By Lakshika Bajaj
Dehradun, 6 Nov: The Department of English, School of Languages, in collaboration with the School of Media & Communication Studies, Doon University, is holding a two-day workshop, titled “Exploring the Power of Words and Visuals in News Communication” on 6 and 7 November at the Senate Hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshop is being conducted by Dr Rashi Mishra, Assistant Professor, School of Media & Communication Studies, who serves as the resource person for both days of the event.
The initiative is being held under the patronage of Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Vice Chancellor, and Dr. Chetana Pokhriyal, Dean, School of Languages, Doon University. Their continued encouragement for skill-oriented academic programmes reflects the university’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary learning and professional competence among students.
The first day of the workshop, led by Dr Mishra, delved into “Effective Report Writing: The Art and Craft of News Writing”. Through engaging discussions, hands-on exercises, and interactive tasks, participants explored the fundamentals of news creation; understanding what constitutes news, identifying key news values, and learning how to structure and write effective reports.
Dr Mishra emphasized that “good journalism is as much about clarity of thought as it is about precision of expression”. Her session blended theory with practice, encouraging students to think critically about how information is framed, contextualized, and presented to readers. The workshop began with an ice-breaker game, “Is This News or Not?”, designed to test participants’ instincts as budding journalists, and concluded with a collaborative newsroom simulation in which groups worked together to draft concise, balanced news stories.
Students from the School of Media and Communication, Maya Devi University, Dehradun, also attended the workshop under the guidance of Sakshi Pundir, Assistant Professor, enriching the collaborative and inter-institutional learning environment. The Senate Hall buzzed with active engagement as 108 students from English, Media & Communication Studies, Chemistry, Management, and Journalism joined in to sharpen their newsroom sensibilities.
Day 2 of the workshop, scheduled for 7 November, will focus on “Designing the Story: Layout, Structure, and Visual Storytelling”. This session will explore the aesthetics of presentation, the role of visuals in shaping narratives, and how effective design can transform reader engagement. Dr Mishra will guide participants through practical exercises on integrating text and visuals to create compelling and coherent journalistic pieces.
Dr Gazala Khan, Dr Chetana Pokhriyal, Ms Pundir, and Ms Negi were present during the workshop.
Dr Gazala and Dr Aditi efficiently coordinated the entire program, ensuring its smooth execution, while Shreya, a postgraduate student from the School of Languages, anchored the event.
