Photojournalism

CEC and Pondicherry University via Swayam

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Details

This course may be unavailable.

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Provider

Swayam
Pricing

Free Online Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

15 weeks
Sessions

Finished
Level

Beginner

Found in

This course introduces you to photojournalism and the basics of digital photography. You will learn to take photographs and explore the entire process of photojournalistic principles, ethics and practice. Through the various short videos in this course, including the 'Meet the photographer' modules, you will be introduced to eminent Indian photographers and photojournalists. Here you will learn professional skills and practical tips from 25 experienced practitioners including photojournalists, photographers, photo editors and teachers, some with a professional career spanning over 60 years and also budding new personalities in this field.Additional online resources will give you a wide exposure to some of the best photographic and photojournalistic work, including images, videos, research articles and dissertations. You will also have an opportunity to improve your photography skills through experimentation with online camera simulators. These will be helpful to understand the basic photography concepts especially for those who don't have a digital camera. A curated reading list will enrich your thirst for more. By the end of 15 weeks, you will be able to identify and develop your creative expression, style and voice and be prepared for a career in photojournalism and self-employment.Course Objectives1. Learn concepts and tools of photography2. Learn the qualities and skills to prepare as a photojournalist3. Encourage self-employment4. Encourage creative skills5. Develop interest in photography and photojournalismCourse Outcomes1. Learner would master the concepts and importance of photography2. Learner would be able to understand photo coverage and photojournalism3. Learner would be ready to join any media organization as a photojournalist or be self-employed4. Learner would develop her/his individual talent and potential for photography5. Learner would be introduced to different branches and styles of photography and photojournalism

Syllabus

Week 1 The role and importance of photojournalism in media Becoming storytellers: Qualities and skills needed to be a photojournalist Meet Gurinder Osan: Photojournalist, landscape and social documentary photographer. Presently works as photo editor for India's premier news agency, Press Trust of India, heading and mentoring a pan India team of many talented photojournalists. Week 2 Introduction and development of photography by Desikan Krishnan, senior photojournalist and former photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai Traditional and digital camera by Gopinath Sricandane, a communications specialist in charge of photo documentation of various projects and a former photojournalist with the Outlook group & photo editor of Outlook magazine’s website. Meet Prashant Panjiar: Photojournalist, documentary photographer, and photo editor. One of India’s leading photo-practitioners, he has worked for international and national publications. Served on several juries, including the jury of the World Press Photo Awards. He works on several issues for international non-profit organisations. Week 3 History of photojournalism with special focus on Homai Vyarawalla, India’s first woman press photographer by Prof. Sabeena Gadihoke, AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, who is also a photo historian & curator and has written extensively on Indian photography. Tools of photography: Introduction to photography, exposure and exposure triangle Tools of photography: Understanding shutter speed, aperture and ISO Week 4 Digital photography: Experiments with understanding light (underexposure and overexposure) Digital photography: Camera lenses, focal length and starting off to shoot Photography elements and principles: Understanding depth of field Meet Raghu Rai: Awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 1971, nominated by Henri Cartier-Bresson to join Magnum Photos in 1977, laureate of the first edition of the Académie des beaux-arts Photography Award - William Klein in 2019. Week 5 Emergence of digital technology: Basics of digital camera Digital camera: Shooting modes and menu Digital photography: Crop factor, colour temperature, pixelation and noise Week 6 Doing photography: Composition Doing composition: More on rules and in-camera composition Meet Saumya Khandelwal: Contributing photojournalist with many international publications. A Getty Images Instagram Grantee 2017 and recipient of the National Foundation of India Award 2017. Week 7 Different types of lighting and its uses: Available light and time of the day The use of flash in photography Writing captions for photographs Week 8 Life of a working photojournalist Meet Selvaprakash Lakshmanan: Independent photographer with many national and international publications. A recipient of Paris Match Award 2007, the India Press Photo Award 2008 and the Robert Bosch Art Grant 2009-2010. Along with editorial and documentary, his work includes photographing portraits, lifestyle, architecture, interior, product and food. Role of subject and quality of photographs: Researching stories for long term projects Week 9 Meet Dinesh Krishnan: Photojournalist and photo editor. Presently, visual editor with The Hindu, Chennai. Selecting images Meet SR Raghunathan: Photojournalist. Presently, chief photographer and deputy photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai. Week 10 Photograph editing: Basic techniques and workflow Cropping, enlarging and reducing Clubbing and grouping: Mind mapping, developing photo essays, features and human interest stories Branches of photography: Need and importance Week 11 Introduction to sports photography

