At the Indian Institute of Mass Communication’s (IIMC) 57th convocation ceremony held in New Delhi on Friday, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan delivered an inspiring speech to the fresh batch of media graduates. He congratulated them warmly and traced IIMC’s journey since its inception nearly 60 years ago, crediting it with producing stalwarts who have bolstered India’s democracy and public life.
The Vice President’s optimism shone through as he discussed IIMC’s upgrade to a deemed university earlier this year. He praised the innovative incubation hubs that are equipping students for media entrepreneurship amid rapid industry changes. These facilities underscore IIMC’s commitment to staying ahead in a dynamic field.
Radhakrishnan unpacked the media landscape’s evolution, driven by AI, data-driven insights, narrative artistry, and social media’s dominance. Story creation and audience engagement have been upended. He spotlighted the AVGC realm’s growth—animation, VFX, gaming, comics—and its role in the creator economy boom. Government efforts, including the AVGC-XR Mission under PM Modi, aim to nurture global talent pools. He also extended invitations for internships and projects with Sansad TV.
The might of the written word took center stage in his address. True, positive opinions can steer the nation, he said, urging graduates: ‘Be bold in penning the truth to forge a Viksit Bharat.’ Shun fleeting TRPs; embrace honesty. Honoring A.N. Shivraman, he illustrated how insightful journalism forges leadership.
Turning to digital challenges, he warned of social media’s double-edged sword: expanded expression marred by fake news and societal rifts. Referencing Operation Sindoor, he highlighted fights against ground-level threats and online disinformation alike. Journalists should inspire societal progress and uplift military spirits in crises.
As India surges economically with a thriving digital sphere and heightened global influence, media professionals are key to uniting divides and empowering citizens. Radhakrishnan appealed for coverage of triumphs in growth and innovation, not just obstacles. For advertising and PR students, he advocated channeling creativity ethically for transformation.
Concluding on a resolute note, he affirmed that journalism’s foundational values endure technological flux. ‘Let truth reside in your heart; invincibility follows,’ he declared, envisioning the graduates’ role in crafting an aware, strong, developed India.