Welcome to AKJ Mass Communication Research Centre

About AJK MCRC

Anwar Jamal Kidwai
Mass Communication Research Center

The Mass Communication Research Centre was established in 1982 (it started functioning in 1983) by Anwar Jamal Kidwai, the then Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia. He later became the Chairman of the Centre. Among other things Jamia is today primarily know for its mass communication courses. In recognition of AJK’s contribution in giving Jamia a premium centre of learning the Centre was renamed Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre

He had visualised the Mass Communication Research Centre as a continuing endeavour to engage with the common people of India. He was aware of the increasing realisation in the country that mass communication was an essential catalyst for social development and change. He saw it as an integral part of popular culture.

Through Statute 22 of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre was recognised as an autonomous unit of the university with a Board of Management for supervising its functioning.

The AJK MCRC was set up in collaboration with York University, Toronto ( Canada) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Under the agreement CIDA gifted MCRC a wide range of sophisticated media equipment for its studios, editing set ups and outdoor production work while York University provided the first generation of teachers. The energetic team was led by the reputed documentary filmmaker, Professor James Beveridge who was a close associate of John Grierson, the pioneer of documentary film-making.

		The AJK MCRC was established at a time when the country was rapidly expanding its communication infrastructure. The period witnessed an exponential growth in the field of electronic media. The ‘liberalisation’ of the airwaves in the nineties led to a proliferation of satellite television channels. This development created the need for improving and expanding the existing communication infrastructure. It also fuelled the demand for better and sophisticated software.

Despite the multiplicity of TV channels and programming options there still remains an enormous need for innovative non-fiction/fiction content, particularly in areas of social concerns and education. Thus, creating a generation of film-makers and media professionals who would address these issues became a primary objective of MCRC.

To strengthen the foundation of university-based media education UGC set up programme production centres in different universities. The first such centre was set up at the MCRC. As a result, apart from being a teaching institution, the MCRC became a leading production centre of educational programmes

The UGC took the responsibility of providing the Centre with a building and meeting its recurring annual expenses. In 1991-92, there was a large and generous gift of audio, video and film equipment under Japanese aid which enabled the Centre to update two television studios, a post-production studio, a radio studio and a large facility for audio-visual production based on still photography. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 the Centre received substantial financial assistance from the Ministry of HRD, the UGC and the Ford Foundation for upgrading its facilities. These grants have enabled the Centre to introduce digital technology for imparting instructions in all spheres of television, radio, photography and film production. In addition, UNESCO has given MCRC a grant for introducing a research and training project.

The Centre undertook a massive expansion programme in 2006 for which the HRD Ministry provided a generous grant. Under this expansion plan the Centre is building 2 separate hostels for boys and girls with a capacity of 150 beds each, 2 television studios, 1 film studio 1 sound studio, new buildings for media library and the newly created Media Resource Centre, 4 new classrooms equipped with state- of-the-art screening facilities.

The university offers two merit-based scholarships, Merit Scholarship and Central Scholarship, for courses of study offered by MCRC. Students can also apply for the Star Media Scholarship by clearing the prescribed entrance examination.

	Film About AJK MCRC