IIMC Launches Academy to Train Media Professionals in AI Tools
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has opened the AIME Academy-AI Media and Entertainment Academy-to build AI skills across India's media sector. Chanchal Kumar, Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, inaugurated the academy at IIMC's New Delhi campus on May 30.
The move addresses a gap in how journalists and media educators prepare for AI-driven newsrooms. IIMC operates six regional campuses in New Delhi, Dhenkanal, Jammu, Aizawl, Amravati, and Kottayam, positioning the academy to reach professionals across the country.
What the Academy Will Do
The academy rests on five pillars: capacity building, research, innovation and incubation, responsible AI policy development, and strategic collaboration. IIMC plans to develop training modules suited to Indian media needs and encourage research on how newsrooms use AI responsibly.
One stated goal is to reduce language barriers in media education. Regional campuses will offer AI training in Indian languages, opening access to journalists and students working outside English-language outlets.
Early Results From Pilot Training
IIMC completed a 10-week hybrid training program before launching the academy. More than 110 participants from 23 cities attended, representing over 100 newsrooms, media colleges, and public communication institutions.
Participants trained on Google's Generative AI and LLM tools including Gemini, NotebookLM, AI Studio, and Pinpoint. Each person completed 40 hours of instruction plus mentoring.
The group produced 170 AI-powered projects and over 50 digital applications. Several participants published work using the tools they learned.
What Officials Say About AI's Role
Kumar said AI should not replace human judgment in newsrooms. Speed and content creation improve with AI, he said, but journalists must retain final decision-making authority and accountability.
He framed the role differently than some AI discussions: "The role of journalists, editors and media educators will become even more important in the AI era."
Who Benefits
The academy targets students, journalists, media educators, and communication professionals. Participants from Doordarshan, All India Radio, the Press Information Bureau, and IIMC itself attended the pilot program.
For educators specifically, the initiative offers a model for integrating AI for Education into existing curricula without abandoning journalism fundamentals.
IIMC's approach reflects a practical question facing media schools: how to teach tools that are already in use without treating them as substitutes for editorial judgment.
Your membership also unlocks:
