User:Shivani136/sandbox

Ms PN Vasanti is the Director General of Centre for Media Studies and is responsible for overseeing all initiatives and management. She specializes in strategy development, designing, researching and evaluating development communication initiatives. Vasanti is a PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University on media studies and has double Masters degrees in Psychology and Management.

She often gives talks, lectures, writes on the current Media Scene and Trends in India. Use of Mass Communication in Development Programs; Role and Impact of Mass media; Communication Research; Behavior Change Communication and Entertainment Education Strategy. Ms. Vasanti has been an active advocate for more accountable media and been part of the Ministry Committee in drafting the Content Guidelines for the Broadcast Sector.

She has been involved in developing the research agenda, design, methodologies and actually conducting the exhaustive research across the country. She has been closely involved in most of the development communication initiatives in India especially the ones relating to experimentation with ‘entertainment education’ strategy. She is contributing in the ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission or Clean India program of Government of India by undertaking an All India (for all 36 State/UTs) study – Situational Analysis and communications Needs Assessment of SBM. She is also leading the program to promote accurate reporting of climate change science and adaptation measures in the Indian Himalayas, the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) and the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The overall objective of the programme is to trigger interest in climate change, sustainability and livelihood issues among journalists, editors and media houses in the region.

Ms. Vasanti was part of the European Union Appraisal and Support Mission to the Government of Rajasthan for developing and implementing their water sector reforms and communication campaign. She led CMS as the regional research partner in Asia for Communication for Change (CCHANGE), a five-year $175 million global initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D) and working across sectors to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of communication as an integral part of development efforts. She has been closely associated with the programs related to climate change specifically in Northeastern India.

Besides, research projects, she has also planned, led and implemented innovative program initiatives like CMS VATAVARAN – Asia’s largest International film festival and forum on environment and wildlife – in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and with the support of agencies like Confederation of Indian Industry, Zee TV and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). CMS VATAVARAN is today an important international forum engaging wide range of stakeholders – including youth, children, policy & program makers, media, scientists and film makers.

As Director General and also Board Member of the CMS Managing Board, Ms. Vasanti have played a critical role in its development and achievements. Though CMS’s original thrust was to focus on media strategies, motivation and communication (IEC) trends, she was responsible for expanding its horizon of activities to include social, environmental and developmental issues. CMS clientele today includes major International agencies, civil society groups and Governments. 

Ms. Vasanti is also an Adviser to number of Organisations, including Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, National Commission on Protection of Child Rights, and Advertising Standards Council of India. She has also been a part of the teams selected in India by WhatsApp to curb fake news . She has been vocal about the child rights and related issues in the field of journalism.