Ways to counter radicalisation
We expect that the Bangladeshi media will continue to play a constructive role in forming a
counter-narrative platform against the fundamentalist groups
Syed Rabius Shams
Come to see from the Facebook posts that people start to go to the Holey Artisan Bakery O Kitchen at its new premises in Gulshan. Whenever hear this name Holey Artisan, it feels horrible and recalls the deadliest part of Bangladesh. The militants killed 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, in the attack also two police officers died and some wounded in the incident in last July. Recent occurrence, and others indicate that radicalisation becomes a terrible menace to the country yet. Needless to say that it has been spread by mainly religious ideological factors thus young generations soft-minds have been targeted including the females and influence to be an extremist in the land. Though law enforcement agencies have been trying to combat the terrorist violence, there is a much appreciable success in their baskets; nevertheless, it will take a longer time to root out the treacherous militant threat in Bangladesh. It needs a fine comb to permanently tackle the circumstances. Since the young generations are embraced to be a radical in the country, so we are in need of to stand through a mediatic way against such kind of irreligious and in human works. It needs a massive awareness campaign to encounter the so-called cult activities. And the media could play a significant role in changing minds and perception of radicalisation through producing mind-boggling news and views.
We read or watch some flat news and editorials on the issue, for instances, how many radicals have been arrested, instrument seized, the court trials and some recommendations etc in our media channels. But we need some technical writings on how to change the mind of target groups focusing youth of countering radicialtions. These types of mediatic approach are much needed, lets face how?
Various research reports reveal that lack of socialisation; family bondage and deprivation push the target group to become a fundamentalist. So the media has to focus these issues on their respective spectrum alongside some inimitable techniques of reporting. Media are getting momentum in Bangladesh and a large portion of young generations are attached with reading the newspapers, news portals, watching broadcast channels and listening radios. Media must come forward tackling this peril and journalists need some exclusive training and facilities for producing such mind blowing stories eradicating radicalisaion in the country.
One example is to highlight that the Radio Nederland Training Centre (RNTC) is the first-ever training institute to offer media professionals a methodology to counter radical ideologies in the name Producing Media to Counter Radicalisation. The objective of the course is to train the journalists to produce such kind of story that can bring change mind of mass people not to support militancy rather counter it. The unique course sets out proven strategies to respond to the distortions of radical propaganda. As the world struggles to cope with the persuasive powers of extremists, such kind of initiative is time bound. These types of the initiative are not found in our country which could be the core mode of root outing the home-grown extremists.
The stipulated 3 weeks long training modules designed to give a journalist to be able to produce story or multimedia material which may bring changes attitudes and behaviours and put into practice key learning and persuasion theories. The course also teaches from an actual anti-radicalisation programme and real-life cases that help bring individuals and communities back from the brink of terrorism. The participant can use creative techniques and new ways to deliver alternative narratives to micro-target audiences. The course is aimed at all media professionals taking on the challenge and responsibility of countering radicalisation. The module is also inclusive of the universal theories of the story, format, and audience mapping, and how they can be applied as an antidote to the global problem of radicalisation.
I consider such kind of mentorship should be crafted for journalists in Bangladesh as these types of reliant on approaches may work as a prolific weapon rather than to traditional news reporting. The module could be alike that by the end, the journalist can understand learning and persuasion hypothesis and the steps needed for people to change their minds. The distinctive induction for journalist will set out effective strategies to respond to the distortions of blogger killing, hacked to death and suicide bombing trends and enabling communities to seek tackling-power in Bangladesh. I believe such kind of sessions could make journalist be confident and skilled in mapping techniques to identify micro-target audiences within larger communities in the country and be able to define precisely aims that address their real motivations.
Islamic scholars, eminent journalists, security experts, experts from criminology department, psychologist and law enforcement agency personnel may be invited to take the combined session from various angles. It could be arranged both in national level or medias in-houses basis. Concerned reporters could have learned techniques from those experts who are working on anti-radicalisation initiatives and from people who have been dealt with radicals directly. Through this initiative, a journalist can contribute utilising the learning of the mentorship for some purposes, for instance through storytelling and write-ups, articles, features and interviews and producing a documentary for the news channels of the country against radicalism and bring a change of the mind to the target group. The documentary / AV can be used as a social campaign through various broadcasts and social media network focusing what the so called Jihadist group is doing compared to what the religion Islam actually says. They could learn some basics and practical examples on how the media can be used for bringing eradication of the militancy from the exclusive training. Since the country is now under the non-traditional notion of security threat of radicalism, so we expect that Bangladeshi media will come forward to play a constructive role using media as a counter-narrative platform against the fundamentalist group and to tackle these, we require a collective affirmative action.
The writer is a fellow alumnus of Professional Fellows Programme of US Department of State
