AWANTIPORA: The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), on Wednesday organised an interaction session-cum-workshop with Munazah Shah, Senior News Anchor, News 18 Network, for its students.
The session held under the Industry Connect initiative was attended by Master’s and Bachelor’s students, and faculty members of the department. It aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice by sharing real-world perspectives with the students.
A non-violent communication expert and conflict resolution facilitator, Shahdeliberated on the topic, ‘Role of Nonviolent Communication in Broadcast Media.An author of two books,shehas also been doing communication-based workshops with Global Peace Let’s Talk International, UK.
Welcoming the guest, Dr. Rabia Noor, Head DJMC, said Nonviolent Communication (NVC)is highly relevant to thefield of news media, “because it emphasizes empathy, understanding and constructive dialogue—qualities central to carry outresponsible journalism and media practice.”
In her address,Shah underscored the urgent need to adopt nonviolence across all forms of communication.“Violence goes beyond the physical. It begins with our thoughts, shows in our words and reflects in our actions,” she remarked, drawing attention to the subtle ways through which harmful communication patterns take root.
She emphasised that for aspiring journalists, media literacy must go hand-in-hand with empathy, stressing that narratives shaped through compassion and understanding have the power to transform the media.
The session highlighted the responsibility of broadcast journalists in sensitive reporting, withShah engaging students through interactive activities that made the discussion both insightful and dynamic. The activities also helped studentsunderstand the functioning of the broadcast media.
Meanwhile, aquestion-and-answer session was held, wherein students probed the challenges of applying nonviolent communication in the fast-paced environment of live broadcast journalism. The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Sayar Ahmad Mir, Assistant Professor, DJMC, who acknowledged the value ofShah’s perspectives.
Thethought-provoking session, enriched with practical experiences and professional wisdom, not only enhanced the students’ understanding of the subject but also motivated them to engage critically with the field of media and communication.