2. Communication and Media
systems
We communicate to other beings and
other beings communicate with us through
various forms, means and types.
Intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, mass,
extra-personal, folk, community
communication
Newspapers, Radio, Television, books,
journals, pamphlets, writings, computers,
video, audio cassettes, drums and so on.
Seeing, tasting, listening, feeling, smelling
and so on are acts of receiving and
communicating.
3. What are Media?
Media – mass media; folk media; group
media; community media; personal
media
Mass Media – books, magazines,
newspapers, radio, television, internet,
ads….
Media – loud speakers, pamphlets,
computers, folk media, wall writings, cell
phones, letters….
4. Media as Social institution
Media play different roles – such as
teacher, priest, parents – reflect,
reinforce, mediate, promote, impose,
spin – values, ideologies worldviews and
attitudes…
Media – a centre for power, profit-
making, influence, information,
entertainment, socialization,
globalization …
Media as part of social structure –
interdependent and interactive with the
political process at local, national and
5. Communication and Media
Medium shapes the message…,
Media are the extensions of human
being – Marshall McLuhan
Television has replaced the role of
teachers, parents and priests in
promoting values and socializing the
children – Gregor Goethals
Communication is different from
media; all that advanced technology
of communication do not necessarily
6. Concept of Mass
Creation of mass and mass culture
Construction of public sphere and
segmentation
Public regulation and private control
New language – audio-visual and
convergent Word
Freedom VS Control
Bias VS Objective reporting
Individual VS Public interest
7. Critique of the Media
Media Construct Reality for us
Media have certain ideological and
value messages
Media have social and political
implications
Form and content are closely related
in the media
Each medium has a unique aesthetic
form
9. A Muslim Moghul AKbar Built-
Church in Delhi
Dialogue is communication between
two persons or communities
Dialogue is two way communication
Dialogue is participatory
Dialogue is liberative
Saha Navavathu Saha Navbunakthu
May He (God) protect us both together
May He nourish us both together
Sahaviryam Karavavahai May we both work together with great
energy
Thejasvi Navadhithamasthu May our study be vigorous and effective
Ma vidvishavahai May we not hate each other
11. Jeeva Marga (Path of life
together) – examples are -
Duyog Ramadan [Fitzgerald
2004:2]
Karma Marga (Path of action
together) - Annaprasadha
(sharing of food). – Bangalore
Guru PrabhakarJi – World
Conference on Religion and
Peace has contributed towards
the setting up of an inter-
religious council in Sarajevo and
also a similar one Sierra Leone
Jnana and Dhyana Marga – The
12. KARMA MARGA – Path of action
ANNAPRASADHA
JNANA MARGA – The Path
of Intellectual discussion
BHAKTI MARGA – the Path of
Spiritual experience
JEEVA MARGA – The path of
Life -together
Inter-
religious
Dialogue
13. Dialogue with the media Personal
N Pani of Times of India talking
to media and scholars
Asghar Ali
Engineer talking
to Journalists
Dialogue among journalists
and religious scholars
Dialogue in India
Bangladesh
Training
To the
streets
Dialogue in Nepal
14. Dialogue through the media
Rev Solomon Raj’s Art
Jyothi Sahi’s art
Church build like
a Mosque and
Temple in
Dornakal
Dialogue in Nepal
15. Programs in Nepal, Bangladesh,
Indoensia and in India –IR
Communicating Networks between
NGOs and Different Religions
Building
Communities
through the
Net
16. Dialogue for Co-existence
Forthe sake of dialogue neither Christians norHindus should beasked tochangetheirfaith
orbeliefs
Thebasic purpose dialogue at grassrootsis to reducethe suspicion that onecommunity
or personhasabout the other
Accepting the other
Listening to the other
Living together with the other
Dialogue in the
Media
17. Culture of the Internet and Interreligious -
Dialogue Can We learn
High Speed, transfer of huge information,
Interactive Communication
Convergent, hypertext technology – user
friendly
Virtual Self, God and I, Spiritual search
for God (one of the most searched
subject is God; 63% Americans used for
Spiritual purposes) – hiding identity
Popularizing e-church, e-fellowships, E-
interreligious communities?
19. Integrated Approach for inter-
religious Dialogue
Modern Means of Communication
Dialogue at grassroots
Dialogue among Intellectuals
Dialogue among Religious
leaders
Opinion leaders
Interpersonal
Communication
Group Communication
Community
Communication
Inter-religious
communication,
action, experience
and discussion
Initiatives at
seminaries,
churches and
institutions
Fear, suspicion
and so on
21. Media and Politics – Alliance
Media as powerful media making an
impact on the political process
Political parties make an impact on
the society that media reflect the
voices of the political groups
Media and politics are
interdependent
Media and political institutions are
independent aspects of society
24. Media, Myth and Ignorance
Huntington’s thesis on Clash of Civilization
Edward Said’s Clash of Ignorance
Ignorance does not refer to ‘not-knowing the other’ rather
means to ‘knowing more or only the negative side of the
other’. It is often articulated by the vested groups and so
can be identified as ‘articulated ignorance’ of the other.
