Santhome Summer Course on Media Ends

CHENNAI, June 12, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Magimai Pragasam / Media News):

The week long Communication course of Santhome Communications Centre ended successfully on 29th evening with Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore, Rev.Dr. Lawrence Pius presenting the certificates to 21 religious sisters who came from the regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka. Fr.Vincent Chinnadurai, was the Course Director and Dr.Magimai Pragasam was the Course Coordinator.

The workshop dealt with themes like Introduction to Media world, Media Education, Cinema and Spirituality, Radio, Video Production and Web. Film Directors B. Lenin, S.S. Stanely and JD.Jerry, Fr.Joe Antony of New Leader, Rev.Dr.Joe Arun, of Loyola College, Fr.Packianathan of TNBC, Fr.Harris Pakkam of DBICA, Dr.Magimai of Centre for Media and Research, Fr. Denis Vaiz, Mr.Rajabukshaw, Mr.Ramesh, Mr.Martin of Santhome Communications Centre were the resource persons for the course.

As a result of the practical orientation, the participants wrote 21 letters to the editors based on the news items appeared in newspapers and magazines on 27th May, produced four radio programmes and four public service advertisements (PSAs) in video. All the productions were evaluated thoroughly during the valedictory function. They also visited the famous AVM film studio to witness a live film shooting. The huge set designs prepared for talk shows and game shows of Vijay TV and Kalaignar TV helped them to understand how ideas are translated into interesting events on the screen.

‘This course has opened our eyes to media world. I feel sorry to have missed media exposure in the past. I will certainly train young minds and make them to be discriminative users of media’ said Sr. Shilpa from Andhra.

‘I knew about my writing skill earlier. But here I discovered ways and means to multiply it and to use the same for the development of the society’ said Sr.Rani from Karnataka.

During his concluding remarks, Fr.Vincent said that Santhome is always ready to support all who are engaged in the mission of proclaiming the Good News with media resources and training. Dr. Magimai the course coordinator thanked Fr.Vincent for his ceaseless efforts in making this course a beneficial one. He also thanked all the resource persons and the staff for their contribution towards making this course truly a professional one.