Change is the only constant – Heraclitus
Blog:
A blog refers to an informational website published on the internet, comprising diverse topics authored and managed by individuals or organisations. The posts consist of User-Generated Content which is available in a reverse chronological manner and are regularly updated. There are different types of blogs available on the World Wide Web like food blogs, travel blogs, lifestyle blogs, personal blogs, and educational blogs.
Educational Blog:
The Internet has given us a variety of platforms to put forth our knowledge, and blogs have become the most popular among them. The convergence of ICT with the traditional educational system has led to a new wave of methodology that does not restrict itself to pages. Edu blogs are sites where educational content is posted. Themes may range across diverse subjects like science, literature, politics, or journalism. Such websites are authored or owned by a subject expert, teacher, or researcher. They have penetrated the classrooms and reformed preconceived notions of education. In journalism, Dr. Vartika Nanda’s blog is considered an essential source of information on media education, prisons, and their interface.
Case Study: The education blog of Vartika Nanda
The Blog www.vartikananda.blogspot.com was started by Dr. Vartika Nanda in 2006. She was the Executive Producer of Lok Sabha TV at that time. The blog focused on issues and debates of journalism in the initial years. After joining the Department of Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, the blog shifted its primary focus to three things - journalism, academic documentation of the events of the college, and prison reforms. As head of the department, Dr. Vartika Nanda converted this blog into a live classroom.
The blog has 18 sections related to journalism, the Department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College, and syllabi-related readings of BA(Hons) in Journalism prescribed by Delhi University. The platform also includes notes on prison reforms, and stories and audio recordings based on Kissa Khaki Ka, an exclusive podcast series of Delhi Police. One can easily navigate through these sections and get to know about theories, debates, news & stories related to journalism, and media. Taglines such as Journalism, Jails, Jail Radio, and Tinka Model of Prison Reforms encapsulate the blog's vision.
Objective and functions of the blog:
The blog aims to educate, inform, and create a space for students, media enthusiasts, and media-literate individuals. The following are the objectives of the blog:
- Impart media education and make readers media literate
- Spread ideas about ethical journalism
- Create an information bank related to media and journalism
- Build a space for readers to create, share and discuss concerns related to journalism, media, and social change.
- Space to share stories and podcasts of Kissa Khaki Ka and Tinka Tinka , to create awareness on prison reforms
Ingredients of the blog:
The blog is divided into three sections: media education, prison reforms, and Kissa Khaki Ka
a. Media education: This section comprises crucial readings on different papers of journalism. The key focus here is the syllabus for BA(Hons) in Journalism prescribed by Delhi University under the LOCF system. It includes notes on a variety of media-related topics like; Introduction to Journalism, Advanced Broadcast Media, and Media Laws and Ethics. There is a section of suggested readings that students refer to for their examinations and class discussions. It includes a list of books like Mass Media in a Changing World by George Rodman, India’s Communication Revolution by Arvind Singhal and Everett M. Boggers, The Journalist’s Handbook by MV Kamath, etc., covering topics like media ethics, media management, photography, online journalism, and much more. The key attraction of this blog is its weekly reports, workshops, and newsletters that provide insights into the workings of the journalism department. Since 2021, the weekly activities of every batch have been documented on the blog. It also contains all the publications of the department under the newsletter banner.
b. Tinka Prison Reforms: Tinka Tinka Foundation is dedicated to reforming the country’s prisons. Founded by Dr. Vartika Nanda, Tinka Tinka Foundation has been actively engaged in addressing issues related to prison reforms. The foundation is driven by the objectives of reconstruction of prison structures, constructive journalism, and blurring the social gap between the inmates and society through creativity. Under the initiative, the major prisons in India are covered, like those in Haryana, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. It aims to connect prisons with society through creative processes. Foundation is working towards fulfilling the communication needs of inmates through Tinka Jail Radio. It has established jail radio in Panipat, Ambala, Faridabad, Hisar, Rohtak, etc. The inmates are trained as RJs and manage the whole setup.
c. Kissa Khaki Ka: It is an audio series narrating the heroic tales of Delhi Police officials. It is scripted and narrated by Dr. Vartika Nanda on an honorary basis. The series was started on 16th January 2022. It features stories of the social and humanitarian services done by the Delhi Police while fulfilling their responsibilities. The blog has a section on Kissa Khaki Ka Press Coverage that features the one-year completion of the series celebrated through a grand ceremony at the Delhi Police Headquarters. The Delhi Police Commissioner Shri Sanjay Arora felicitated the whole team. Each podcast is accessible on the blog along with the YouTube links.
