Workshop on 'Editing Documentary Films'

• The students of third year Media Studies who involved in Documentary Film-making in order to produce their final submission for the subject ‘Introduction to Production Technologies’ (ACMC 32033) participated in a workshop in editing conducted by Mr.Thangavel Sivanesan, Graphic Artist – Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on 20^th October at Media Lab.

‘Master Class on Documentary Film-making’

• Media Studies students took part in ‘Master Class on Documentary Film-making’ - A parallel session of Jaffna International Cinema Festival 2018, conducted by Brad Allgood (USA), a well-known Documentary Filmmaker and the director of ‘Landfill Harmonic’ on 4^th of October at American Corner, Jaffna. The Master Class provided a space to the students get to know the international experiences and professional approaches in documentary film-making which is the part of their studies in degree programme.

Visiting Printing Press

• In order to acquire the practical knowledge of ‘Introduction to Production Technologies’ subject, the second year students visited different types of printing productions and gathered firsthand experiences.

Media Productions for ‘World Tourism Day 2018’

• As per the request from the Chairman, Tourism Bureau, Northern Province to the Vice Chancellor – University of Jaffna, the students of Media Studies visited tourist attractive places in Jaffna Peninsula and prepared news features, interviews and travel articles and published them in local newspapers as a part of public awareness related to ‘World Tourism Day 2018’.

Students' Research paper Presentations at International Conference

• The four students: Mr. Thivakar Thiruchchelvam, Mr. Ramanathan Jeyanthan, Ms. Vijayatharsini Vijayakumar and Ms. Pirainila Krishnarajah who are completed their final year of studies presented their dissertations as research papers at the Jaffna University International Conference – 2018 (JUICe 2018) held on 28^th of September 2018.

Making Documentary of 'JUICe 2018'

• As a facilitation to the university activities, Media Studies covered the Jaffna University International Conference – 2018 (JUICe 2018) held on 27^th and 28^th of September 2018 and furnished a documentary on the event.

Participation in 20th Anniversary of Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility

• Media Studies students and staff participated in 20th Anniversary of Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility in Colombo. The three days anniversary events and the International Conference conducted by Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL) and Sri Lanka College of Journalism from 27th to 29th of September 2018.

Professional Experience with ‘Shakthi FM’ Radio

• The ‘Shakthi FM’ Radio invited the students of Media Studies to participate in their special live programme from Jaffna - Nallur Temple premises during its annual festival days in order to learn and enhance broadcasting skills. More than 20 students were actively participated in professional broadcasting under the supervision of the senior broadcasters.

First-hand Exposure on ‘Media Content Analysis’

• Under the ‘Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND)’ Programme which is implemented by International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) – the opportunity given to the students of Media Studies to take part in a presentation on ‘Media Content Analysis’, as part of their programme on 6^th of September at Media Lab. Addition to this, the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) has extended its invitation to the Media Studies and conducted training to the staff members and six selected students in content analysis of local media.

Inter Faculty Service - Workshop on ‘Editing Documentaries’ for Engineering Students

• Media Studies conducted two days workshop on ‘Editing Documentaries’ for the students of Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna as part of their subject ‘Cinema and Television’ on 11^th and 12^th of August at Media Lab with the assistance of Mr. Y. Maran – Technical Officer, Media Studies and Mr. S.Sriram – Audio Visual Technical Officer, Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University under the supervision of Dr.S.Raguram, Subject Lecturer.

Sharing Session - ‘Making Political Documentaries – A Critical Perspective’

• Documentary Filmmaker Mr. Somitharan participated in a sharing session on ‘Making Political Documentaries – A Critical Perspective’ with Media Studies students on 4th of July 2018 at Media Lab of Media Studies.

Sharing Session - ‘Musical Albums – A Storytelling Tool through Visual and Music’

• The popular Script writer, Producer, Director, Singer and Music Director Mr. Denmark Shan (Mr. Shanmugam Subramaniam) from Denmark conducted a sharing session with Media Studies students on ‘Musical Albums – A storytelling tool through visual and music’ on 29.06.2018.

Photography Exhibition - 'Irullenpathu Kuraintha Oli'

• Media Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna successfully conducted a photography exhibition, documentary films screening and launching ‘Kanali’ students’ magazine under the title of ‘Irullenpathu Kuraintha Oli’ (Dark means less light) on 18^th of June 2018 at the Exhibition Hall – Fine Arts, Kailasapathy Auditorium and Physics Seminar Hall respectively.

• The event aims to encourage the students of media studies to showcase their talents, creativity and professionalism through their productions and collect the reflections of different audiences in order to enhance the standard of the same from the public point of view.

• The 135 number of photographs captured under the natural available light by the students reflected the culture, life style, profession, leisure activities, beliefs, spirituality, values, architecture, nature, history and emotions of the common people were displayed at the exhibition.

Screening Students' Documentary Films

• As part of the 'Irullenpathu Kuraintha Oli' event, the nine documentary films produced by the media studies students in different themes for the last two years as a part of their academic activities also were screened at Kailasapathy Auditorium on 18^th of June 2018.

• The documentaries talked about various unspoken issues and the stories usually sidelined by the main stream media such as the post war challenges in resettlement, the spread of poisonous plant Parthenium in Jaffna Peninsula, difficulties faced by third genders among local community and the life of beggars. The international award winning documentary ‘Munai’ made by Mr. T. Thivakar, a fourth year student in 2017 and who is recently completed the graduation gathered a standing ovation at the screening.

Releasing Students' Magazine 'Kanali'

• ‘Kanali’, a magazine produced by the second year students of media studies as an outcome of the course units ‘Reporting Techniques and Skills’ and ‘Editing Concepts and Processes’ at their study programme launched at Physics Seminar Hall as part of the 'Irullenpathu Kuraintha Oli' event on the same day evening.

• The magazine was ceremonially released by Prof. R. Vigneswaran, the Vice Chancellor, University of Jaffna and received by Dr. K. Suthakar, Dean, Faculty of Arts. Prof. K. Visakaruban, Department of Tamil reviewed the magazine.

• The Senior Journalist Mr. Kanapathy Sarvanantha honoured at the function by the Vice Chancellor for his tireless contribution and support from the professional community to make the all three events success.

Participation of Students in the Workshop Series on Building Capacity of the Journalists

• Fifteen number of Media Studies students from second and third year participated the workshop series on building capacity of the journalists of North and East, conducted by ‘Adayaalam’ – Centre for Policy Research, Jaffna with the collaboration of Jaffna Press Club and funded by Embassy of United States in Sri Lanka and, completed their training on 26^th of May, 2018.

• At the awarding ceremony, the’ Adayaalam’ presented 12 laptops, 2 SLR cameras and a mobile phone to the students who are successfully completed the workshop series in order to facilitate their professional capacity.

Stakeholder discussions with pass out students of Diploma in Journalism and the Senior Journalists

• The stakeholder discussions with pass out students of Diploma in Journalism and the Senior Journalists from Northern Province to collect their insights and inputs on newly designed curriculum of Diploma in Media Studies as per the Sri Lankan Quality Framework and the present challenges in media field conducted on 25^th of May, 2018 at Media Lab of Media Studies.

Sharing Session - ‘The Transformation from Journalist to Media Activist in Present Global Context’

• The Editor-in-Chief of the popular online English language news portal ‘Tamil Guardian’ Ms. Abinaya Nathan from United Kingdom conducted a sharing session with Media Studies students on ‘The Transformation from Journalist to Media Activist in Present Global Context’ on 24.05.2018.

Production of Documentary 'Jaffna Science Association in 25 Years'

• The Documentary Film titled ‘JSA in 25 Years’ talking about the Jaffna Science Association’s vision, mission and activities throughout the 25 years which was produced with the collaboration of Media Studies and directed by Mr. T. Thivakar, Student of Media studies released at JSA’s Annual Scientific Session and Silver Jubilee Function on 8^th of May 2018.

Sharing Session - 'Magazine Journalism'

• The Senior Journalists: Mr. Ratheyan (Former Editor of 'Eezhanatham' Weekly, and 'Namathu Eezhanadu' Daily), Mr. Ganapathy Sarvanantha (Columnist and Critic) and Mr. Sri Gnaneswaran (Chief Editor of 'Malai Murasu' Weekly) shared their experiences and knowledge on Magazine Journalism with the students and staff of Media Studies on 1^st of May 2018 and discussed the various issues such as content design, period of release, target audiences and ethical dilemmas in the field of Magazine Journalism at Media Lab of Media Studies.

Participation in 'National Youth Summit 2018'

• The students and staff of Media Studies participated in National Youth Summit 2018 held in Colombo where more than 300 young peace builders gathered from all over Sri Lanka shared their stories, learnt from each other, became a part of wider youth and peace network and, discussed about the role of youth in peace building.

• The Summit was conducted by Sri Lanka Development Journalists Forum with the collaboration of 15 partner organizations including University of Jaffna, University of the Visual and Performing Arts and Ministry of National Co-Existence Dialogue and Official Languages on 20^th and 21^st of April 2018 at BMICH and Department of Government Information.

Completion of Media Internship

• The fourth year students completed their two months industrial training 'Media Internship' at Rupavahini Corporation on 6th of April 2018. They are systematically trained under the Research and Training Unit of Rupavahini in programme and news and current affairs sections.

Sharing Session - ‘Editorial Leadership’

• Media Trainer and Research Scholar Dr. Chandrika Subramaniam from Australia visited to the department and conducted a sharing session on ‘Editorial Leadership’ on 02.01.2018