Dr Savyasaachi Jain
Reader Journalism and Documentary
School of Journalism, Media and Culture
- JainS23@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29225 10782
- Two Central Square, Room 2.49, Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1FS
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
In my academic role as Reader at JOMEC, I draw upon a career spanning print and television journalism, documentary filmmaking and providing training to media practitioners internationally. My journey into academics began as a doctoral student at the University of Westminster (London) researching the applicability and suitability of Western models for understanding the behaviour of global media systems. While pursuing my PhD, I began teaching at Swansea University, where I led the Erasmus Mundus MA programme in Journalism, Media and Globalisation (War and Conflict specialism). At JOMEC, I teach on the MA International Journalism (MAIJ) and MA Digital Documentary (MADD) courses. Apart from leading the documentary pathway on MAIJ, I specialise in guiding students in developing the concepts for their longer journalistic projects, including their showpiece Master’s project/ dissertation.
I am currently engaged in an interdisciplinary applied research project, working with colleagues in the School of Computer Science and Informatics to develop a camerawork simulator, an online tool for teaching creative decision-making skills to students of documentary and visual journalism. We have obtained multiple rounds of funding from JOMEC, the Research Wales Innovation Fund, and the research councils AHRC and EHRC, to support us as we develop and refine prototypes and explore pathways to making this tool widely available to teachers and students wherever they may be.
As a researcher, I am particularly interested in international media systems, Indian media, the standards and conceptual skills of high-quality journalism, and journalism and democracy, and will consider PhDs applications in these areas.
I am or have been a consultant to several UN organisations (UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDRR) as well as intergovernmental and international organisations such as the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association and The Thomson Foundation. My work for these organisations includes developing online courses, manuals and handbooks, designing and delivering large training programmes, supervising international documentary co-productions and conducting specialist workshops for journalists and programme makers in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, the Caribbean, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkmenistan, UK and Vietnam.
Publication
2019
- Zeng, X., Jain, S., Nguyen, A. and Allan, S. 2019. New perspectives on citizen journalism: Introduction to special issue. Global Media and China 4(1), pp. 3-12. (10.1177/2059436419836459)
- Jain, S. 2019. India’s media development seesaw: Advancement and vulnerability in the world’s largest democracy. In: Benequista, N. et al. eds. International Media Development Historical Perspectives and New Frontiers., Vol. 23. Mass Communication and Journalism Oxford: Peter Lang, pp. 137-143.
2016
- Jain, S. 2016. India: You ain't seen nothing yet. In: Mair, J. et al. eds. Last Words?: How can journalism survive the decline of print?. Bury St Edmunds: Abramis academic publishing
2015
- Jain, S. 2015. India: Multiple media explosions. In: Nordenstreng, K. and Thussu, D. K. eds. Mapping BRICS Media. London: Routledge, pp. 145-165., (10.4324/9781315726212-10)
Articles
- Zeng, X., Jain, S., Nguyen, A. and Allan, S. 2019. New perspectives on citizen journalism: Introduction to special issue. Global Media and China 4(1), pp. 3-12. (10.1177/2059436419836459)
Book sections
- Jain, S. 2019. India’s media development seesaw: Advancement and vulnerability in the world’s largest democracy. In: Benequista, N. et al. eds. International Media Development Historical Perspectives and New Frontiers., Vol. 23. Mass Communication and Journalism Oxford: Peter Lang, pp. 137-143.
- Jain, S. 2016. India: You ain't seen nothing yet. In: Mair, J. et al. eds. Last Words?: How can journalism survive the decline of print?. Bury St Edmunds: Abramis academic publishing
- Jain, S. 2015. India: Multiple media explosions. In: Nordenstreng, K. and Thussu, D. K. eds. Mapping BRICS Media. London: Routledge, pp. 145-165., (10.4324/9781315726212-10)
Research
I am currently the Principal Investigator in an exciting applied research project to develop ViewfindR, an online camerawork simulator to teach visualisation skills and develop the creative decision making of visual journalists. This virtual learning environment uses game engines and three-dimensional virtual spaces to deliver these skills and allow instructors to provide feedback.
In 2021 we received funding from the Research Wales Innovation Fund for ViewfindR and have subsequently received funding from the funding councils AHRC and ESRC. The project is a collaboration between the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, and the School of Computer Science and Informatics. My co-investigator, Dr Daniel Finnegan from Computer Science, heads up our technical strategy and I provide the overall vision and user perspective.
My academic research focuses on Indian media, international media systems, journalism and democracy and the standards and values of journalism. I will consider PhD research proposals in these areas.
Teaching
I lead the Doucmentary Pathway on the MA International Journalism (MAIJ) and also teach on the MA Digital Documentary (MADD) programme. In addition, I focus on helping students develop their conceptual skills to design and produce high quality Master's projects in print, multimedia or as a documentary.