. It even involves writing articles for entertainment and pleasure which is usually reffered to as ‘soft news’ in the jurnalistic world. Writing an article requires patience, a good command over language and interests. It is an expression of one’s thoughts and feelings, be it anything from fashion, food, education, health to travel and so on.. you write what is in your heart and the way you feel or it makes you feel.  That... is what makes it exciting and differenct!

Writing soft news requires the ability to capture the reader’s heart immediately and give the reader a light getaway from the otherwise hard news. It appeals to the senses and gets you relaxed or excited. Reading about and seeing pictures of a preety red dress or a picture of the lates bike will make you want to get out there and buy it! It has the power to influence and motivate.

Things faraway would not have been impossible to know about and see if not for our news channels and newspapers. Thanks to technology, we can n ow see through the television, things happening miles and miles away and feel like we are actually there. Looking at war zones, seeing people battered and bruised bring tears to our eyes. Seeing cruelty done to animals as well as human beings angers us.

The way it is used and by ‘whom’, makes a huge difference.

In the right and skill-full hand it can be a mightly blessing...

A medium of revolution for a better future!

Solandra D’souza.

Youth Today.........

                                                                                                                     By Jahnavi Samant, TYBA

                                                                                                                                       

There has always been a tussle between traditions and modernity and traditions have somehow managed to have an upper hand. The youth, more often than not, have been misunderstood by their elders, considered immature and inexperienced. The decisions and options are always debated when the youth have any inputs to offer. But what hangs about forgotten, is the power the youth have come to have have today; the power and the zeal to initiate revolutions, be it the future outcome of Anna’s fight against corruption or the simple result of our 2012 elections, it is the youth that will decide it all.

We embrace almost 38% of the country’s population. There is so much we can do and undo. How can we forget the change we made when we took the streets as our own in askance of the rights we were denied of? How can we forget the candles we lit in the protest of the Jessica Lal murder case? And how can we forget the agitation for Lokpal Bill, a connoted second fight for freedom that we were a part of?

The fact that we are considered the spine of our country is just a fact that remains obsolete. In a country where the 60+ politicians lie wasted and ruling, disdainful is the fact that the people who can really make a change are not given a stand at all. Gone are the days when Gandhi and Nehru called out to the youth to come and make a difference. Nothing seems to have changed.

The youth Nehru and Gandhi had called out to be in power, rule even today. But surprisingly, what they seem to have forgotten is that they aren’t the youth anymore. They have aged like you or me, no less.

The responsibility for change, progress and innovation lies on the youth today. We can make or break society. But in a country where a 40+ Rahul Gandhi is considered the ‘ voice of youth’ , the future is surely inchoate. All one can wish for is that the next time we go to vote, we find more names of youngsters who can make our country a better place to live in..

              Climate change & Global warming!

                                                   By: Carol D'mello

Nature always tries to warn us through many signs. The slow process involved in global warming results in many different climatic changes and some of its signs include:
Melting of glaciers: Most of the mountain glaciers on our planet that have been monitored for the past 150 years are reportedly shrinking. The glaciers that are most affected by global warming is mostly located in the lower latitudes and many of them are disappearing. If glaciers continue to shrink, it could affect water supply in areas that depend heavily upon mountain watersheds.

Ocean warming: Sea level increase is attributed to warmer temperatures, which in turn result to the melting of ice glaciers.To greater extent, this could mean that beaches lose about 50 feet of area for every foot of increase in sea level. Some islands may even disappear beneath sea water completely. 

How global warming brings climate change and what it means to us?  The earth's climate has always been changing, although not at an abrupt rate. Global warming will raise the temperatures in some regions of the Northern Hemisphere, causing the melting of mountain glaciers. This means that areas that are currently experiencing lowt snow may no longer experience snowfall anymore. Ex: North Indian states. Springs may be experienced earlier and temperatures during night time and in winter will rise. The world will experience a more humid atmosphere since sea water will have a higher rate of evaporation. With greater humidity, rainfall is expected to increase on average. 

With changes in climate brought about by global warming, health concerns and risks may also increase. Heat stress and diseases may become common in places that did not have any problems with them before. “summer has hit Goa early this year!” says Andy, a 15year old boy. Whereas one elderly person stated that, "Because of the drastic climate change during the past couple of years I have heard of many cases where people are being attacked by heat stroke.I even lost my friend because of the same reason a year back.”. Even plants and animal species are adversely affected by global warming. While many of the changes that occur in our planet are totally out of our hands, we have been great contributors to events that have had negative effects on our environment. Global warming is an issue that requires immediate action,if we wont begin now,it could be too late.so lets work for a better greener environment & for the benefit for ourselves & our future generation.