At Xavier Institute of Communications, 25 journalism students created Mumbai Minutes, a broadsheet built from scratch through real newsroom-style reporting, editing, and design under journalist Seema Kamdar.

Mumbai: At Xavier Institute of Communications a group of 25 journalism students has quietly done something many newsrooms would recognise as no small feat they have put together a broadsheet from scratch. Titled Mumbai Minutes, the student-led publication is the result of weeks of reporting, editing, and collaboration under the Visiting facult and senior journalist Seema Kamdar.

What makes this effort stand out is its intent. Instead of routine assignments or recycled topics, the students were pushed to think like reporters in a real newsroom. “This year, I told them we are going to do hardcore news reporting and build a proper broadsheet,” Kamdar said, explaining the shift from earlier formats where students filed individual stories for tabloids.

The brief was clear which is to find stories that haven’t already been told. Each student was asked to pitch two original ideas, stories that were relevant, underreported, and rooted in the city. After rounds of discussion and refinement, one idea per student was approved. From there, the process mirrored a professional newsroom like stepping out into the field, speaking to sources, and developing the story.

For Shambhavi Dixit, a student of Journalism and Media Convergence, the experience went beyond classroom learning. “It was a great experience as I learned many new things like designing and reporting and writing the story as fast as I can. It gave us a feeling of having a byline in a newspaper,” she said, adding that the process taught her the importance of in-depth reporting. “It’s not only writing but going deeper into the story is where the real work lies.”