By Amal Tomy Murickan
Ghaziabad, Delhi, Jul 7 : The National Institute of Social Communications, Research and Training (NISCORT), organised several short term online courses during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown to enhance the skills of students, communicators and media persons. The training programmes on News Writing and Reporting, Media Education, Pastoral Communication, and Digital Photography were conducted in the month of May and June 2020. More than 40 participants including students, priests, sisters and laity from Germany, India, Kuwait, and Nigeria attended the online courses.
Sr. Rini Lawerence, a participant of News Writing and Reporting Course from Mumbai said, “It was a great opportunity to attend the News Writing and Reporting Online Course. During the lockdown, it helped me to enhance my writing skills to become voice of the voiceless in my Social Work Ministry. This course gave me a strong conviction that regular practice of writing can help me grow and my fellow participants in our journalistic skills, news drafting and reporting style.”
The saying, “Only the darkest nights can produce brighter stars” became very true to these participants during the time of COVID- 19 pandemic as it helped them to develop their various talents. “It was an awesome experience. The teachers gave us an in-depth knowledge on each and every topic that were taught during the session. They were very supportive and were a constant guide throughout the sessions. I thank NISCORT Media College for giving us this wonderful chance”, said Sr. Elizabeth Titilayo Adulojo, a participant of Media Education Course from Nigeria.
The sessions were interactive and skill based along with the practical exercises for self growth and development. “The classes were run through the Zoom App and lasted for an hour each day. The sessions were well combined with theory and practical and I look forward to attend more courses like this in future too”, said Fr. Anil Ivan Thomas, a participant of Pastoral Communication Course from Mangalore diocese.
The success of the entire training programmes goes to Dr. Fr. Jose Murickan, the Director NISCORT Media College and his team, who took initiative to organise these creative Online Courses. While Dr. A. Magimai Pragasam conducted the sessions on Media Education, Dr. Jose Murickan taught Pastoral Communication, Fr. Jenith Sekar took classes on Digital Photography, and Mr. Sumit Dhanraj was the resource person for News Writing and Reporting. NISCORT is a professional Media College of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and offers Graduate (BA), Post Graduate (MA) and Diploma Courses in Mass Communication and Journalism.