(ANS – Kolkata) – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Standing Committee which met in Bangalore, April 25-27, appointed media trainer Fr. George Plathottam, Secretary, CBCI Office for Social Communications, as the new Director of the National Institute of Social Communications Research and Training.

The appointment of Fr Plathottam as director comes in the wake of the death of Jesuit Fr Srampickal SJ on April 14. Fr. Srampickal was scheduled to take charge as director in June. Salesian Fr. Plathottam who belongs to Guwahati province has been serving as the Secretary of the CBCI-OSC since 2008. He will continue to hold the responsibility of the national office as well as head NISCORT.

Fr Plathottam holds a PhD in Communications from North Eastern Hill University, Shillong and has three Masters degrees in theology, sociology, and journalism & mass communications. He has served as Director of the Mass Media Department in St Anthony’s College, Shillong, and president of Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA). A long time member of the international committee of consulters on communications of the Salesian Society, he has authored several books and articles on media.

He is the third Director of NISCORT and will succeed Fr. Jude Botelho in June 2012.

NISCORT, situated in Vaishali in the National Capital Region of Delhi, offers three Masters’ Degrees and several diploma and certificate courses in communications.  During the past fifteen years the centre has trained several media professionals including priests, religious and lay leaders in pastoral communication.

Published 08/05/2012