Theory of Change – ULAB Media Hub

Once philosopher Hannah Arendt said: ‘Freedom of opinion is a farce unless factual information is guaranteed and the facts themselves are not in dispute.’ Here comes the journalist’s role in ensuring that all the information must go through the factual securities to keep its credibility intact. Keeping that authenticity measured was easier before the rise of Web 2.0. When the overflowing information avoiding digital gatekeepers comes pouring into various digital portals, it is difficult for the audience to process and differentiate between authentic and fake. The new generation of journalists must understand the complexity of systemic news gathering and processing that information using digital tools. This transitional phase needs research to explore the changes, guidance to adapt to the change, and adequate training to develop the expertise.

Why does DTP believe in Theory of Change?

The fast-paced technological advancement towards new media consumption has created a profound impact on the traditional media houses. With the help of the internet and social media platforms, consumers are easily accessing various content online that match their taste. Because of the sophistication of algorithms, it has become simpler for companies to target their customers deliberately. Besides social media outlets, the industry is dense with multiple TV channels and radio stations that constantly produce and provide infotainments. Traditional print media houses will fall out of the game if they fail to update and upgrade their technological competency and willingness.

Young journalists who are technologically savvy have better access to digital platforms compared to old-schooled journalists and media organisations. But to create a balanced and fairground, it is vital for the traditional media organisations and journalists to accept and adapt to this digital advancement. This adaptation is becoming an unwavering fact since social and online platforms are increasingly generating substantial revenues. In recent years, surveys say, it is visible that only Google and Facebook themselves secured 1000 crore worth of digital marketing bills from different Bangladeshi companies. These digital platforms can target any Bangladeshi audience despite their geographical location and sell products to them directly or indirectly. To achieve something like this is fairly impossible for print or visual media. Youngsters are finding job security in digital platforms with hefty salaries compared to the traditional method following companies.

Traditional media organizations’ action on report collecting to disseminate is cushioned by gatekeepers. No one can publish any news without meeting authentication channels. To journalists’ news are precious and they are guided by ethical norms. That’s why it is not advised to publish fake news that can harm the credibility of the news organizations as well as the journalists associated with it. It is expected that before publishing news, gatekeepers should follow the strategy based on six points to weigh the value of the news. And in the traditional method, it is easier to maintain and monitor. But nowadays audiences consume more news online than offline and with digital journalism, in practice, this gatekeeping system is getting blurred. Anyone can upload news from anywhere, even before someone flagging the news that might go viral or reach a certain number of people. That is why digital media professionals are more prone to vulnerable outlets compared to their traditional counterparts. DTP believes adequate training, counselling and monitoring can help the traditional as well as aspiring journalists to secure their job in the digital area. With the help of innovative and advanced technology, the gatekeeping system has moved to digital platforms. In the digital media world, the gatekeepers are hi-tech software-based algorithms, professional strategists, and individuals who rely on research, fact-checking, rumour detection, are aware of information literacy and value their digital citizenship.

DTP understands that if we want to preserve democracy, we need to protect the truth. In order to safeguard the truth, we need to invest in the purveyors of truth – in particular, aspiring and current journalists, news contributors and freelances, news and media organizations. And to do that it is crucial to set the right sentiment of journalism at the budding stage. When a student pursues journalism, he or she must be taught to abide by the core of it: the code of honor. This sense of honor is associated with moral, philosophical and ethical values. These are the find components that safeguard the journalists to investigate the truth objectively. But in this digital time safeguarding the truth has become more challenging than ever. Digital platforms can be easily manoeuvred and manipulated. People with certain agendas can spread fake news or disinformation on these platforms easily. It is observed that hate crimes are triggered by misinterpreting viral news. To ensure the safety both for the journalists and their audiences it is important to have a technological intervention. If we can verify the news with the right resources for accuracy, then it will be simpler to avoid unpleasant events. And for that journalists must go through vigorous digital training and strategic planning workshops.

It will allow all to take benefits of innovation, we can establish a decolonized society. But, unfortunately, only a few people are privileged to have the access to resources. Whereas, most of the print-based media houses are facing problems to accept and adapt to this transition due to proper training and guidelines. These are much more visible among the journalists working in rural areas. DTP believes in if it develops an open space for everyone despite their journalism orientation, and can give them proper training on how to collect, process and disseminate information digitally that will ensure them more job opportunities and increase their market value both domestically and internationally.

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh’s Media Studies and Journalism Department promotes social entrepreneurial mindset and digital literacy, cultivates soft skills and economic intelligence, thrives on social motivation and quick alternative thinking. These are the very basic traits of the new generation print and media Mughals. By understanding these, DTP offers a pathway to both aspiring and experienced journalists to create their mark in the industry. Because their contribution to society has a greater impact in the long run.

Figure 1: Stakeholders and Network of DTP

How does DTP implement the Theory of Change?

DTP, to fulfil its theory of change, is engaged in the activities primarily focused on research, governance and education/training.

Research is the foundation of developing new ideas, thinking thoroughly about the whole process, and pointing out its pros and cons. DTP focuses on situation monitoring and events interpretation regarding digital transformation issues to achieve those goals. After the research, the next step is governance. Authoritative presence is initial for the long-term effect on any given subject. This governance helps to build the core values in individuals and organizations. This governance comes in strategic planning, environmental scanning and analysis, communication audits, media management, media monitoring and evaluation. Some credible sources and institutes ensure their learning environment and outcome at every step. And finally, DTP to educate the new generation journalists proper training is inevitable. Through diffident training programs, workshops and career coaching, aspiring journalists and traditional ones can acquire new skill sets and entrepreneurship attitudes.

Education: DTP conducts multimedia storytelling, mobile reporting, social media live reporting, data visualization, storytelling with User Generated Content (UGC), drone journalism, VR journalism, fact-checking, video storytelling, writing for aggregator websites, ephemeral storytelling in web 2.0 journalism, infodemic management, podcasting and other interactive media technologies so that journalists (aspiring and experienced ones) can empower them with technological advancement. DTP also aims to connect journalism students to various outsourcing agencies and for that their focus is on organizing capacity-building activities.

Production: DTP arranges boot camps to develop participants’ expertise in storytelling with User Generated Content (UGC) and crowdsourcing content. It will provide logistic support and expert advice to those who have become brave enough to tell their stories on a bigger platform. This is another great initiative from DTP for journalism startups.
Platform Provision: DTP provides a platform for the journalists so that they can have a space to exchange their expertise with each other and create a digital community.
Network Provision: DTP is a place where like-minded souls meet so that collaboration would be possible in the future.

Figure 2: DTP- Theory of Change