Karnataka Media Academy and Infosys Forge Landmark Partnership to Upskill Journalists
Bengaluru – In a pioneering move for India’s media landscape, the Karnataka Media Academy has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IT behemoth Infosys. The collaboration, formalized under Infosys’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Infosys Springboard, is designed to provide comprehensive soft-skill and digital training for journalists across the state. The signing ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah.
This partnership marks the first instance of a state media academy leveraging the CSR framework to facilitate large-scale skill development for media professionals, setting a potential benchmark for other regions.
Bridging the Skills Gap in Modern Journalism
The core objective of the MoU is to empower journalists with digital education, skill development, and capacity-building tools essential for navigating the contemporary news environment. The initiative will directly address the growing need for technical proficiency and advanced storytelling techniques.
Through the Infosys Springboard program, a dedicated three-day training curriculum will be implemented. The modules are designed to cover critical areas including essential digital media skills, the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, and holistic personality development.
A total of 150 journalists are slated to be trained in three separate batches throughout the year. Demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity, one of these batches will be exclusively reserved for women journalists, funded under the state’s gender budget. Priority for enrollment will be given to journalists working in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, ensuring district-level media professionals benefit directly from this initiative.
Leadership Hails a “Big Leap” for Media
Speaking at the event, Smt. Ayesha Khanam, Chairperson of the Karnataka Media Academy, hailed the collaboration as a transformative step. She expressed strong optimism about the program’s potential to elevate the standards of journalism in Karnataka.
“This partnership between Infosys Springboard and the Media Academy is a big leap towards adapting to new media,” said Khanam. “We are optimistic that this innovative platform will play a major role in upskilling media professionals, particularly in the journalistic domain, equipping them with the technical expertise and storytelling finesse required in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.”
Echoing this sentiment, Satheesha B Nanjappa, Senior Vice President and Head of Education, Training, and Assessment (ETA) at Infosys Ltd, detailed the practical benefits for participants. “Infosys Springboard is a CSR program focusing on education. The Media Academy will get access to digital content on the platform and they can benefit from learning content in the areas of soft skills, personality development, and an overview of latest technologies like AI. This will be definitely helpful to journalists from tier 2 and tier 3 cities,” Nanjappa stated.
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A Collaborative Effort for a Stronger Fourth Estate
Under the agreement, Infosys will provide the digital learning platform, curated course content, and expert trainers. The Karnataka Media Academy will be responsible for coordinating the participation of journalists and facilitating the smooth execution of the training programs.
This proactive initiative by the Academy, under the motivated leadership of Smt. Ayesha Khanam, signifies a crucial investment in the future of journalism. By proactively embracing upskilling and digital transformation, the Academy is ensuring that Karnataka’s journalists are not just keeping pace with change but are equipped to lead it. This program is a commendable step towards fostering a more informed, technologically adept, and impactful media ecosystem in the state.
The MoU signing was attended by Academy member Shri H.V. Kiran, along with Infosys officials Santhosh Ananthapura (AVP, Head & Chief Lead for Government Partnerships), Biligiri Ranga (Business Manager, ETA), and Girija (Specialist, ETA).
Key Quotes
Quote from Smt. Ayesha Khanam, Chairperson, Karnataka Media Academy:
“This partnership is a big leap towards adapting to new media. We are optimistic that this innovative platform will play a major role in upskilling media professionals… equipping them with the technical expertise and storytelling finesse required in today’s fast-evolving media landscape.”
Quote from Satheesha B Nanjappa, SVP, Infosys:
“The Media Academy will get access to digital content… in the areas of soft skills, personality development, and an overview of latest technologies like AI. This will be definitely helpful to journalists from tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”
