In the present work, we have synthesized an iron-decorated graphitic carbon nitride (Fe@g-C3N4) composite and employed it for electrochemical sensing of ciprofloxacin (CFX). The physicochemical characteristics of the Fe@g-C3N4 composite were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX) spectroscopy methods. Further, the pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified with Fe@g-C3N4 composite to get PGE/Fe@g-C3N4 electrode and characterized the resultant electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was employed to determine the effect of concentration and interferents. The modified PGE/Fe@g-C3N4 electrode demonstrated the exceptional electrochemical performance for CFX identification and quantification with a LOD of 5.4 nM, a wide linear range of 0.001-1.0 µM, and high sensitivity of 0.0018 µA mM-1 cm-2. Besides, Fe@g-C3N4 modified PGE showed remarkable recovery results in qualitative analysis of CFX in human blood specimens. This research advocates that the Fe@g-C3N4 composite acts as an excellent transducer material in the electrochemical sensing of CFX in blood and standard samples. Further, the proposed strategy deduces that the PGE/Fe@g-C3N4 sensor can be a prospective candidate for the dynamic determination of CFX in blood serum and possibly ratified as an exceptional drug sensor for therapeutic purposes.

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Journalism and Mass Communication (J&MC) education in India has traversed a long way and is yet to find a firm footing in the academic matrix. History apart, there are many issues that concern the educators, professionals and students. These issues range from curriculum design and development to developing a viable and constant relationship with the media industry that has outpaced the growth of the education sector, particularly in the university system. Utilizing a variety of sources spanning from documents pertaining to the discipline published by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to senior academicians who developed many programmes in various Indian universities and abroad to forums where the academia and the professionals have met and debated the concerns, this article provides a review and critique as it has evolved over the years. The recent spurt of Media backed J&MC schools is also referred to where their claim of turning out better professionals is weighed against the older university system. Drawing from surveys and studies in which the author was involved, alumni and industry perspectives are also offered. KeywordsJournalism, Mass Communication, Media in India, J&MC education in India, History of J&MC education Getting StartedJournalism education in India is nearing its platinum jubilee year, if one takes into account the formal attempts to start journalism education at Punjab University in 1941. P.P. Singh 1 took this initiative and guided the first journalism department in Lahore, then in Delhi and later in Chandigarh. A fierce defendant of journalism education, Singh survived the criticism and continued to encourage the setting up of departments in various universities. Despite the enthusiasm of people such as Singh, the growth of journalism and mass communication (J&MC) education in India continues to be plagued by problems and concerns-much of it coming from the media industry. One of the major problems of J&MC education was that being a part of the university system it had to situate itself in the academic mould with stated norms for nomenclature, curriculum inputs, evaluation criteria, infrastructure and faculty resources.

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The work illustrates the development of an electrochemical sensor for quantification of catechol (CTL) by modifying the pencil graphite electrode (PGE) with copper-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Cu@g-C3N4) nanosheets. The sheet-like graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) wa synthesized by pyrolysis of urea, which was further doped with metallic copper to obtain Cu@g-C3N4. The synthesized Cu@g-C3N4 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The Cu@g-C3N4 suspension was drop-cast onto PGE to constitute PGE/Cu@g-C3N4 working electrode. The developed electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and further employed for detection and quantification of CTL. The electrochemical investigation of the developed sensor showed enhanced activity toward electro-oxidation of CTL. Differential pulse voltammetry studies revealed superior sensor characteristics such as sensitivity (0.1487 μA μM−1 cm−1), selectivity, broad linear range (100–900 μM), and limit of detection (LOD) (15.12 μM). The study benchmarks the use of Cu@g-C3N4 as an excellent transducer material in electrochemical sensing of CTL in tea and standard samples, thus proving its potential application in the analysis of CTL in food and environmental samples.