Bhubaneswar: The 9th edition of the National Media Conclave (NMC) kicked off on Friday with a vibrant exchange of ideas under its overarching theme ‘Media 5.0: Digital Communication.’
The inaugural day brought together some of India’s finest minds in media and communication, who delved into the evolving landscape shaped by Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), charting a forward-looking roadmap for the future of digital media.
Organised by the Institute of Media Studies (IMS), Utkal University, in partnership with KIIT and OCAC, the three-day media Mahakumbh is being held at KIMS auditorium on KIIT Campus here.
Presenting his opening remarks on the theme, Vice-Chancellor of Koppal University, Karnataka Prof. BK Ravi said AI systems now optimise and distribute content frequently without human intervention. “Digital communication has moved far beyond simple messages or broadcasts. Today, it is predictive, adaptive, immersive, and increasingly autonomous,” he noted.
Joining as a keynote speaker, Director of AI & HPC Research Centre, IIT Bhubaneswar, Dr. Ashwini K. Nanda said, “False narratives have the potential to spark social upheavals, making robust and stringent AI regulations essential.”
Professor of Mass Communication and former Pro Vice-Chancellor of Assam Central University, Dr. K.V. Nagaraj said the media must continually adapt to the fast-changing currents of technological advancement. He emphasised the need to give emerging technologies a human face. “Media can be an engine of change, a driver of development, and a force that brings new life to the modern world,” he said, adding that India is poised to lead the AI revolution in the new millennium.
In his opening address, Prof. Upendra Padhi, Chairman of NMC and Director of IMS, said, “The world is changing, and the media is changing with it. We have stepped into the era of Media 5.0, where immersive technologies are reshaping every aspect of communication.” He noted that media managers now influence both content creation and its dissemination within a rapidly evolving revenue ecosystem. “This new model has placed profitability above idealism. The corporatisation of technology is unmistakable, and the mergers and demergers of global tech giants increasingly mirror the shifts within the media market,” he added.
On the occasion, former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura Central University and Emeritus professor of Mass Communication Prof. V.L. Dharurkar was conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to media education in the country. A commemorative monograph of the conclave, an abstract booklet, and four books were also unveiled.
The inaugural day also featured three plenary sessions and a memorial lecture in memory of Prof. Sunil Kanta Behera. The mega scholastic event will conclude on Sunday where Speaker Surama Padhy will grace the occasion.
