#  "Our democracy is only as strong as it is inclusive": RPL Webinar Discusses Media, Religion, and the Nation 

 





October 08, 2024

 

 

 Zainulabideen Jafri, MTS '26 

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The Religion and Public Life program at Harvard Divinity School hosted a webinar on media, religion, and the nation this past Tuesday evening.

The webinar was the second in a four-part webinar series titled, “Religion and Democratic Ideals.” The series focuses on the exploration of democratic ideals and the pursuit of just peace by engaging in thoughtful discussions along four different avenues. Each of these avenues offers insights into the relationship between religion, democracy, and just peace. The discussion was moderated by Assistant Dean for Religion and Public Life, Hussein Rashid. He was joined by Zeba Khan of the San Francisco Chronicle, Jesse Holland from George Washington University, and Syreeta McFadden from Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Leading the conversation by highlighting the widespread reliance on media as a primary source of information, the featured speakers all underscored the significant responsibility that media holds in shaping public narratives of democracy. Khan specifically emphasized the media's duty to ensure the inclusion of as many diverse voices as possible while shaping a democratic narrative:

> “Our democracy is only as strong as it is inclusive, as it includes marginalized voices that historically have been, by design, not allowed in. Part of the job of the media—whether it’s in reporting, seeking out sources, or, like in my case, on the opinion section—is to be actively thinking about inclusivity and representation as we consider what our readers need to be engaged with.”

Building upon questions of representation, McFadden noted that the power of perception is still situated within the structure of media. This renders us inherently vulnerable in today’s expansive technology and media landscape. She stressed the fallibility of technology, which often contributes to the perpetuation of discrimination in the public discourse.

> “Everyone thinks technology is infallible; technology is the neutral place. But it is still built on a superstructure of racial caste . . . How \[the photographer\] perceives you is how you are ultimately perceived elsewhere. You’re made aware of how others see you and how you are othered.”

The speakers detailed the media’s long-standing role in shaping narratives, such as how our nation was born, what heroes can look like in comic books, and who makes up the communities affected by natural disasters. The narratives that make up our collective conscious have often sustained and reinforced discriminatory and exclusionary notions. These forces aren’t just confined to institutions but are ingrained in our interactions with the world. “Systems of power, racism, and hegemony are all in the language,” McFadden explained. “They’re in the air.”

The speakers actively called for the media to match the nation’s purported ideals to our actual actions, returning the narrative back to the people. They stressed that the media, as a powerful force, should reflect the values it claims to uphold. With this in mind, Holland encouraged us to be active in our engagement with the media:

> “We need to start diversifying and increasing our news sources and then try to understand the narrative behind those news sources. Once you start to see *why* they’re telling you what they’re telling you, you can begin to see and control that narrative.”

[Watch the event recording and read the transcription.](/news/2024/11/14/video-religion-and-democratic-ideals-media-religion-and-nation)



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Religion, Conflict, and Peace ](/news/religion-conflict-and-peace)
- [ RPL Past Events ](/news/rpl-past-events)