Becoming a sports photographer Qualities and skills needed to be a wildlife photographer Week 12 Ethics and responsibilities of a wildlife photographer Photography for conservation: Planning, shooting and writing The need for ethics in photojournalism Photography and ethics Week 13 Beginning a career in photojournalism: News organisations, NGOs, freelancing and negotiating contracts, grants, residencies and training Meet Madhuraj: Photographer and writer. A recipient of the Maja Koene National Award in 2003, Silver World Medal at New York Festival 2005 for the picture depicting the endosulfan tragedy in Kerala, and Prem Bhatia National Award for Environmental Reporting 2011. Presently, senior chief news photographer, periodicals, Mathrubhumi. Meet Avinash Pasricha: Octogenarian photographer, with a career spanning over 60 years. Renowned for his performing arts photography, he has co-authored several books on Indian classical dance and music, and also made audio-visuals on prominent performing artistes. The range of his work includes portraits, fashion, advertising, industry and architecture. He was Photo Editor of SPAN magazine for 37 years. Arts and cultural photography: Documenting performing artists and cultural activities Week 14 Carving a career in photojournalism: Preparing a portfolio with a lifetime of images Meet Vicky Roy: Selected by the US based Maybach Foundation to photo document the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York in 2008. Awarded the MIT Media Fellowship in 2014. An honouree on the 2016 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia' list. Meet Navroze Contractor: Independent photographer and cinematographer of many award winning feature films. His photographs of jazz musicians are in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, USA. Week 15 Fielding questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor Fielding more questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor Travel and documentary photography Future of photojournalism

Taught by

Dr. Radhika Khanna

Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 31 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Photojournalism

Ved Kumari @vedkumari
7

I have joined this course this year 2022 and I believe that it is the best course on Swayam Portal. The teacher Dr. Radhika Khanna has done such a meticulous work and that too in a very interesting fashion. The course has recorded videos which are v…

I have joined this course this year 2022 and I believe that it is the best course on Swayam Portal. The teacher Dr. Radhika Khanna has done such a meticulous work and that too in a very interesting fashion. The course has recorded videos which are very rich on content. Radhika does the job of anchoring the interviews of renowned photographers like Ragu Rai, and journalists like Desikan Krishnan and many others.
The course also has the academic scripts also of all the videos which makes it possible to revise the course when one does not have time to see the videos. She has even made short notes from the Academic Scripts!
We also interact with her in real time through google meet every alternate week and interact in real time with the experts she brings to those live sessions in addition to clearing our doubts and answering all questions.
I find her extremely patient when she answers the same questions being asked repeatedly because somebody joined the session a bit late.
The course content is focused both on photography and journalism and is formulated in the most interesting manner. Very easy to do the course at one's own pace with sufficient time given to do the assignments. Easy assignments including MCQ, writing work and practical photography. The course this year will end on 30 Oct 2022. This is the second run of the course but will be repeated in the coming years too.
I am a full time law professor - 66 years old - but was just interested in photography and joined the course thinking that I will get some tips for improving and understanding my photographs. The course has opened my mind and eyes to concepts like composition, guiding lines, golden hours, the rule of third and so many technical aspects that I can review my photographs now more critically and aspire to click better photographs and edit them more effectively.
I am truly enjoying the course and recommend to anybody who is interested in photography, journalism and surely for all those who are interested in photojournalism.
Once enrolled, the student gets life time access to the full materials of the course. This course should be the first choice for anybody interested in photojournalism or just photography.
Prof. Ved Kumari
Vice Chancellor
National Law University Odisha, Cuttack, India
Anonymous

