On July 17, 2024, the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism organized a talk on the theme ‘Careers in Journalism’ under its ‘Media Mosaic’ series. Mr Gerard De Souza, the Special Correspondent for Hindustan Times, was invited as the guest speaker. Throughout the session, he shared his journey in the field of journalism and fostered meaningful discussions on a range of relevant topics.
He began by explaining the basics of journalism; how the field differs from mass communication, and expounded upon the various career opportunities in media. He also addressed the role of journalists in the newspaper industry and the skills requisite to the profession. Discussing current trends, Mr De Souza highlighted the challenges in the field of journalism and the adaptation of the e-paper and AI technologies in journalism.


He quizzed students about prominent media personalities like Karan Thappar, Danish Siddiqui, and Dhruv Rathee. Addressing the financial aspects of journalism, he said that journalists find fulfilment and satisfaction in their job despite the low remuneration. He also gave a brief run-through of his recently published book, Crimes of Passion, which revolves around 11 gripping crimes, each spurred by love and rejection. Mr De Souza discussed the issue of fake news and emphasized the importance of fact-checking. During the interactive Q&A session, he answered students' questions with practical advice.
The event concluded with the felicitation of Mr De Souza by Fr Joaquim Lobo. Herman Noronha, a student of SYBAMCJ shared that the talk helped him understand the difference between journalism and mass communication. The session marked the beginning of the first departmental activity, which motivated students to explore the dynamic field of journalism with renewed enthusiasm.