Digital media has power to empower and power to disempower too: Onkareshwar Pandey
| Dr. Sonali Mishra, Special Correspondent, IOP - 21 Jun 2021

Digital media has power to empower and power to disempower too: Onkareshwar Pandey

“Digital media has power to empower and power to disempower too. Digital driven social media has largely empowered the people across the globe through all kinds of faster information and also invading our privacy by stealing all individual data through AI and ML. But the major concern today is that it’s threatening the national unity, brotherhood, and democracy at large through misinformation and disinformation campaigns,” said Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey, eminent journalist, motivational coach and a thought leader.

International Webinar on Pandemic, Infodemic & Media Management Organised By the Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore

By Dr. Sonali Mishra

“Digital media has power to empower and power to disempower too. Digital driven social media has largely empowered the people across the globe through all kinds of faster information and also invading our privacy by stealing all individual data through AI and ML. But the major concern today is that it’s threatening the national unity, brotherhood, and democracy at large through misinformation and disinformation campaigns,” said Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey, eminent journalist, motivational coach and global thought leader.

Addressing an International Webinar on Pandemic, Infodemic & Media Management Organised By the Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore as the Guest Speaker Mr. Pandey said, “it is a record that never in the history of human society more information was available to people on earth, as it is available today. Each day, around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created at our current pace, which is accelerating with the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). Over the last two years alone 90 percent of the data in the world was generated. However, unfortunately, it’s also true that never in history has more bad information been available to more people. And once it’s online, it is “news” forever.”

“Today, over  3.7 billion humans use the internet; we conduct more than half of our web searches from a mobile phone now and on an average, Worldwide there are 5 billion searches a day. Google now processes more than 40,000 searches EVERY second (3.5 billion searches per day), the data of searches on other search engines are not included in this,” Mr. Pandey said, quoting a report published in the Forbes. 

But the issue of fake news has become very serious not only in India but the whole world. It is affecting Society, social fabrics, Law & order, politics & humanity also. He alerted the students of Oxford College of Engineering to beware of the dangerous effects of Fake news or other forms of misinformation and stop forwarding any serious message without verification on their own.  

Citing top misinformation trends of 2020, debunked by Alt News, Mr. Pandey said, “In the year 2020 itself, there were several kinds of Misinformation surrounding CAA protests; Delhi riots and violence at Jamia and JNU; Coronavirus and the vilification of the one community; Displacement of migrant workers due to COVID-19 lockdown; Medical misinformation shared in the wake of COVID-19; Misinformation on India-China dispute; False news surrounding farmers’ protest and several other issues. This trend is still continuing despite the Government of India’s serious efforts to curb it.”

“Every individual should be alert and use his brain before sharing any such news, because in this era of fake news and paid news, artificial intelligence is also being used as a political tool to manipulate and dictate common people, through big data, biometric data, etc. AI analysis of your online profiles is being done. Your posts and behaviors in social media and smartphones are being watched. But the days are not far when AI will also control the media, intelligentsia and the politicians too.”

Talking about the Infodemic, which is a portmanteau of "information" and "epidemic" that typically refers to a rapid and far-reaching spread of both accurate and inaccurate information about something, such as a disease, Mr. Pandey said, “Today, when the facts, rumors, and fears mix and disperse, it becomes difficult to learn essential information about an issue. He recalled that the word ‘Infodemic’ was also used in 2003, in connection with SARS and now it has been renewed in the present time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Citing the historical evidence of Fake News or Misinformation, Mr. Pandey recalled the famous incident of epic Mahabharata, when Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, kills an elephant named Ashwathama and screams: “Ashwathama is dead". ... Technically, Yudhisthira did not lie, but - Yudhisthira also reiterated, “Ashwathama Hato….” and didn’t say, “Naro va Kunjaro “. But Drona doesn't catch the words, lays down his weapons and bows his head in grief.

“The menace of Fake news has become so widespread globally that even the United Nations and the World Health Organization had begun using the term "infodemic" during COVID-19 pandemic as early as 31 March 2020. The related term "disinfodemic" has also been used by UNESCO,” said Onkareshwar Pandey, who runs several Thought Leadership networks such as Global Thought Leaders, Women Thought Leaders, World Women's Leadership Network and Indian Thought Leaders.   

Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey, also a Google certified Trainer to debunk Fake News, gave various useful and easy tips to debunk the fake news being spread on the social media in the various forms such as Texts, Images and Videos.

The International webinar saw participation from over 12000 registered students and youth from over 15 countries including several senior scholars, academicians and even the President of Children Education Society and The Oxford Group of Institutions, Bengaluru Mr. S.N.V.L. Narsimha Raju.

Thanking the Chairman of Oxford group of Institutions Mr. Narshimha Raju and organizer MCA HOD Dr Shasidhara and Dr Preeta Sharan, IEEE Branch Counselor,TOCE, Onkareshwar Pandey said, “It was very well organized. And I was happy to see the presence of the Chairman. It shows his involvement towards his college. He has shown concern about the growth of his institution.  The Oxford College of Engineering has huge infrastructure and a great RnD innovation Lab where lots of funded projects are coming from prestigious funding agencies.”

Appreciating Mr. Narshimha Raju for creating a huge group Mr. Pandey said, “You have created an Institutions of Excellence and Global Standard! The founder of this Institution died because he got a massive setback from our corrupt system. Great Salute to his vision and level of dedication which is flowing in your bloods too, and today, you have shown a mirror to the system and have come as a clear winner and champion Mr. Raju!”

