Mr Susanta Pal, a PhD student at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed to be University (KSMC), presented a research paper at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2026 conference at the University of Galway, Ireland, from 28 June to 2 July 2026.
Mr Pal’s paper, “God in the Newspapers: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Letters to the Editor on Odisha’s Sacred Shrines” critically examines how letter to the editors published in major Odia dailies, specifically Sambad, Samaj, and Dharitri, shape and influence public discourse regarding the sacred shrines of the state. The presentation drew significant interest from the global academic community, receiving valuable feedback from scholars across the continents.
Reflecting on his experience, Mr Pal stated, “It was an enriching experience to engage with scholars from across the globe. The constructive feedback from the panelists has significantly strengthened my research. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor Dr Bidu Bhusan Dash, the Dean of KSOFT, KSFMS and KSMC, Dr Rajeev Kumar Panda, and the faculty members at KSMC for their unwavering support throughout this journey.”
Notably, KSMC has maintained a consistent track record of participation at IAMCR conferences over the years. Previously, Dr Sananda Mukherjee, Ms Chinmoyee Deka and Dr Bidu Bhusan Dash have presented their work at Lyon, France (2023), Christchurch, New Zealand (2024), and Singapore (2025).
Established in 1957, IAMCR is widely recognized as the world’s leading academic association in media and communication studies. The 2026 edition brought together scholars from 96 countries, featuring more than 1,700 research papers across 400 sessions. Mr Pal’s participation provided an important platform to showcase the research excellence of KSMC on an international stage while fostering global collaborations.