Characteristics of the blog:
In a time when media literacy is crucial, this blog acts as a gateway to trusted and credible media knowledge. Its user-friendly structure, well-organized documentation, and categorization not only make education clear but creative as well. It generates curiosity for themes one might need to be better acquainted with. It also became the bridge between students and teachers during the pandemic. Students who participated in the blog activities believed that the exhaustion of the pandemic got replaced by a desire to learn more. The blog covered research notes, important links, and references from the syllabus, which helped the students understand the concepts better and reduced the gap between their homes and classrooms. Even after the pandemic, the updates have not stopped. Each day, one can see updated weekly info, an article by a budding writer, a new research note, etc.
Student engagement on the blog:
Since its inception, there have been more than 200 posts on the blog. It has an overall footfall of 46,000 and a daily footfall of 20. It has been a platform for LSR students since 2009, and they have played a crucial role in contributing to the updating and enhancing of this blog. Each day, approximately 3–4 students publish their articles, reports, and newsletters on the blog. There are several student-written articles published, like Simran Rawat’s article on Post-Pandemic Education: Blog as an Interactive Medium, Soumya Rawat’s Tracing Down the Truth , and Stuti Garg’s Legacy of Pawprints: An Ode to the Dogs of LSR. The page has more than 50 student comments, and they incorporate the readings and content available on the blog into their curriculum as well.
Impact of the blog:
In this age of ICT, it is easy to start a blog, and there isn’t a shortage of educational blogs around the world or even in our country. But what bloggers tend to forget is that creating a blog is easy, but building its legacy and using it for the right purposes is the most difficult task. However, Dr. Vartika Nanda’s blog has not only evolved into an educational source but has also become a digital archive of the college and a medium to participate in social change.
a. Media Education: Media and journalism students, media enthusiasts, and researchers have used the platform for their dissertations, research papers, articles, and journals. It is used by the college to keep track of events that happened a decade ago. Its archive section is a great source of preserved history for Lady Shri Ram College. Moreover, even teachers refer and engage as they become aware of the latest trends in the education sector, new updates in the curriculum, department events, and gather material for teaching purposes. For instance, a post was published regarding the catalogue documentation of faculty publications of Lady Shri Ram College.
b. Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms: The blog is also a driver for social change, the thorough sections of Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms have created widespread awareness about the conditions of prison institutions in the country. The Tinka Jail Radio has given a purpose to the inmates who feel their lives have come to a halt. The training session has helped them to gain skills they can use in the future and start a fresh page. It has also provided a platform for the inmates to share their stories with society, which, unfortunately, mainstream media fails to do. All the stories on jail radio are available at Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms on YouTube.
c. Kissa Khaki Ka: The podcast series has given a human touch to the Delhi police, allowing citizens to relate to their stories and bridge the gap of hesitance between society and the police force. The narration has helped in throwing light on their sacrifices, acts of bravery, and contributions to society. Apart from the narration, it helps in documenting the achievements of the police force allowing the audience to hear them. All the episodes are organized chronologically. It encourages and inspires the listeners to have an active approach to social responsibilities and cooperation with the security institutions of the country.
This blog is much more than an ordinary educational blog. It is a detailed and systemically arranged digital archive. This edu-blog is a reminder that educational blogs are one of the many keys to revolutionising the traditional education system. This blog is the manifestation of many goals rather than a single one. Apart from posting educational content, it is also responsible for being the flag bearer of ethical journalism. Thus, it is more than just a journalism blog; it is a journalism community comprising aspiring journalists and media enthusiasts.
About the founder and author:
As a media educator, prison reformer, and Stree Shakti Puruskar recipient for her contribution towards women's empowerment via media and literature, Dr. Vartika Nanda has established a platform where the practice of collaborative learning is always a priority. Her contribution to prison reform is mentioned twice in the Limca Book of Records. She has authored 14 books and has been instrumental in setting up prison radio in the District Jail of Agra and across different jails in Haryana. Also, her efforts have been recognised for building a positive atmosphere across the jails of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
By
Ananya Nair (Batch: 2024)
Department of Journalism
Lady Shri Ram College
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