Dr. Anubhuti Yadav, head of department of new media and information technology, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, organised a virtual lecture to emphasise on the role of the media in crisis communication on Thursday.
Dr Anubhuti gave a presentation on strategies for damage control situations, fact checking of images and news while citing several examples and handling of misinformation during such scenarios.
The webinar was organised with a view to spread awareness among the media and press fraternity as they were accountable for influencing and shaping the public opinion while also raising important issues.
She said that the internet had radically changed the way people communicated and connected with each other.
Dr Anubhuti, however, pointed out that it had been used to target people, radicalise them into specific belief systems and divisive ways of seeing the world and become an instrument for dissemination of false and inflammatory messages and values that did not promote well-tempered dialogue.
Earlier, director general of meteorology, Dr. M Mohapatra also delivered lecture on IMD scenario while scientist, Dr. SC Bhan delivered the welcome address.