National Institute of Mass Communication and Journalism Review By Dhaval Vaghamshi

NIMCJ’s Post Graduate Diploma gives us to continue with the specialization we want. Studies and practical both were tough here but NIMCJ may be doesn’t know that we have made peace with living a tough life. Still in our teens going out to Ahmedabad with friends was cool but at the same time had many questions as well. In a year or so all of them were answered and I am more than happy that I joined NIMCJ. Media people have to work 24*7 and college made us learn the same lifestyle by asking us to do some research or project after the college. At start, it looked like we are getting bullied but that exercise gave us an anecdote on how things work in this field. There were hardly any night outs as our PG had a lot of students from the college and we would discuss only about that even after coming back from the college. College was infectious for sure.

Individuality is the most important thing and the classrooms were designed in such a way that one bench had just one student. It looked bizarre because I was never used to such feeling before. There were enough charging points in the classroom as we have to keep our laptops on throughout. For the first few months all the assignments given has to be done on your own and then students were mixed as which two specializations can complement each other. This was the best part as I was doing specializations in advertisement and the students doing specializations in PR and Photo journalism were mingled and then we had to submit the projects in such groups. All this was so terrific that I had smiled all throughout while I led a beautiful life at NIMCJ campus.

Quite experienced in their respective fields and also helpful. Their guidance and support throughout the course were amazing. Their acumen was superb and so were their knowledge. They took us for the internship and saw our progress with their own eyes. They made sure that we are not exploited by the companies that hired us at interns. Also, if we were not given much work, they themselves talked to the top bosses and arranged work for us. Journalism is about experimental learning and our professors made sure that we have all the knowledge and experience by the time we end our course.

You might have to give an after though to top class after the placements are done. You professors will vouch for you and make sure that you get a satisfactory job. All the students were placed before the completion of the course. I don’t think I could have asked for anything better than this. Don’t ask the placement package as we had jobs that we chased for.

Like many colleges in Ahmedabad, NIMCJ also has their quota of seats at the University hostel. The university hostel was far off from the college and it didn’t made sense staying there because the college location was such that there were many colleges nearby and the city has many PGs and residential apartments nearby. It was more convenient and better staying close to the college because travelling consumes a lot of time in the city as Ahmedabad is virtually the capital city of the state.

If you think that a journalism college has to be flashy then I am sorry but you are wrong. It wasn’t shady either but the building which probably looked old from outside had one of the latest labs and studio in the offering. The studio room was just like a media house studio where virtual interviews were done and all the editing stuff was done. A basketball court was all that the college had in the name of sporting facilities but we didn’t had time to play that as well. Infrastructure had all the things required in our studies but at least they can paint the walls because there are signs of wear and tear on the walls now.

Putting all things in perspective there’s just one thing that I can say. The college was rocking and punches a pack. It was hard to bunk the college as even though there were very fewer holidays, we were always running behind the time to finish the tasks assigned. How to chase the 8th ball was definitely the biggest learning at NIMCJ and I am glad the college made us responsible at such a young age. NIMCJ is probably one of the best colleges for mass comm studies and rather than going to colleges that charges double or triple the fees and offering the same things, NIMCJ can definitely be a great career option.