media treatment of hindus - shri ravi joshi (s11-1)

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Hindu Mandir Executive Conference

September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD

Session 11Is Media Covering Us Adequately

and Fairly

Media Treatment of Hindus

Ravi JoshiHindu Temple of Toledo

September 11-13, 2009

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Media: Where Are Hindus

• Why care at all??– Position as Non-Western minority (Case Studies National & Local)

– Media predominance as ‘The’ information (and opinion) source

• American media at a glance– Knowledge production –western intellectual framework

• How are ‘objects’ reported on– Reporters rely on standardized sources for background

• Historical positioning of Hindus & Hinduism– Hinduism historically positive (via Vedanta, Yoga, Spirituality, etc)

– Indians a successful ‘model minority’

– Invisible Hindu Americans ??? Identity confusion?

• Moving from being mute objects to articulate subjects

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Discourse Control on India Western Intellectual Framework

Knowledge Production(Academic Research and Think Tanks)

Distribution(Journals, Conferences,Academic Presses, Reports)

Retailing(Classrooms, Media)

Consumption (by students, media audience, public)Schematic courtesy Infinity Foundation (Rajiv Malhotra). Based on extensive research & engagement

with both Academy & Media regarding Hinduism & India.

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• Consumption• Top notch (voracious appetite for ELM* offerings)

• Retailing• Some Media Outlets (Rarely as Hindus, though)

• Distribution• Not of much significance

• Production• Virtually nil (practically never as Hindus, implicit or explicit)

• Indic Intellectual Framework• Very strong, but neglected by Global mainstream

Where Hindus Are positioned

*ELM: English Language Media

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‘Don’t Rock Boat’, or Apathy

• Lack of strategic thinking on issue– In spite of strategic ability in other areas.

• Leadership Avoids issues citing ‘spirituality’– Genuine transcendence, or protecting specific Brand name.

• Modern Indian Education inadequate for debate/discussion– No exposure to World history, Comparative religion, etc.

– Resultant lack of appreciation of Geopolitics.

• Style Vs Substance (Disagree, not Disagreeable)– Shy away. Or, too aggressive, but light on substantive points

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Media Kit & Training

• Prepare Media Kit– Explaining:

• Hinduism

• Indian History

• Impart Training on usage– Use Networking & Web (Wiki, Conferences)

– Interaction & Debates (not necessarily open to all Public)

• Develop Contacts– Media is always looking for stories

– On Local level, Temples have high credibility

– On National level, deploy the few experts efficiently

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• Weak sense of Identity means inadequate projection of the Hindu worldview

• Getting message out to Media is critical

• Temples are a credible local source

• Need to leverage this by dedicated Outreach efforts at all temples, especially in the major.

• Develop Kits & Train local volunteers

• Inter Temple Networking

Hindus Ceding Public Space Others Are Stepping In

Time To Speak Up!

Conclusion