“Mr. Raju, Let me congratulate you for creating such a huge Infrastructure spread over 50 acres of land area with 3.20 lakh sq.mts across five campuses namely J.P. Nagar, Bommanahalli, HSR Layout, Hongasandra and Attibele with distinguished and artistic buildings. I was really surprised to know that You have 12 Branches in Engineering only, And so many other institutions, and a wide range of educational programs whether its Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, Physiotherapy, Commerce, Management, Life Sciences, Hotel Management, Law, Journalism and Education. If I am correct, you have established 8 schools, 20 colleges with 6 pre-university, 26 diplomas, 35 graduate and 18 postgraduate programs. You also have highly enriched 56 branches of PhD programs and still you are noy sitting idle and continuously upgrading it to keep up the pace to meet the current and emerging developments. I feel amazed to see these great institutions!,” said Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey who has been Editor for 10 times in all four major verticals of media including, Print, Television, Digital and News Agency at national level.

Mr. Pandey, who is also the Chairman of Commonwealth Thought Leaders Forum, also congratulated the highly qualified and highly dedicated team of faculty who tirelessly impart quality education to students. “The complete involvement of the devoted employees, high degree of dedication, inspired by the motivating Management and committed Heads of Institutions together with the state of art infrastructure and modern facilities of teaching, learning programs and innovative research has driven the Institutions towards excellence,” he stated.

He also thanked Dr. Amar Nath K, Dr. Mal Murgan, and Dr. Ravi Kumar all Directors of Oxford group of Institutions and also to the Principal Dr. N. Kannan, HOD-MCA Dr. M S Shashidhara, and IEEE Branch Counselor Dr. Preeta Sharan for inviting him for the talk and said, “Since you have set your goals to focus on cultivating responsibility, patriotism, moral values and creativity among students and ensure to groom and help them meet global challenges, and you already meeting the parameters of global standards, I must suggest you to focus little more on the branding of your institutions at national and global level.

President Mr. Narshimha Raju, who joined the webinar despite his very busy schedule in his medical college, congratulated Mr. Pandey for the talks and invited him to visit the campus. He also said, “We at the Oxford Group have attracted students from all over the globe who have utilized our high standards of teaching methodologies by our extremely qualified and dedicated teachers. Our Teaching-learning process is based on motivation and discipline. Emphasis is laid on the extra-curricular and co-curricular activities viz sports, cultural activities, workshops, symposiums and seminars for all round development of our students.

In order to create a brand of competent, innovative and dynamic professionals for corporate sectors, industry-based training, soft skills, technical skills and Entrepreneurial skills along with psychology based training are provided for students. The tie-ups with various industries, national and international universities and organizations also contribute enormously in widening the horizon for our students in making the best career choice. Our goal is to focus on cultivating responsibility, patriotism, moral values and creativity among students and ensure to groom and help them meet global challenges.” 

LEAD GLOBAL CONCLAVE & AWARDS 2021 

After Four highly successful events this year

  1. THE GREAT INDIAN WOMEN AWARDS - GIWA 21 on March 08, 2021 (Online) 
  2. INDIA - INDONESIA HIGH POWER DIALOGUE 
  3. 21 FOR 21 (21 IDEAS FROM 21 UNIVERSITIES FOR THE YEAR 2021 FOR PM MODI) &
  4. COMMONWEALTH INNOVATION FORUM & AWARDS (JUNE 01, 2021)

Indian Observer Post is now going to organise LEAD GLOBAL CONCLAVE & AWARDS 2021 https://leadglobal.indianobserverpost.in

Date: July 24, 2021 Venue:  Hotel Le-Meridian, New Delhi - Contact Secretariat for participation or collaboration– 9354619747 (Whatsapp)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INDIAN OBSERVER POST (IOP) is a Class, Creative, and Constructive News platform which publishes ONLY exclusive and Special News / Views / Interviews / Research Articles / Analysis / Columns / Features and Opinions on the national and international issues, politics, security, energy, innovation, infrastructure, rural, health, education, women, and entertainment. Email – editor@indianobserverpost.com


INDIAN OBSERVER POST (Eng) -www.indianobserverpost.com

INDIAN OBSERVER POST (Hindi) -www.indianobserverpost.in

IOP ON FACEBOOK - https://bit.ly/2SlmpLA

IOP TEAM BUREAUS & WRITERS - https://bit.ly/2LxOU2I

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Onkareshwar Pandey is Founder, Editor in Chief & CEO, Indian Observer Post and former Senior Group Editor- Rashtriya Sahara (Hindi & Urdu) and also former Editor, (News), ANI. http://bit.ly/2mh7hih Email - SMS- 9910150119)


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOLDEN SIGNATURES RESEARCH & CONSULTING (GSRC)

CONTACT US FOR -COFFEE TABLE BOOKS I KNOWLEDGE EVENTS I PR I ADVERTISING I BRAND BUILDING I DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION I VIDEO CONTENT I SOCIAL MEDIA I EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS I SECTOR EXPERTISE I GLOBAL OUTREACH I MARKET SURVEY I And - GOLDEN SIGNATURE AWARDS I E -goldensignatures20@gmail.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Browse By Tags

.


Latest News