The last date for applications is 30 April 2006
Dear friends
There are almost no dalits in the media, especially in the English language media. The few who write like Chandra Bhan Prasad are columnists, not full-time journalists. I have been raising the issue for some time now with the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, an elite institute that
offers a 10-month diploma course in three streams of journalism (90 seats).
Students from ACJ usually find jobs via campus recruitment in the best media outfits of the country. Please look up the webiste of ACJ: www.asianmedia.org .
ACJ in Chennai is five years old and students from here have found employment in The Times of India, The Economic Times, The Hindu, The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Asian Age, The Telegraph, The Statesman, The Hindustan Times, Frontline, Business
Line, Digit, UNI, NDTV, CNN, CNBC, Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Star News, Sun News, ANI, Reuters, ETV, Miditech, Vijay Times, Jeevan TV, India Vision, I-Labs.etc.
This year, Sashi Kumar, the Chairman of ACJ (formerly head of Asianet channel), has communicated to me that if we can find good candidates from dalit background, ACJ will be willing to offer scholarships to at least two economically disadvantaged students. The scholarship will include tutition fee waiver and include Rs 2,000 per month towards food and accommodation.
(ACJ does not provide hostel accommodation, but helps find apartments which students rent on a sharing basis.) The last date for applications is first 30 April 2006. One of the fundamental requirements to be part of the course is a command over the English language since the entire course content depends on good English.
Most students here come from elite backgrounds given that the fees for the ten month course ranges from Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 2 lakh (depending on the course—print, broadcast and new media).
This is an opportunity for dalit students who are in their last year of graduation or have completed their graduation. Postgraduates can also apply.
Recipients of this email/ notice please scout for prospective candidates in your respective areas and encourgae dalit students to apply.
If there have been no dalits passing out of ACJ, one reason could be that there are no dalit students applying to ACJ owing to lack of awareness/ networking. I am sure there are enough number of talented dalit graduates and postgraduates who can enter the ACJ courses (90 seats in three streams) without availing this scholarship or without mentioning the fact of their being dalit; in other words, in the open competition.
The economically disadvantaged could well avail of the two scholarships. The ACJ admission noitce has appeared in various newspapers.
To download an application, vist the following web-link:
http://www.asianmedia.org/admissions/application.asp
Please circulate this email widely. Those who are associated with universities, colleges, research and teaching institutions, please putting it up on notice-boards and alert potential students.
Prospective candidates who wish to seek clarifications/ information regarding the ACJ course can contact me at the address/ email/ phone below:
S. Anand
Special Correspondent
Outlook newsmagazine
No. 6, Eden Dale
Bishop Wallers Avenue East
Mylapore, Chennai–600004
Mobile: 094440-61256
Email: [email protected]
www.navayana.org
