Two-day conference on “Dialogue, Inclusivity & Peace” brings
together editors, filmmakers, policy experts and students
Pune: The
growing influence of algorithms on news consumption, the real-world dangers of
misinformation, and the challenge of preserving public trust in the age of AI
emerged as key concerns at MIT World Peace University’s (MIT-WPU) 8th
National Conference on Media and Journalism, held in Pune. Organised by the
Department of Media & Communication around the theme “Dialogue, Inclusivity
& Peace,” the two-day conference brought together senior editors,
journalists, filmmakers, legal and policy experts, and advertising professionals
to discuss the evolving responsibilities of media in a rapidly changing
information landscape.
Welcoming the
delegates at the inaugural session, the Vice Chancellor of MIT-WPU said the
university is committed to experiential learning and curriculum innovation so
that students are job-ready from day one. He added that the way journalists
communicate matters, drawing on a verse from the Bhagavad Gita on speech that
is truthful, pleasant and free of agitation.
“The
responsibility now lies with the next generation to shape the future of media
and journalism. Success isn't about publishing first-it is about validating
truth, maintaining credibility, and delivering information that serves society
meaningfully.” Prof. Dr. Raviraja N. Seetharam, Vice Chancellor, MIT-WPU
Delivering the
welcome address, Dr. Abhijit Nair, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at MIT
World Peace University, stressed the core focus of the conference, stating,
'The question before us today is no longer just how we reach people, but how we
earn their trust through undivided, thoughtful attention.'"
The inaugural
session, “The Attention Age: Media, Algorithms and the Battle for Trust,”
was led by Chief Guest Ramesh Menon, author, award-winning journalist,
documentary filmmaker and educator. He said shrinking attention spans and the
rise of algorithms have changed who decides what people read. “The editor has
changed. Today, who is the editor? The editor is an algorithm. And the
algorithm does not ask you, ‘Is this true? Is this important?’ It has only one
thing: ‘Will it hook the reader?’” he said.
Ravi Reddy,
Resident Editor, The Hindu, Hyderabad, said verification matters more than speed in an age
of AI-generated content and deepfakes, and that AI can assist newsrooms but
cannot replace human judgement. “Algorithms measure engagement. Journalism
measures public value’ he said.
The valedictory
session had theme, “Voices, Visions and the Future: Reshaping Media
Discourses.” Chief Guest Dr Meena Sharma, Consulting Editor, News24, was
joined by filmmaker Ashoke Viswanathan and Rajnandini Pawar, First Runner-Up,
Femina Miss India. "The media today faces severe challenges
regarding its credibility, and we must actively work to address them. There
needs to be a conscious effort toward creating high-quality, impactful stories.
Media students should take the lead by working on such stories-whether by
pitching them to established outlets for publication or utilizing social media
and digital platforms to reach the public directly." Dr Meena Sharma,
Consulting Editor, News24
Sound
designer and editor ASGK Teja described how conflicting claims on social media left him confused,
and how he turned back to his daily newspaper for verified information. “When I
took just five minutes to read the newspaper, I felt so happy. I was confident
that I had received proper, verified information.”
Alongside the
keynote addresses, the two-day conference featured four insightful panel
discussions that examined how media, technology and public life are changing.
Journalism
in Transition: Changing Media, Audiences and News, Moderated by Dr Yogesh Joshi,
Metro Editor, Hindustan Times, the session featured Ravi Reddy, Resident
Editor, The Hindu; Vishal Khandelwal, journalist and content creator; Vishakha
Nikam, presenter, BBC Marathi; and Abhijit Atre, Associate Resident Editor,
Times of India, Pune. The panel discussed changing news consumption, commercial
pressures on journalism, and the need for credibility and editorial
independence.
Panel
discussion on topic ‘Cinema Reimagined: AI, Virtual Production and the
Future of Indian Film Making’ was moderated by Dr Mithila Biniwale,
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communication, MIT-WPU, the Day 1
session featured sound designer and editor ASGK Teja; filmmaker Ashoke
Viswanathan; and actor and FTII professor Jijoy Rajagopal. The discussion
explored AI’s role in filmmaking and the importance of human creativity,
storytelling and skill development.
Safeguarding
Democracy: Convergence of Media, Law, Governance and Public Policy Moderated by Dr Shreya Bera,
Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts (English), MIT-WPU, the Day 2
session featured IAS officer Mahesh R Zagade; Priya Jain, Founder, Finology
Legal; Siddhartha Benninger, Director, Institute for Sustainable Development,
CDSA; Prof. Ujjwala Barve, Dean, Modern Sciences and Professional Skills, Tilak
Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune; and Naresh Bodhke, Professor, Gokhale Institute
of Politics and Economics. The panel highlighted media independence,
misinformation, censorship and the need for transparency and informed citizen
participation.
Another panel
discussion ‘Persuasion Rewired: AI, Advertising, PR and the Future of
Branding’ was moderated by Shrikaant Iyer, Head Content Production, HT
Media (Fever 94.3), the Day 2 Youth to Youth session featured Belinda Dokras,
Director, Network Advisory, Dentsu Creative, and Sarthak Thakur, Founder and
CEO, SeeTusk Creative Agency. The discussion focused on AI in
advertising and PR, human creativity, authentic communication and building
consumer trust.
The conference
ended with a call for students and professionals to put verification, ethics
and public service ahead of virality.