Journalist Bagalavan Perier Inspires Students With Lecture at Pondicherry University
The Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication (DEMMC) of Pondicherry University hosted a public lecture by Bagalavan Perier B., Principal Correspondent of The New Indian Express, on 25th October. The session, held in Lecture Hall 3 of DEMMC, was on the topic “Cultivating Skills for a Career in Journalism.” Mr. Bagalavan is also an alumnus of the M.A. Mass Communication programme at Pondicherry University, and graduated from the department in 2011. As part of his role at The New Indian Express, Mr. Bagalavan covers Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts. He has also worked in the assistant directors’ team for Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Hollywood movie Life of Pi as a set production assistant. Besides, he also assisted documentary filmmakers such as Navroze Contractor and Pankaj Rishi Kumar during his college days.
The lecture, which started around 11 a.m., focused on the skill set needed to build a career in journalism, a fast-changing field especially, with the introduction of AI. He shared personal anecdotes from his career, various projects, and assignments he worked on that required specific skills and described how these experiences contributed to his professional growth. His honest reporting on the Kallakurichi schoolgirl’s death and the subsequent riots in 2022 showed the important elements to consider when reporting on sensitive issues. He repeatedly emphasised that sincere work by a journalist can impact people’s lives for the good.
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He also discussed the importance of equipping oneself with multiple skills, which is essential for a successful career in journalism. Mr. Bagalavan encouraged students to focus on their interests, whether writing, photography, video production, or editing, without being concerned about quality, emphasising that improvement comes only with practice and experience. He shared his journey from an undergraduate degree in English Literature to becoming a proficient journalist, highlighting the support he received from teachers in overcoming language limitations. He stated, “If you can write, write—whether it’s in English or any other language.” His career story was inspiring and motivating for students looking to build a career in journalism.
First-year UG and PG students of Mass Communication, along with several students from neighbouring colleges, attended the session, which was facilitated by Dr. Radhika Khanna, Head of the Department and Director of the Educational Multimedia Research Center, who was also Bagalavan Perier’s teacher.
Written by Shifa E
Edited by Rupam Shukla
