The Programe  |  Objectives  |  Focus areas  |  CAREER PROSPECTS  | COURSE FACULTY
 PERSONAL CONTACT PROGRAME | TRAINING AND PLACEMENT | CONDUCT OF FINAL EXAMINATION ADMISSION CRITERIA | Schedule of Fees

WHY TRAINING IN SCIENCE JOURNALISM ?

Public understanding of science and technology can be a major element in promoting national prosperity, raising quality of public and private decision making and in enriching the life of an individual.

However, public awareness and interest in S & T (Science and Technology) matters are quite different from public understanding of the techniques or the issues involved. Often, public understanding of S & T lags behind its awareness and interest. With science and technology having become an inseparable part of our daily life, the creation of scientific awareness among the masses has become all the more important now than ever before. One realizes, however, that creation of mass awareness about scientific matters can hardly be achieved without availability of adequately trained manpower. Hitherto, armature hobby writers and freelance writers have kept the flag of science journalism afloat.

Presentation of science and technology in the mass media, be it broadcast or print media, leaves much to be desired in this “information age”. Although it is usually blamed on “lack of interest” among the masses as much as the “squeeze/pressure” extended by the media proprietors in favour of political and other human interest stories. However, the increasing popularity of science channels such as “Discovery” or “National Geographic Channel” has proved that if stories on science and technology are packaged and presented intelligently and skillfully, it can definitely command attention of the common man from the clutter of entertainment programmes.

In day today life people are generally to the trends and innovation in fields of science and technology. Most people see the bulk of scientific knowledge as simply irrelevant to their needs and interest and they are probably right. This happens because invariably most of the information on S & T are not made available in a user-friendly manner or format.

National Council for Science and Technology Communication, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (NCSTC-DST-GOI) has recently undertaken and supported innovative programmes to develop a team of professionally trained science communicators, writers and journalists who can take-up this challenge of processing the information on science and Technology and present them in such a manner that it is educating as well as entertaining to the common man.

Indian Science Communication Society (ISCOS), Lucknow, in association with NCSTC-DST-GOI, is undertaking this training course which will produce specially trained science writers, communicators and journalists. This would enable to bridge the gap between the scientists/experts who work at the forefront of science, and the common man who enjoy the benefits of science or has to suffer the ills brought about by a scientific and technological breakthroughs/misadventures.

The Programe

This is one year training course focusing exclusively on science journalism. It shall endeavour to impart required skill and expertise so that the science could be presented in various media in an informative as well as entertaining manner and is able to attract and hold the attention of a common man. The mode of instruction will be distance education, as it will enable the participants to learn at their own pace and place.

Objectives

The board objectives of the training course in science journalism are:

• To impart the basic journalistic skills and techniques.

• To equip the participants with the requisite expertise so that they can popularise S & T and can also communicate effectively through different media with a view to simulate scientific outlook.

• To update their knowledge and competency in various functional areas of science journalism like Science Communication and popularization, S & T policy and set-up, Science News Reporting and Writing, Science Fiction and Plays etc.

• To familiarize the participants about the ethics of science journalism.

• To expose the participants to the world of media and media organization.

• To provide them hands-on experience in critical areas of science journalism.

Focus areas

This one year training course in science journalism has the following main focus areas: Fundamentals of Science Journalism, Presentation formats of Science Journalism, Techniques of Science Journalism, Mass Media for Science Journalism, Specialisation in various fields of Science Journalism. (Detailed syllabus will be provided at the time of registration.)

The uniqueness of the programme lies in its judicious blending of technical, human and conceptual skills. Due care has been taken in designing of the programme to enable the participants to strengthen/sharpen their professional skills as well as their knowledge base concerning science journalism.

CAREER PROSPECTS

This programme would enable the participants to take up challenging opportunities in mainstream media, viz. Print media (Newspapers, Periodicals, House Journals, etc.), Broadcast media ( Radio and Television) and S & T organizations across the country. Besides, the course shall also provide immense opportunities to the hobby writers, scientists, working journalists, freelance writers / stringers / correspondents and editors of small and medium newspapers.

COURSE FACULTY

A team of highly qualified and experienced faculty drawn from a wide spectrum of organizations (Universities and S & T Institutions ) and practicing science journalists / communicators from print broadcast media would be involved.

PERSONAL CONTACT PROGRAMME

ISCOS will conduct Personal Contact programme (PCP) towards the end of the course but before the final examination in PCP, the participants will get an opportunity to interact and discuss their problems during training with subject experts from different institutions. On line lecture programmes on the latest development in the field by experts will also be arranged.

TRAINING AND PLACEMENT

Assistance will be provided to the participants in their institutional training and efforts will be made for their suitable placement after the successful completion of the programme.

CONDUCT OF FINAL EXAMINATION

After completing the course the students will have to appear for the final examination at different/designated cities in the country. ISCOS will also arrange an on-line examination to the participants.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Graduate in any subject with Intermediate in Science / Agriculture or Diploma in Engineering..

Schedule of Fees

The fee for the programe shall be as under

Payment for above training course includes all tuition costs, study materials and administration. Course materials are distributed at intervals throughout the session.

Course fees are payable in one installment. Course Fees must be paid promptly on receipt of an invoice from ISCOS, within time.

Selected candidates who do not keep up their fee payments, in time will neither be eligible to receive complete course materials nor allowed to sit for the course examinations; and they will be required to re-register for the course with due permission of the Course Coordinator.