Panel explores media influence

Mushahid Hussain calls for coordinated media strategy to address emerging challenges

Speakers in a seminar shed light on pressing global and national challenges posed by media influence, including the rise of misinformation, the weaponisation of narratives, and the role of social media as an alternative to mainstream platforms. They collectively stressed the urgent need for digital literacy, media regulation reforms, and the cultivation of critical thinking to navigate the evolving media landscape.

The seminar titled, 'Decoding Media Influence: Global Perspectives on Information Perception and Society,' was organised by the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR) on Monday. Experts from academia, media, and public policy discussed the profound impact of media on shaping societal and political landscapes in an increasingly interconnected world.

Moderated by Dr Shabana Fayyaz, Associate Professor at Quaid-e-Azam University, the seminar featured a distinguished panel, including Ex. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Dr Nazir Hussain, Air Marshal (retd) Farhat Hussain, Ex. Information minister Murtaza Solangi, media expert Dr Furqan Rao, and investigative journalist Fakhar Kakakhel.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed highlighted the EU Disinfo lab's role in exposing India's global propaganda campaigns, citing examples like the activities of ANI and the Srivastava Group. He noted the transformative power of Western media in shaping historical and contemporary events, from the 1953 Iranian coup to the Iraq War. Reflecting on the shifting dynamics of media during the 2024 US elections, Senator Hussain called for a coordinated media strategy in Pakistan to address emerging challenges.

In his keynote address, Air Marshal (Ret.) Farhat Hussain underscored the necessity of exploiting Indian vulnerabilities that are often masked as strengths through media manipulation. He called for equipping individuals with critical thinking skills to discern truth from propaganda and recommended rationalised media regulations to manage the cross-border influence of media narratives.

In her opening remarks, IICR Executive Director, Sabah Aslam, emphasised the critical relationship between media, public perception, and societal outcomes. She underscored the importance of fostering media literacy, promoting critical thinking, and encouraging responsible media consumption, particularly among youth.

Dr Furqan Rao warned against the dangers of political hate speech, which he said exacerbates social and cultural divisions. He advocated for a multidisciplinary approach to address media-related challenges and highlighted the need for widespread media information literacy to create an informed populace.

Murtaza Solangi delved into the essence of journalism, advocating for the public's right to know. He identified corporate influence, market forces, and non-state actors as significant challenges to media independence. He emphasised the global epidemic of misinformation, stressing the importance of digital literacy to combat fake news and prevent the suppression of voices through censorship.

Fakhar Kakakhel pointed to the proliferation of "keyboard warriors" and the Western-backed spread of misinformation, linking these issues to efforts to undermine Pakistan's progress, particularly regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He called for better mechanisms to address the digital chaos resulting from censorship and misinformation.