As part of our curriculum to understand the inner workings of the media and journalism industry, Senior secondary students had the incredible opportunity to visit The Indian Express printing press located in Ambattur, Chennai. The visit provided an in-depth look at how one of India’s most respected newspapers is brought to life every single day, from the editorial decisions to the high-speed printing presses.
Students got a first-hand look at how news stories are compiled, edited, and laid out before being sent to print. It was fascinating to observe how software tools are used to finalize the design of each page, with attention to headlines, images, advertisements, and article alignment. The highlight of the tour was witnessing the rotary printing machines in action. These massive machines can print thousands of copies in an hour. Students were amazed at the speed and precision involved, from loading giant paper rolls to the final folded newspaper. Besides the technical side, students also had a brief Q&A session with one of the editorial team members. They spoke about the challenges of modern journalism, fact-checking, and adapting to the digital age.
This session gave students a deeper appreciation for responsible journalism and the importance of media literacy. This trip reminded the students of the importance of credible journalism and the invisible yet indispensable machinery behind every printed word.
