Experts discuss differences between mainstream media and social media; try to search various channels to tackle unethical aspects of news dissemination via media
The Faculty of Humanities of the Forman Christian College University, in collaboration with the Department of Journalism and Media Studies of Norway’s Oslo Metropolitan University, hosted a three-day workshop on peace journalism on the topic of – surviving the social media onslaught: mainstream journalism, peace, and democracy in the transitional societies.
Department of Journalism and Media Studies head Anne Hege Simonsen, academics, students, journalists, and representatives from over 40 universities participated in the workshop. The presenters discussed major differences between mainstream media and social media, trying to find various channels to tackle unethical aspects of news dissemination via media, and how to promote peaceful journalism via these platforms.
Inaugurating the workshop, Faculty of Humanities Dean Dr Altaf Ullah Khan – organizer of the event – addressed ethics and practices of mainstream and social media in Pakistan and the world over. “You have to use the social media platform instead of being used by it,” he said. The importance of language was further elaborated by Dr Firasat Jabeen where she highlighted the juxtaposition Urdu-English press. The first day ended with a statistical briefing by journalist Khalid Khattak on how to balance technology with advancements of social media.
The second day opened with a captivating Question-Answer Session between Dr Altaf Ullah Khan and anchor Rifatullah Khan where they shed light on the topic of reporting in crisis regions, and experiences as a journalist. About his life experiences, Rifatullah Khan addressed numerous factors that journalists face while reporting in the conflict zones. Explaining his journey in conflict reporting, he addressed growing differences between the tribal and foreign journalists along with their organizations and the vice-versa outcomes.
An interactive session was held by Prof Anne Hege Simonsen, in which she grouped the participants and held an interactive session on how to identify the true meanings behind images on media platforms. Dr Savera Shami talked about the main aspects of social capital and how ‘trust’ plays an important factor under this discipline. Talking about social capital and social media, she stated multiple factors leading towards a polarized society and how interaction was an essential element in building stronger bonds and tolerance levels.
The topic of war and its relationship with journalism was also brought forward by Prof Elisabeth Eide. The topic uncovered propaganda and explained a different side of every story with multiple perspectives. Furthermore, the second day was concluded by Dr Jatin Srivastava where he highlighted the importance of following certain jargons and ethics when it comes to media outlets to build and maintain peace in journalism. The last day of the event followed a theme of technology and dealing with social bullying.
Karachi’s Greenwich University visiting faculty Tahira Tariq shared opinion on online harassment and social media. Dr Adeel Ahmed Amir also shared his opinion on conflict resolutions in the digital age. His energizing session focused upon various concepts that come under issues of digital age, mainly the formation and spread of fake and biased news content. Britta Peterson, adviser at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), shared an opinion on structural transformation and the challenges of social media.
The last session was conducted by journalist Shiraz Hasnat, who stated that social media was dominating mainstream media in agenda setting. His presentation mainly discussed various statistics, including the bulletin performance of media channels within the past year. His argument stated that political stability and instability effects the rise and fall in the ratings. Following the session, Dr Altaf Khan appreciated the presence of each participant for attending the three-day workshop on peace and journalism. Certificates were distributed by FCCU Vice Rector Dr Douglas Trimble.
