Srinagar, May 15 -- This wasn't just another academic field trip. It was a glimpse into the living, breathing heart of the media industry they are preparing to enter.

The visit, part of IUST's "Industry Connect" initiative, took the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication students into two influential newsrooms: Kashmir Observer, one of the region's most-read English dailies, and The Hindu, a national paper with a strong presence in Kashmir.

The experience was designed to show students what their future might look like, and how to get there.

Inside Kashmir Observer's office, students didn't just tour the premises. They sat across from senior editors, online journalists, and visual designers who broke down the real-world mechani...