Somaiya Vidyavihar University, a multidisciplinary institution with over 80 years of legacy, successfully concluded Media Manthan 2025, an international conference and conclave on media, democracy, and the public sphere. Organized by the Department of Mass Communication, Somaiya School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Press Club of India and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, the event brought together journalists, media professionals, and scholars for discussions on media’s role in shaping public discourse.

The conference opened with an inaugural session featuring Prof. B K Ravi (Vice Chancellor, Koppal University) as the Chief Guest, alongside Mr. Anil Sharma (film director), Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan (Faculty of Eminence), and Prof. V N Rajasekharan Pillai (Vice Chancellor, SVU). Prof. B K Ravi’s keynote on Journalistic Metamorphosis set the stage for discussions.

Sessions throughout the event covered topics such as digital media’s impact on democracy, responsible journalism, corporate communication in the digital era, and gender representation in the public sphere. Highlights included a talk by Dr. Tamilselvi Natarajan on Media Literacy and Fact-Checking and a session by Mr. Yogendra Puranik, Japan’s first elected non-Japanese MLA, on International Communication and Public Opinion Formation.

Day 1 also featured research paper presentations on media, digital communication, and social influence, exploring topics like social media’s effect on politics, activism, and news coverage.

Day 2 included a talk by Ms. Anushka Guha on Art and Retail Marketing, a session on Gender and the Public Sphere by Prof. Manjula Bharathy, and a panel discussion on The Journalist, The Politician, and The Public: Who Shapes Whom? featuring Dr. Milind Kokje (Chief Editor, BioSpectrum Asia), Sahil Joshi (Managing Editor, India Today), and Ms. Vaishna Roy (Editor-in-Chief, Frontline), moderated by Ms. Chetna Israni (Founder, Morning Star BrandCom).

The valedictory session featured Mr. Gautam Lahiri (President, Press Club of India), Prof. Nandakumar Gilke (Registrar, SVU), and Prof. G N Devy (Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences), who discussed the importance of media accountability and democratic values. Mr. Lahiri also shared insights on the Press Club of India and expressed interest in further collaboration with SVU.

Prof. G N Devy highlighted the historical role of Indian media, stating:
“From the mid-19th to mid-20th century, Indian media played a key role in the country’s independence. This aspect of media’s engagement needs further study.”

Media Manthan 2025 provided a platform for critical discussions on media’s evolving role, ensuring continued engagement with these issues in the future.