Solan, December 7
The second edition of its Annual National Marvel Media Fest 2024, a two-day event organized by the School of Media and Communications, Shoolini University, evoked a tremendous response.
The event, which concluded today, celebrated creativity, learning, and innovation in media and communication. Students, experts, and industry leaders from across the country participated in this exciting festival.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Prof. Ashish Khosla, Director of Learning and Innovation. Among those present included Ms. Nishtha Shukla Anand, Trustee and Director of Marketing and Communications, Ms. Avnee Khosla, Vice President and Director of Student Experience and Success, Ms. Ashoo Khosla, Chief Learning Officer and Brigadier SD Mehta, Director Operations.
Director and Head of the School of Media and Communications Prof. Vipin Pubby welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of the fest in providing a platform for creativity and innovation.
Ms. Nishtha Anand, in her address, emphasized the evolution of independent journalism, the influence of digital communication, and the challenges posed by satirical news.
Prof. Ashish Khosla inspired the audience with his address, drawing parallels between superheroes and the transformative power of media. Quoting iconic Marvel movies, he encouraged students to embrace creativity and innovation, describing AI as a game-changer for the industry.
An engaging session was conducted by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) teams from Chandigarh and Shimla, led by Pritam Singh, Director, PIB Shimla, and Ahmad Khan, Media and Communication Officer, PIB Chandigarh. They introduced the “Create in India Challenge,” focusing on animation, gaming, generative AI, and broadcasting, and shared insights about PIB’s role and career opportunities in UPSC and SSC.
The fest featured a range of competitions, including Outdoor Photography, News Anchoring, Short Films, Caption Writing, Instagram Reels, Quiz, and RJing, showcasing the creativity and skills of participants. Winners included Ravichandran, Aditya Pathania, and Harsh Raj for short films; Arushi Kashyap (Chitkara University) for RJing; Bhavna Diwan (Chitkara University) for photography; Vanshika Sharma for caption writing; Aryan Thakur for Instagram reels; and Prekshi and Himanshi for the quiz.
The event also included the launch of the book The Fire Within Sita, authored by Rsvika Tripathi and mentored by Dr. Purnima Bali, Head of the Chitrakoot School of Liberal Arts. The book explores women’s strength and resilience, drawing inspiration from the story of Sita.
Pro-Chancellor Vishal Anand, who was the chief guest at the valedictory function, highlighted the power of media in shaping society, using the example of South Korea’s global influence through K-pop. He proposed expanding the fest to an international platform in future editions.
Guest of Honor Mr. Vivek Atray, IAS (retd) emphasized quality storytelling and encouraged students to read publications like The Economist to understand global trends.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Charanjeet Singh, who acknowledged the efforts of the faculty and students. The fest was coordinated by Dr. Ranjna Thakur, Paarth Sharma, and Dr. Nisha Kapoor, faculty members of the School of Media and Communication.
