History


Department of Communication and Journalism
HISTORY
The Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Kerala was established in the year 1976, under the headship of Prof. Maxwell Fernandez. It was the result of a long cherished dream to start a teaching department for Communication and Media studies in the oldest university of the state.
The Department started offering a two year Master’s Degree course in Journalism (MJ), the first of its kind in the state and admitted 25 students in the first batch, based on an entrance examination. Of this, five seats were reserved for candidates working in media organizations.
From the very first year of its inception, the Department had all the basic facilities to impart a meaningful training in mass communication. It also started subscribing to PTI news service. Under the able leadership of Prof. Maxwell Fernandez, a galaxy of senior media personalities also offered their service as visiting faculty. The Department started publishing two practice journals of the students- one in English called ‘Univ Voice’ and the other in Malayalam named ‘Kalari’. This practice continues.
After Prof. Maxwell Fernandez left the Department to go back to the media field the headship was taken over by Dr. Syed Amjed Ahmed from Bangalore University. He continued in the same position till he left for the University of Calicut to join its faculty. Then Dr. Thngadorai joined the Department and became its head. In 1980, Prof. Eapen joined the Department and assumed charge as head. In 1982,                          Prof. J.V. Vilanilam became the head of the Department. After Vilanilam left, Dr.Thangadorai and then Mrs. Rekha M. Sasidharan served the Department as its head. Since 2003,             Dr. Subash Kuttan has been serving as the head of the Department.
Presently, the Department is offering a two year Master’s Degree Programme in Communication and Journalism (MCJ) and Ph.D. Programme in Journalism. The intake of MCJ, a credit and semester course is 20 seats.
So far, more than thirty batches of students have passed out of this department with a Masters in Communication and Journalism. Of this, majority are working with reputed media organisations in the country and abroad. Our students have found placements in national newspapers like The Times of India, The Hindu, The New Indian Express, The India Today, The Malayala Manorama, The Mathrubhumi and a host of other publications. Likewise, our alumni have succeeded in manning several national and regional television channels in news production and distribution. Also, some of our old students are working in the areas of Radio Broadcasting, Film industry, Public Relations, Advertising and Communication Research. In the present age of Information, marked by media growth and expansion, the Department provides high employment potential to aspiring young minds to take up rewarding and challenging media jobs.
The Department has a digitalized media lab, dark room, video editing unit and digital cameras. These facilities help to impart professional training to the students in audio-visual production and editing. The media lab of the department has acquired several new computer systems and latest editing software. Recently the Department switched over to online PTI service. The department is poised to strengthen further in terms of latest communication technology.
The library of the Department has the largest collection of Indian and foreign books in Communication and Journalism in the state. Internet facility provided in the library helps the students to have access to             e-journals and latest information in the area of Mass Communication. In addition, most of the internationally renowned media journals are subscribed to.
The Department has a full time faculty of six members all having more than two decades of experience. For more information on this kindly access the Curriculum vitae of the faculty provided. Admission for MCJ is conducted on the basis of an entrance test, usually in the month of April/May. Presently, the total number of seats is 20 per year. Details regarding the course content and syllabi are attached.