17-03-2026 : The Governor chaired a meeting at Lok Bhavan with Deans and Heads of Media and Communication Departments from various universities across the state.
Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note
Governor Chairs Meeting with Heads of Media and Communication Departments
Emphasis on Aligning Media Education with the AI Era
Lok Bhavan Dehradun 17 March, 2026
The Governor, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), chaired a meeting at Lok Bhavan with Deans and Heads of Media and Communication Departments from various universities across the state. The discussion focused on the theme: “Media Education in the Age of AI and the Digital Information Ecosystem: Challenges, Ethics, and Opportunities.”
Addressing the meeting, the Governor stated that artificial intelligence and digital media have fundamentally transformed the way information is created, disseminated, and consumed. Therefore, media education must evolve in line with these changes. He emphasized that media is not merely a medium of information but also a powerful force that shapes public perception, and hence, its education must aim at nurturing responsible citizens alongside skilled journalists.
The Governor highlighted that the rise of fake news and misinformation has emerged as a major challenge in the current landscape. To address this, he stressed the need for proper training and urged universities to incorporate subjects such as AI, data analytics, digital security, and fact-checking into their curricula.
He further advised that measures should be explored to strengthen the economic independence of journalists. Encouraging innovation and startup culture within the media sector, he said, would help create new opportunities and promote self-reliance. He also called upon universities and media institutions to provide guidance, training, and institutional support in this direction.
The Governor underlined the importance of adapting to rapid technological changes and ensuring that artificial intelligence is used for the benefit of society and the nation. He emphasized the need for widespread awareness to ensure responsible and constructive use of AI.
He also stated that such meetings would be conducted regularly in the future to ensure continuous dialogue and improvement in media education. He expressed confidence that the deliberations would lead to meaningful and constructive outcomes.
The meeting, organized with the support of Doon University, saw active participation from Deans and Heads of Departments, who shared their perspectives on the growing impact of AI in media and education. They emphasized that AI should be adopted as a tool rather than relied upon entirely.
Participants stressed the importance of preparing students for the responsible use of AI, especially in tackling the growing challenge of fake news and misinformation. They recommended the inclusion of AI, fact-checking, and digital ethics as essential components of media education curricula. The idea of inter-university student exchange programmes was also suggested.
They further highlighted the need to equip students with practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge so that they can actively contribute to promoting media literacy and public awareness. Emphasis was also laid on developing indigenous AI tools aligned with Indian contexts and requirements.
The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary to the Governor Smt. Reena Joshi, Joint Director Information Dr. Nitin Upadhyay, Prof. Rajesh Kumar (Doon University), Prof. Rakesh Rayal (Uttarakhand Open University), Prof. Amresh Jha (UPES), Prof. Taha Siddiqui (Graphic Era Hill University), Prof. Jaiveer Singh (DBS Global University), Prof. Kartikeya Gaur (Uttaranchal University), Prof. Ravi Shankar Upadhyay (Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University), Prof. Parag Ranjan (Core University), Prof. Sheel Shukla (Subharti University), Prof. Ashish Kulshreshtha (SGRR University), Prof. Pooja Dabas (Sparsh Himalayan University), and Prof. Tausif Iqbal (Tulas Institute), among others.
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