A symposium on “Fake News and Propaganda in the Post Truth Era” was organised by Media Department, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Delhi and Haryana on 16 March at JIH Headquarters to make journalists, mass media students, media-savvy personalities and common people aware about changing dynamics of fake news, its impact and challenges and to find out ways and means to deal with the situation.
Nusrat Ali, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, who was presiding over the symposium, said we have seen the changing paradigms of news, fake news, propaganda machinery and the manufacturing of the false narrative from modernism to post modernism, industrial revolution, clash of civilization and from US elections to Brexit. In the post-truth era, a public opinion is being made by overshadowing fact with Aastha. The possible reactions are that of depression or aggression, and aggression is more dangerous than depression. People should be proactive and need to come out of their shell to counter the false narrative that some people are trying to build up.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Waheed, Amir Halqua of Delhi and Haryana Zone said the fourth pillar of democracy has become the fifth pillar and money has taken the position of the fourth pillar and the practice of fake news has always been there in one form or the other.
Syed Nazakat, founder and CEO of DataLEADS, through a power point presentation highlighted all the nitty-gritty of fake news, its socio-political impact, challenges and way forward to deal with the emerging situation.
Shadab Moizee, senior correspondent with The Quint, said we become mute spectators when we come across fake news; we neither verify nor express our resentment and keep ignoring such contents. Simply talking about it or holding programmes or symposia may not be sufficient unless and until we counter fake news and we don’t allow them to set false narrative based on fake news and propaganda. He asked the people to be proactive and counter the fake news by setting up some parallel platforms.
Anil Chamadia, Editor of Mass Media and Jan Media while addressing the symposium said fake news in varied forms, names have always existed, but it has suddenly increased. He said the technology has expedited the speed of fake news but it is important to understand the philosophy behind fake news and the kind of reaction they want to manufacture out of fake news. Journalism is not an extension of the government but rather a universal institution and journalists should not become an extension of the government or part of the propaganda manufacturing machines.
Qasim Syed, editor of Roznama Khabrein said manufacturing and spread of fake news are done by the people and at the government level as well and it has been practised since ages. Mr. Muhammad Asif Iqbal, Media Secretary JIH Delhi and Haryana, presented the historical perspective of fake news.