25. India Today
No of articles
Islam Vs
Hinduism
Terrorism(Isl
amic)Vs
Nationalism
Iconic
clashes -Picts
Colours
(green vs
saffron)
1981 3 7 00
1992 14 21 08
2002 56 73 17
Frontline
No of
articles
Islam Vs
Hinduism
Terrorism
(Islamic)
Vs
Nationalis
m
Iconic
Clashes
Pictures
1995 12 8 3
2002 71 79 17
27. Narratives and Unity
Breaking the narratives of disunity
Distancing the narratives from the
experience of the real self
Looking at the use of the narratives
rather than the rational or emotional
conviction or attachment to it
Deconstructing the narratives with the
intercultural, inter-denominational, inter-
religious interactions
28. Narratives of Disunity
Fear of evil
Stereotypical images of the other
Population explosion - misguided
narratives of the other - other as evil -
monolithic group - with fundamentalist
fixed narratives
Threat from outside that is the other
Population and resource sharing
Grassroots dialogue
29. Narratives of clashes
Clash of Civilizations? - Huntington
Clash of Economic interests? Chomsky
Clash of Fundamentalism? Tariq Ali
Clash of Ignorance? Edward Said
Clash of Ideologies?
Clash of Castes; linguistic chauvinism;
regionalism; racism; religions?
Clash of Powers?
Clash of Egoisms?
31. Contrasts-dilemma in Unity
Unity Vs diversity
Not towards oneness rather towards living
together in peace and harmony
Not accepting a religious pluralism rather
dialogic interactive coexistence
Beyond ness as growing together
Pluralism Vs religious coexistence
Equality Vs differences
Ideological threat - respect for human dignity -
recognising other’s rights
Not eliminating the differences - equality is not
sameness - not discrimination against
32. Contrasts II
Community Vs Individual Freedom
Liberal Vs Cultural protectionism
Neo-liberal prosperity Vs Poverty
Non-violence Vs Oppression
Human dignity/right Vs relationship
Development Vs ecological balance
Evangelism Vs dialogue
33. Lessons for Unity from A
Communication Perspective
Contact, Relationship and
understanding – not communication
is sin
Recognizing ‘Commonness’ of all
Communities building –
Discrimination at all level is wrong –
No culture has evolved without
giving or borrowing from other
cultures – Breaking the barriers -
Denominational - Administrative -
34. ALTERNATIVE
MEDIA
Global to
local
Local to global
Cheap,
available
Effectiveness
Simple, plain
Easy access
to community
Development and social
change Democratic,
participatory
Against mass
media in promoting
culture of peace,
dialogue
Promote communitarian values and Individual
freedom
Inter-cultural
understanding
Purpose
Reaching the mass but
not for profit
Fair representation of minorities,
disabled, refugees…
Taking sides with
poor, labourers in
reporting
Voice of
the
voiceless
Culturally rooted, community building,
inter religious harmony
Praxis
35. Alternative
media
characteristics
Dialogic, democratic,
communitarian, local,
participation
Voice of
voiceless,
minorities
and others
Cheap, easy
access, non-
profit, simple,
non-
professional
Towards
Social
change,
human
dignity
and
development
Intercultural in nature,
culturally rooted, folk
culture, updated
interactive technology
Alternative
perspectives and
practices
Space for
disabled,
HIV/AIDs
infected,
refugees,
Eunuchs, and
less privileged
people
Promote a
culture of
peace and
harmony
36. Possible Alternative Media are posters,
writings on the wall, loud speakers,
postcards, Christmas cards, cards, flannel
boards, pamphlets, tracts, notices boards,
notices, magazines, newspapers, puppets,
slide projectors, audio cassettes, VCDs,
DVDs, Video cassettes, VCRs, television,
computer, websites, Internet, radio and
special training programs and seminars,
fellowship groups, street theatre; some
types are - Christian education, access to
schools, festival programmes, house-visits,
37. Further Possibilities to explore –
- FM Radio Stations in colleges and
Schools for education and awareness
Narrowcasting, community radio…
- Local Cable Channel space or Cable
Channels
- Running a Newspaper for local
community
- Online broadcasting, webhosting,
networking the members of the
church and sending them clips of
songs, messages and information
38. Examples of Alternative Media
Street Theatre Programmes
for HIV/AIDs Awareness
ICT for Development Training
NGOs in Bangladesh
Thailand Training NGOs
