Democracy and Demagoguery in the Age of Digital Media

DISCUSSION  ? SEMINAR ROOMS I TO III, KAMALADEVI COMPLEX AT 18:30

 

Panelists: Naresh Fernandes, Editor, Scroll.in; Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor, The Caravan magazine; Seema Mustafa, Editor, The Citizen; and Madhu Trehan, Editor-in-Chief, Newslaundry.com

 

Moderator: Kanak Mani Dixit, Founding Editor, Himal Southasian

 

The media’s job of checking those in power is more urgent than ever in light of the political developments in Southasia and beyond. The words ‘post-truth’ and ‘alternative facts’, so prominent now following the US elections and the rise of demagogues in our part of the world, implies the flattening of all distinctions between opinion, facts and truth claims. What is the role of media in this environment? Given the excessive control wielded by corporate conglomerates over Indian media, and given that print seems to be imperilled everywhere, are there more creative ways to fund the journalistic enterprise, keeping in mind media independence? Are subscriber based models the future now? And how do we do this amidst trolls and the rise of fake news?

 

(Collaboration: Himal Southasian, Kathmandu)