ICAN6 to bring out Bhopal declaration on Media Literacy: Prof Suresh

ICAN6 to bring out Bhopal declaration on Media Literacy: Prof Suresh

Eminent international scholars deliberated on ‘Identity, Culture, Agenda Driven and Newscast’

Bhopal, 21^st July, 2023: Vice Chancellor Prof KG Suresh said media literacy is the solution to curb fake content and fake narrative on social media and conventional media platforms. Every citizen in this country should be made media literate because right from the age of five years to 95, he or she is getting exposed to media. People are exposed to over doze of information that is called infodemic. The conference will bring out ‘Bhopal Declaration on Media Literacy’. Soon, a drafting committee will be formed to prepare the draft of the declaration that will be circulated to government and media institutions.

Prof Suresh was addressing opening session of ICAN6 International Conference, organised under the joint aegis of DME College and Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal on Friday. Prof Suresh said, time had come for cooperation and collaboration between academic institutions only then we can share experiences and knowledge. Research carried out in two or three percent population in the USA cannot be implemented in India on 140 crore people. We should have scientific research. Students and teachers should have exposure to current paradigm of research. He said, media have focused on health and education related issues post Covid. People have renewed interest in health related problems. Cross media ownership, media objectivity and corporate agenda of media are the other issues where academicians must have deliberations.

In the panel discuss on media literacy, Diwakar Shukla, Dean, Jagran Lake City University, said virality of fake content is a challenge. Dr Kiran Bala, Professor of Manav Rachna University, said people used to get medicine and treatment on their own following doctors’ advice on social media platforms. It was very risky. Dr Jyotika Ramaprasad, professor of Miami University, USA, said parents need to make aware of posting of their children’s pictures on social media. Dr Ambrish Saxena explained the need of media literacy and education for journalists and students. Prof Ujjwal Chowdhury highlighted various tools to check and curb fake content on social media.

Prof Saxena, Dean of DME media school shed light on objectives of the conference. Dr Sushmita Bala informed that 24 books had been published in ICAN international conferences so far. Around 45 research papers were presented in three parallel technical sessions in the second half of the conference. Garima Patel conducted the proceedings. Dr Pavitra Shrivastav welcomed the guests. Registrar Dr Avinash Bajpai and Manasvi Maheshwari proposed the vote of thanks.

Yoga now became soft power for India: Prof Chowdhury

Prof Ujjwal Chowdhury, Strategic advisor of Daffodil International University, Bangladesh, said Bollywood movies were earlier soft power for India abroad. But, Yoga has now become soft power for India. Yoga was known earlier, but the government granted institutional character to it by getting introduced International Yoga Day on June 21 with support of UNO platform. Speaking on ‘culture, identity and global media: myths and reality’, he said Indian and Bollywood movies have massive following abroad and has promoted Indian talent across the globe. India’s entertainment industry is experiencing rapid growth in various sectors, including television, web series, and streaming platforms. In the opening session, Prof Ramaprasad said communication is soft science and it should be taught with all subjects.