As an aspiring photojournalist, I was captivated by the prospect of enrolling in MOOC on Photojournalism, an online course led by the esteemed Ms. Radhika Khanna. Unfortunately, upon discovering the program, I found myself regrettably late to the en…

As an aspiring photojournalist, I was captivated by the prospect of enrolling in MOOC on Photojournalism, an online course led by the esteemed Ms. Radhika Khanna. Unfortunately, upon discovering the program, I found myself regrettably late to the enrollment process. Undeterred, I eagerly awaited the next enrollment window, diligently devouring every available video lesson from the course on YouTube. Finally, the opportunity arose, and I was granted access to the course's comprehensive resources and content.

From the beginning, Ms. Khanna's meticulous and insightful approach to photojournalism was evident. She meticulously delved into every facet of the profession, meticulously crafting her lessons with exceptional clarity and precision. Her videos were a testament to her dedication, seamlessly blending theoretical concepts with practical applications. Every detail, every nuance, was meticulously addressed, leaving no stone unturned in her quest to equip her students with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the field of photojournalism.

While the course's content was undeniably exceptional, I was disheartened to discover a significant drawback: the exclusion of non-native and non-Indian residents from the final exam and subsequent certification. This policy left me questioning the rationale behind such a distinction, particularly in light of the course's emphasis on inclusivity and global perspectives. I wholeheartedly believe that alternative methods should be explored to validate the achievements of all learners, regardless of their nationality or place of residence.

Despite this reservation, I wholeheartedly recommend this Mooc on Photojournalism to anyone seeking to embark on a journey into the captivating world of photojournalism. Ms. Khanna's expertise and passion for the subject are infectious, and her meticulously crafted lessons provide an invaluable foundation for aspiring photojournalists worldwide. I remain hopeful that the course will reconsider its certification policy, ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, are recognized for their dedication and accomplishments.
Best regards,

Zaher Benazoug
Anonymous

I am very satisfied after completing an excellent photography course for free along with an indepth knowledge of photojournalism. My name is Sumohini. My sister Professor (Dr) Ved Kumari had joined this online course on Photojournalism on Swayam,…

I am very satisfied after completing an excellent photography course for free along with an indepth knowledge of photojournalism.

My name is Sumohini. My sister Professor (Dr) Ved Kumari had joined this online course on Photojournalism on Swayam, Government of India's free e-learning portal open to all.

One day I went to her study room for something and she was watching the video lecture on photojournalism.
Not wanting to disturb her, I decided to wait on the chair nearby.
I wasn't watching the video, but of course I heard all that was being told.
By the end of the lecture, I decided that I also wanted to join!
But alas! The last date for registration had gone!

A couple of days later, to my utmost joy, I came to know that the date had been extended again!

Immediately I registered.
And am so glad for it!
Being interested in the field of journalism (as it is a powerful tool to create awareness), and photography for the visual impact of what one is trying to convey, I found this course very much helpful.

As one can see from how I joined this course, the format and the way of imparting knowledge is very interesting and caught my attention in the first instance.

About the content:
There is so much detailed information about photography that even a person who never clicked a photograph before, can really learn even minute details about handling the camera, composition, textures, different uses of different kinds of light, other techniques about creating different depth of field etc.

Then there are lectures about different fields of photography: shooting for daily newspaper, magazines, portrait photography, travel photography, wildlife photography, sports photography, shooting performing arts, night sky etc.

Lectures also cover how to creatively use light and its effects, showing motion in a photograph, editing the images to make them more powerful and meaningful...

How to interact with our subjects, our attitude towards them, and how to deal with different kinds of unforeseen situations; how important is ethical behaviour and humility in our attitude and interaction with the persons involved; that photojournalism is about being true to reporting the truth as witnessed by us.
This is not all, just a glimpse of what the course offers.

This free online course of 15 weeks is being taught by Dr Radhika Khanna from Pondicherry University, India. From the way she presents the content of the course, she comes through as a person who is genuine, hard working and sincere.

She has taken much pains in creating the format of this MOOC which begin with creating interest, imparting knowledge without breaking the flow, and again summing up what has been taught.
Then we have reflection spots which immediately revise our knowledge of what we learnt in that lecture.

She has put together a treasure trove of recorded interviews and lecture demonstrations by some of India's top photojournalists including Padmashree Raghu Rai, Prashant Panjiar, photo editors of PTI and The Hindu, Gurinder Osan and Dinesh Krishnan and many more seasoned and young photographers.

This is not all.
She conducts fortnightly live interactive online sessions in which she invites well known personalities from the field of photography and photojournalism to share their knowledge with us. These experts generously share their experiences and knowledge, and give excellent tips for us to improve.

I learnt that when photographs are ready, they have to be given captions along with other relevant information to give context to the photographs so that they make sense to anybody, anywhere on the earth.

Then they have to be archived for future in such a way that they can be traced easily in future when needed, using chronological order and giving keywords etc.

All done, how to start as a fresher is a critical time in the life of a photojournalist.

Tips are also shared by experienced photojournalists about how to create a portfolio, and go further. Whom to contact, how to do networking, how to make sense of contracts with big organisations. Or one can choose to be a freelancer, and if so, how to go about it. What are the options.
How to go about if one is interested in documentaries.

Personally, I found this course very enlightening!
But realised that not many are even aware that such a course exists!

People have to spend a huge amount of money to learn the basics of photography and photojournalism.

I strongly recommend this free online interactive course which has an optional exam for a nominal fee if one wants the certificate.

There is lifetime access to all the course content for all enrolled learners, even if they choose not to appear for the exam.

That's why I decided to share my experience and what I felt after having finished the course.
May many many more benefit!
Vinay Kharbanda
1

I am not a photographer by profession and therefore, photography has always been a dear hobby for me. While searching internet on photojournalism one day, I came across SWAYAM portal which was offering free-of-charge a 15-week short course on Photo…

I am not a photographer by profession and therefore, photography has always been a dear hobby for me. While searching internet on photojournalism one day, I came across SWAYAM portal which was offering free-of-charge a 15-week short course on Photojournalism being conducted by Dr. Radhika Khanna of EMRC, Pondicherry University.

While going through the details of this course, its objectives and the outcomes, the layout which was quite explanatory, it piqued my interest in it. The most fascinating parts of this entire course were the interviews with the senior and eminent photojournalists and photographers like Raghu Rai, Prashant Panjiar, Gurinder Osan, Vicky Roy, Selvaprakash Lakshmanan. I immediately registered myself as I just wanted to learn something new which was related to photography.

The course is divided in 15 weeks with 3 lessons in each week. Each lesson is a new topic. Each lesson is further divided into 3 parts. For each part there is a small video of duration ranging from 8 minutes to 15 minutes, depending upon the topic being discussed. This whole structure makes the whole course easy to follow and the assignments, both practical and subjective, are designed not just to ensure that what is learnt in a lesson is also practiced but to also challenge the visual and mental faculties of a learner.

This course briefly takes one through all the aspects of photojournalism, from the history of photography to practice of photojournalism, through basics of photography, editing, skills needed, professional ethics, selection of socially useful projects, both long term and short term. The interviews with both the veteran as well as young photojournalists are very helpful. While from veterans we learn about their journey, their experiences and a long term commitment required before one can make a place for him/self, the young photojournalists add a new dimension. It is really inspiring that in such a young age, they have created a niche for themselves. Hearing from and watching both the young and old photojournalists gives a 360 deg perspective of this field.

All in all, this course can serve as a launchpad for any aspiring student who wants to be a photojournalist as it gives a good and overall view of the world of photojournalism. The final exam at the end of the course can get a serious student a certificate and credits that would help them in their regular UG/PG course.

For me it has served a purpose of adding a meaning to my hobby. Now I want to take photographs that have a purpose.

In the end I would like to thank once again Dr. Radhika Khanna and her team on wonderful designing and execution of this program.

Vinay Kharbanda
Anonymous

Photojournalism course at Pondicherry University stands out as a painstakingly crafted and thoughtfully delivered program. Dr. Radhika Khanna’s curriculum balances theoretical grounding with practical field exposure, enabling students to understand…

Photojournalism course at Pondicherry University stands out as a painstakingly crafted and thoughtfully delivered program. Dr. Radhika Khanna’s curriculum balances theoretical grounding with practical field exposure, enabling students to understand not just how to take compelling photographs, but how to tell powerful stories with empathy and precision. Each module is designed to challenge perspectives, encourage critical observation, and refine technical skills. Her mentorship is deeply engaging—she nurtures individuality while instilling professional discipline and ethical responsibility. Through assignments, critiques, and real-world case studies, students gain confidence in visual storytelling, media literacy, and newsroom readiness. The course truly shapes aspiring journalists into sensitive, socially aware image-makers who can capture truth beyond the frame. A highly recommended program for anyone serious about photojournalism.
Aditya Singh

This is a very well designed and well conducted course. The learning outcomes are real. The interviews with the industry-leading experts offer great learning insights and really help in improving one's skills. The live interactions with the experts…

This is a very well designed and well conducted course. The learning outcomes are real.
The interviews with the industry-leading experts offer great learning insights and really help in improving one's skills.
The live interactions with the experts and other students offer unique learning opportunities.
Dr. Radhika Khanna, the course coordinator, goes out of the way to encourage all the students and she ensures that they are all kept well engaged. That is a key element of this course.
The photography practical assignments and the course's photo contest are a wonderful way of putting one's learnings into practice.
I am really happy to have been a part of this course. This is, undoubtedly, among the best courses on SWAYAM.
Kudos...!
Anonymous

"Great experience learning Photojournalism on Swayam! The course content is top-notch and very easy to follow. Special thanks to the coordinator, Dr. Radhika Khanna, for being so supportive throughout the journey. Her expertise really shines through in the video lessons.
I'd love to see more specialized topics like Operational/Defence photography in the future. Also, a bit more flexibility in the NTA exam process would be a plus. Definitely worth joining!"

AMBRISH KUMAR RAI
Anonymous

This photojournalism course has been a wonderful learning experience for me. It not only strengthened my photography skills but also changed the way I look at everyday life and news. I learned how to capture emotions, document reality, and tell stories that matter. The guidance from the instructors and the practical assignments motivated me to push my limits. I am truly grateful for this course and highly recommend it to aspiring photojournalists.
Anonymous

This is the first time I am attending Radhika Madam's online course. I can see a lot of depth and sincerity in this course. The lessons are beautifully and systematically prepared. I recommend this course to anyone in the world. This is such a wonderful course. The experiences of the best photographers are also directly communicated to us.
Anonymous

It's awesome experience as I go through lessons to this course. It's unexpected really. course starts at lesson 1 to week 15, a well arranged video shot presented by CEC and EMRC.
Anonymous

Respected Radhika Ma'am
It was a great course. Gives technical knowledge about photography and photojournalism. The Course is online which is very good to join while on job. The learners must encourage the youngester who want his/her career in the field of journalism, to join this course. I would be recommending atleast 10 person to join this beautiful course. Good course content innd the form of video and links. I wish next year registration will be doubled as of this year. Good wishes to the entire team behind this course.
Thanks
With regards
Manoj Bishnoi
Soukhik Sarkar
2

If anyone is passionate about learning new things and photography this course will work as a knowledge booster. I just completed this course and I enjoyed it a lot. We started learning from abcd of photography and ended up how it even works professionally. Expert faculties and renowned photographers from different genres will guide you and the course ordinator Dr. Radhika mam will support you and interact with you at every stage of this course. It was a lovely experience to be a part of this lesson.
Venkat Kasturi

at the outset, the entire course reflects the passion of professor radhika khanna, who has painstakingly put together a wealth of knowledge, study materials, interactions with best of photography professionals for a great learning experience. the e…

at the outset, the entire course reflects the passion of professor radhika khanna, who has painstakingly put together a wealth of knowledge, study materials, interactions with best of photography professionals for a great learning experience.

the entire course structure was well laid out, planned methodically which facilitated a gradual progress and a smooth progression to the next level. each lesson had a questionnaire to test the grasp of knowledge and also an assignment to test the levels of understanding of the technical aspects of photography. the photo assignments were very exciting, giving the students a chance to explore the skills of communication with subjects and improving the skills of using the camera. the photo contest was a novel idea.

the most outstanding aspect of the course was the interviews with leading photographers and photo editors who shared a wealth of knowledge from their vast experience in a nutshell.
their experiences and guidance were of immense help in understanding the nuances of photojournalism and photography.

i stumbled upon this course by chance. i am very glad that i came across this course and i have already signed up for another course on swayam in the line of my interest.

i express my appreciation to all the people involved in putting together this course, developing the course content, contributors, and especially to professor radhika khanna for her efforts.

k venkatachalam
Anonymous

Photojournalism is a very nice course, I have pursued. It has given me immense knowledge regarding photography. Writing with light and technicalities involved in it was really a completely new knowledge and new experience for me. The experiences shared by different photojournalists are very motivating and an eye-opener to the young generation who want to opt for photojournalism as a carrier.
Msusj1997
1

Overall I really like this class because all lectures, assignments, and tests are straight forward. A couple things I dislike about the class are that there should be more opportunities for extra credit and it would be awesome if the final was an objective essay about what we have learned in this class or what we like about the class. I believe that I have more knowledge about ocean, weather, and marine lives and hopefully, I can use them in real life.
Anonymous

The Photojournalism Course is an outstanding intiative by Sawam. This is very useful for the Photojournalist professionals and also who are planning to pursue this as a career. The course module was beautifully designed with coherence and lucid lang…

The Photojournalism Course is an outstanding intiative by Sawam. This is very useful for the Photojournalist professionals and also who are planning to pursue this as a career. The course module was beautifully designed with coherence and lucid language to understand easily. A special thanks to Course Coordinator Madam Dr. Radhika Khanna who has put her sincere efforts relentlessly to help out each and every students on their queries throughout the course. The video lessons taken by Dr. Radhika Ma'am were also very helpful.
I must admit that I was so happy by seeing outline of this course, I along with my 19 yrs twin (Son-Daughter) completed this course and appeared for NTA exam. Amazing experience to give CBT mode exam with own children in same exam hall.
At the end, I want to add 2 suggestions
(A) NTA exam time n exit option to be reviewed
(B) Defence Photography/ Operational Photography lessons can be added.
Thanks & Regards,
SN Acharya, J&K
Anonymous

Well organised and valuable course for young photojournalist. Thanks for all d efforts taken by the co ordinator.
Anonymous

The Photojournalism Course is an outstanding intiative by Sawam. This is very useful for the Photojournalist professionals and also who are planning to pursue this as a career. The course module was beautifully designed with coherence and lucid language to understand easily. A special thanks to Course Coordinator Madam Dr. Radhika Khanna who has put her sincere efforts relentlessly to help out each and every students on their queries throughout the course. The video lessons taken by Dr. Radhika Ma'am were also very helpful. At the end, I want to add 2 suggestions
(A) NTA exam time n exit option to be reviewed
(B) Defence Photography/ Operational Photography lessons can be added.
Thanks & Regards,
SN Acharya, J&K
Anonymous

It was a wonderful experience to have photo journalism course through the SWAYAM platform.The course content was wonderfully designed and delivered.The theory classes online were very good and followed by practical photography assignments strengthen our knowledge alot.In a nutshell it was great experience for me learning the basics from experienced faculty.I thank all of my teachers and resource persons of the course .I personally thank prof. Radhika Khanna for coordinating and organising a wonderful course.
Thank you once again.
P S Venkatesh
Student,
Photojournalism course
July-23 session.
Anonymous

This course is wonderful platform to learn all about photojournalism . This course is divided into several short videos and academic scripts that is easy to follow and one can learn at one’s own pace . Also , the written and practical assignments are fun and easy to follow . The video content had lot of expert from the field who gave practical knowledge of what are the dos and fonts as a journalist. It also gave insight on the career path as a journalist.