By SUNIL GOYAL, Senior Journalist
In the fast-paced landscape of modern media, where YouTube channels, OTT platforms, community radio, and digital news portals are rapidly shaping public discourse, a disturbing gap is surfacing in our academic institutions. The alarming lack of awareness among media educators about licensing norms and legal compliance. This oversight is more than a technical lapse; it is a silent disservice to thousands of media students whose futures are being molded within these institutions.
Many media teachers unaware of critical licensing procedures
An analytical study reveals a concerning truth: a significant number of media teachers, especially in institutions of higher education are unaware or ill-informed about critical licensing procedures. These include mandatory registrations with the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) for print and online publications, compliance with community radio and FM broadcasting guidelines under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and understanding of advertising codes and content regulations laid down by statutory bodies like the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and the Press Council of India.
Without knowledge of these regulatory frameworks, educators cannot prepare students to operate responsibly or legally in real-world media settings.
Media education dominated by theoretical lectures
Unfortunately, media education in many institutes continues to be dominated by theoretical lectures and outdated curricula. Practical modules, especially those involving licensing, intellectual property rights and platform-specific permissions are either ignored or treated superficially. This results in students graduating with impressive portfolios but dangerously little understanding of the compliance boundaries their work must stay within.
Some educators continue to project false expertise
What exacerbates the problem is the existence of some educators who, despite knowing their own limitations, continue to project false expertise. These crooked teachers not only destroy the future of students but also squander the hard-earned money of parents, who pay exorbitant fees in the belief that their children will receive professional, industry-ready training. It is not just incompetence, it’s a moral and educational failure.
Universities must begin valuing field experience
Recruiters, too, must introspect. It is high time they step out of the imaginary dream sold to them by faculty members holding PhDs in subject but lacking real-world media experience. A doctorate may prove academic depth but not necessarily practical competence. In a field as dynamic and legally sensitive as media, it is the professionals with newsroom, broadcast and digital experience who bring the insight that students desperately need. Universities must begin valuing field experience alongside academic qualifications, especially for media courses.
Not equipped to mentor students
If an educator is unaware of how to register a newspaper with the RNI, the three-stage licensing process of Community Radio Stations (CRS), the do’s and don’ts of broadcast content regulation or the rules for advertising ethics and revenue models, they are simply not equipped to mentor students who will face these challenges immediately upon graduation.
Media educators must be more than just storytellers, they must be guardians of compliance, ethical creators and mentors who instill both creativity and accountability. There is a dire need for faculty development programs focused on legal literacy, platform permissions, copyright awareness and statutory guidelines. At the same time, universities should urgently revise their curriculum to reflect current regulatory and technological realities.
Legal literacy is essential
In a world plagued by misinformation, fake news, and unauthorized content, legal literacy is not optional, it is essential. The future of journalism, broadcasting and digital storytelling depends not only on innovation but also on compliance, ethics and lawful practice.
The media world today doesn’t just demand content, it demands responsible content. And in this landscape, ignorance of the law is not just a personal failure, it’s a professional liability.
