Prof. Archana R Singh

Who am I?

I am a teacher by profession and a student for life.

My name is Prof Archana R Singh

I am a Professor at the School of Communication Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh. I started my career as a journalist in 1986 and continued to explore different areas in the field of Mass Communication till 1997, when I started teaching. Since then, I have been a full time learner, teacher and researcher, in that order. I like to write features for newspapers, make radio programmes for PU’s community radio, make documentaries for Panjab University, run a blog, write poetry for leisure and record some voice-overs from time to time.

I have held some Administrative posts at Panjab University such as Warden of a Girls Hostel , Cultural Co-ordinator of Panjab University, Chairperson, School of Communication Studies & Coordinator, PU Radio ( twice) , Colloquium Coordinator, Panjab University and the Editor of Panjab University Research Journal of  Social Sciences.

I have a Ph.D in Health Communication as a recipient of UGC Junior Research Fellowship, from the premier institute in Mass Communication, the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi . I had also won the university gold medals in both my Bachelors and Masters Degree.  

At Panjab University’s Community Radio Station

I am a recipient of the Senior Social Scientist Fellowship from ICSSR in the subject of Mass Communication and have several nominations such as Member, Central Panel Jury for the 66^th National Film Awards by Ministry of I&B, GoI, Member of Film and Television Institute of India Society by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Elected Member of Governing and Academic Council of the FTII Pune. Member, Post graduate Board of Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, GJ University, Hisar, Central University of Haryana Mahendragarh, IP University New Delhi, Indian Institute of Mass Communication Society and many others.

I was a part of Review Panel for UNESCO research on youth and violent extremism on social media. That’s a study I really liked. You can read the study here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260382

I write academic publications including journal papers and book chapters, make presentations and seminar talks but I enjoy extension lectures the most. You can hear one on this link:

What is this blog about?

Mass Media have an academic side . Whatever is watched on TV and films, read in the newspapers and heard on radio is a matter of study and research. I have been teaching and studying Mass Communication for the last 21 years and believe that there is a strong connection between the theory and practice of mass media, if taught well. Many media students lament the impracticality of the theory taught in class rooms. It has always been a challenge to make them believe that there can be no practice without a theoretical framework.Through this blog I would attempt to bridge the gap which media students find hard to do.

I will also try to address some confusing issues about media. These may be related to media education, media practice or media literacy.

I am going to visit the questions put to me by my students over the years and hopefully find some answers or raise more questions.

You can visit my school here:

https://scs.puchd.ac.in/

More about me in this interview: