Teachings

Teaching Philosophy

I see teaching as an evolving process of experimentation and reflection, where both the educator and the students are learners. I firmly believe that the best teaching happens when educators remain open to learning from their students—recognizing the classroom as a shared space of knowledge production.

Teaching Experience

  1. Tampere University, Finland (2023) – Guest Workshop Instructor: Conducted a hands-on workshop on fact-checking tools, verification techniques, and digital literacy.
  2. Tampere University, Finland (2025 ongoing) – Course Designer: Designing a course on Sensory Ethnography for Media Studies and Journalism students.
  3. upGrad (Mumbai & Chandigarh University, India, 2020-Present) – Subject Matter Expert & Senior Instructor: Designed and delivered online courses for Master’s programs.
  4. AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, India (2021) – Course Instructor (Graduate Teaching): Taught CBCS skill-based course on Digital Forensics and Fact-Checking.
  5. Sharda University, Greater Noida, India (2020) – Assistant Professor: Taught Master’s students and managed accreditation documentation.
  6. Delhi School of Communication, New Delhi, India (2016-17) – Faculty: Delivered investigative journalism module.
  7. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Eastern Region), Dhenkanal, India (2015) – Teaching/Academic Associate: Taught investigative journalism and assisted with academic coordination.

Supervision and Guidance

  1. Mentored students on field-based assignments and story verification projects in various roles.
  2. Guided student investigations during hands-on modules at Jamia Millia Islamia, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, and during the fact-checking workshop at Tampere.

Development of Teaching and Pedagogical Competence

  1. Course development for Sensory Ethnography integrates ethnographic filmmaking, participatory observation, and reflexive writing methods.
  2. Designed interactive online courses tailored to adult learners and working professionals (upGrad).
  3. Contributed to curriculum and teaching development through cross-cultural teaching experiences in different higher educational institutions.

Teaching Materials

  1. Developed practical toolkits for fact-checking (browser plugins, geolocation, reverse image search).
  2. Created video-based lectures and multimedia case studies for both online and in-person delivery.
  3. Designing new teaching materials for the Sensory Ethnography course: includes camera exercises, field diaries, and audio-visual analysis.

Student Feedback

  1. Consistently received positive informal feedback for clarity, enthusiasm, and applied learning approach.
  2. Workshop at Tampere University appreciated for being highly interactive, hands-on, and immediately applicable to journalism students’ workflows.

Other Teaching Merits

  1. Delivered an invited lecture on International Journalism in University of Missouri (United States) in February 2023.
  2. Invited as a guest lecturer to several universities across India to speak on a range of topics related to media and conflict, including ethical reporting, propaganda, digital warfare, and post-conflict journalism over the span of 15 years.
  3. Apart from courses in educational institutions, delivered more than 40 trainings and workshops on environmental justice, journalism and human rights, critical thinking and media literacy in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Certifications

  1. Trainer (since Oct 2020): FactShala India Media Literacy Network, by DataLeads, Google News Initiative & Internews.
  2. Trainer (since Jan 2021): Fact-check & Media Literacy, by Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) & Google News Initiative.
  3. Trainer (since July 2022): Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, by WAN-IFRA, Women in News, and AAJA.

Featured image: Facilitating a two-day workshop on Climate Change Reporting for Bhutanese journalists in Paro as part of Bhutan Media Foundation’s project to build media capacity, supported by United Nations Development Programme’s GEF Small Grants Programme and in partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan. The training brought together reporters, editors, and a UNDP Bhutan team, with a special Q&A session led by UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus.