Karachi In response to the changing dynamics of digital media, there has been a discussion about the need for comprehensive training of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Pakistan. Various challenges faced by civil society organizations are highlighted, emphasizing that they need to pay more attention to social media, especially in reaching rural communities and bridging the digital divide. Development experts call for a #SocioCivil rally to promote sensitive and inclusive content in digital media. Organized by the Global Neighborhood for Media Innovation (GNMI) in association with the United States Department of State, the event brought together prominent civil society figures and digital media influencers to explore Pakistan’s growing digital media landscape and its social and social networking potential. civil reform.
The event discussed various aspects of using digital media for social impact, ethical considerations in digital advocacy and strategies for effective collaboration between civil society organizations (CSOs) and digital influencers.
Najia Ashar, senior broadcast journalist and president of GNMI, said the InfluenceUP program has been successful in teaching local social media influencers how to create meaningful content that resonates with their audience and promote positive social events. He said GNMI is committed to promoting peace journalism, environmental journalism and gender sensitive reporting through innovative media approaches.
Participants present different perspectives on the digital media landscape. Sindh Human Rights Council Zulfikar Shah said that social media has brought about significant changes and challenged big people in Pakistan. This highlights the importance of bridging the gap between traditional civil society and digital media organizations.
Mushud Ali of Individualland presented digital media as a multifaceted platform that goes beyond social media and reflects the complexity of content moderation and platform algorithms. He emphasized the need to understand the various nuances and targeted content strategies.
Yusura Ilyas of the Council for Participatory Development (CPD) highlighted the role of digital media in empowering diverse voices and promoting social perspectives. Samir Khan of Collective Pakistan said it was important to explore the challenges and complexities of the digital media landscape.
Addressing the issue of collaboration between digital media and civil society, Aurat Foundation’s Muneezeh Khan emphasized the need for NGOs to improve social media channels and work with marginalized communities. He urged digital media and influencers not to publish content that perpetuates racism and promotes the human rights of marginalized vulnerable groups.
Hasnain Raza, director of GNMI, highlighted the challenge of identifying and attracting digital content creators who tackle taboo topics. He emphasized that targeted content strategy and engagement format is very important for content reach and impact.
Senior broadcast journalist Syed Masood Raza advocates messaging and content formats including Controversy, Emotion and Glamor (CEG) to promote social change. He said training on ethical reporting and content creation is important for NGOs. Authenticity builds credibility, which leads to more engagement and more revenue for influencers.
Sufyan Khan of TAAR Media suggests producing engaging content to effectively promote social trends and issues. Environment Ahmed Shabbar said it is important to stay on point while injecting unique elements into social topics to promote virality.
The #SociaCivil meeting concluded with a commitment to promote greater collaboration between civil society and digital media influencers to leverage the potential of digital media to promote positive social change in Pakistan.
