Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 8
A regional seminar at Clark Theological College, Aolijen jointly organized by Clark Communication and Cultural Research Centre (CCCRC) and Clark Centre for Peace Research and Action (CCPRA) on the theme, ‘New Media Challenges and Alternatives: Towards Peace Journalism’ is scheduled to be held January 16 to 18, 2019 at Clark Theological College.
The seminar will gather resource persons specialized in different field of study where dialogues, discussions and thematic inputs will provide enriching experience for all of the participants.
According to the concept note, the explosion and impact of New Media on individuals, communities and social movements in the recent years, coupled by the role and practice of citizen journalism through New Media, poses serious concern for peace activists, as well as for media practitioners, who are committed towards peace making in public spheres. Main reason being this - New Media has had game changing consequences both in the practice of Journalism and its bearing on discourses in public spheres.
“We are living witness to the different kinds of Journalism in the aftermath of New Media explosion like facebook, twitter, youtube, blogging, Instagram, whatsapp, etc., and its consequences on matters of community, local, state, national and global concerns. More so, what did it have to tell us about Journalism itself?” the note maintained.
It stated that obviously, there is both glorification as well as popularization of citizen journalism. As the use of smart phones and tablets skyrocketed, the ability to write, take photographs and make videos and circulate it around the world instantaneously without any constrains, unconsciously and even consciously, has empowered consumers of information to become producers. “Calculate the amount of texts, photos and videos you receive and send everyday through your smart phones, and you’ll understand the stake at hand,” it added.
This revolution in communication encompasses all levels of society. How so? Much often, such Journalism has value bias towards violence and violent groups; value bias towards “the other” such as age, race, gender, culture, language, and religion. As positively powerful as can be, it can multiply fake news and visuals, thus generating irreparable hatred in public spheres. There is, therefore, the need for a breed of journalism that aims to correct these biases. In some way, a Peace Journalism – a Journalism that focuses on conflict solution, a Journalism that is conflict sensitive, and Journalism that promotes constructive conflict coverage and reporting.
“Peace - Can it merely imply to the absence of war or conflict or justice delivered? Journalism – Can be like a double edged sword giving complementary but contrasting outcomes,” it paused.
Taking into consideration, the complexities involved in both terms, the seminar is organized under the theme “New Media Challenges and Alternatives: Towards Peace Journalism” with an objective to bring together theological educators, communication scholars and media practitioners from all over the region of North East India and deliberate from different perspectives such as, politics, social responsibility, social justice, risk taking and patriotism, lessons from social movements like Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street, and further advance possibilities of participation and empowerment through citizen journalism, contesting New Media power through integration as well as through alternative media.
The resource persons include Dr. Samuel Meshack, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, President, World Association for Christian Communication, Canada, Pro Chancellor, Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong; Dr. John Mohan Razu, Professor of Social Ethics, Coordinator, Research Unit at Indian Social Institute (ISI), Bangalore; Dr. Peter Singh, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Dean of Doctoral Studies, Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Visiting Professor, Kamaraj University, Madurai; Dr. Lanusenla, Associate Professor in Communication and Media Studies, Gossner Theological College, Ranchi, Jharkhand; Butesen Ozüküm, Communication Officer, NEICORD, Shillong; Dr. A. Temjen Jamir, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, Academic Dean, Clark Theological College.
Some of the topics on which the resource persons will dwelt are conceptualizing New Media Power; Ethics and Moral Reasoning in the Age of New Media; New Media Politics and Social Responsibility; Media Practitioners and Social Justice; Towards Peace Journalism: Contesting New Media Power through Alternative Media; Towards Peace Journalism: Participation and Empowerment; Social Movements in the New Media Age: Lessons from the Occupy Wall Street & Arab Spring; Towards Peace Journalism: Contesting New Media Power through Integration.
