Introduction
Students of communication/mass communication need a broader introduction to the socio-political and economic realities of rural India, in all its complexities, where they are provided inputs on the contemporary rural issues. Issues of rural society must be integrated across as many courses as possible, so that content related to Rural India is not ghettoized. The core objectives of mass communication are to Inform people, Build public opinion, Persuade, Circulate government policies, Disseminate health and education programmes, Provide pleasure and entertainment, Establish social contact and linkage, Help in facing disaster and calamity, Highlight diplomatic role and Promote political ideologies. All these objectives are integrated to make the course curriculum a holistic one that enables the facilitation of rural engagement thereby subsequently paving a way for the progress of the rural communities involved as an outcome of the same. There needs to be a reasonable balance between theory and practice in the communication curriculum, not for preparing grand theorists or abstract empiricists but for the real time implementation of the learnt curriculum. It has to provide possibilities for operationalizing the theory and concepts learnt by way of tangible communication products – a project report, a newspaper (even a e-newspaper), a radio show (Internet Radio), a short video documentary, a magazine, an internship (with a report attached to it). We have to ensure that everything gets proper weightage and credited.
The following core characteristics which form the basic framework of the community based learning model as proposed by which were prime factors considered while developing the curriculum.
1. Large number of heterogenous, scattered and unknown audience
2. Common message through the use of mechanical and electronic media
3. Rapid and continuous dissemination
4. Use of modern technology
5. Direct feedback not available
6. Influence society and in turn be influenced by the society
Objectives
The following core characteristics which form the basic framework of the community based learning model as proposed by which were prime factors considered while developing the curriculum.
1. Large number of heterogenous, scattered and unknown audience
2. Common message through the use of mechanical and electronic media
3. Rapid and continuous dissemination
4. Use of modern technology
5. Direct feedback not available
6. Influence society and in turn be influenced by the society
