How Does Media Influence Social Change?

Media has the potential to lead to great, actionable changes by reporting stories that create dialogue and encourage positive engagement. Taking cognisance of the role media plays in informing, educating, and shaping as well as entertaining society, to what degree do consumers influence the structuring of media content? How is the evolving intersection of old and new media transforming how we process information and turn it into action? How are socially relevant issues represented through popular culture? How might the media be used as a powerful tool to inspire social transformation?

Join us for a conversation with Santosh Desai, MD & CEO, Futurebrands India; Anant Goenka, Whole-time Director & Head-New Media, Express Group; Dylan Gray, Producer, Writer and Director; and Namita Vikas, Member, Governing Council, YES FOUNDATION and Senior President and Country Head, Responsible Banking, YES BANK; moderated by Sidharth Bhatia, Founding Editor, The Wire which will explore how traditional and new media is being used to create a positive impact and to transform communities pan-India.

Anant Goenka is Head of New Media at The Indian Express Group. Goenka oversees the Express Group's Business Publications Division as well. Goenka is a Dean's scholar in Print Journalism from the Annenberg School of Journalism, Los Angeles, USA.

Dylan Gray is an award-winning producer, writer and director, best known for the documentary feature Fire in the Blood. Honoured with major awards and accolades worldwide, Fire in the Blood has changed the global discussion around access to medicine. Originally trained as a historian, Dylan lives and works in Mumbai.

Namita Vikas spearheads sustainable development, climate action and CSR at YES BANK. As a climate action specialist, she is elected to the Global Steering Committee of United Nations Environment Program-Finance Initiative, and is the Vice Chair of UN Natural Capital Declaration.

Santosh Desai is the Managing Director & CEO of Future Brands. A post graduate from IIM Ahmedabad, his interest lies in studying the evolving nature of consumer culture in India. He is the author of best seller 'Mother Pious Lady –Making sense of everyday India,' and he is also a regular columnist with TOI.

Sidharth Bhatia is the Founder Editor of thewire.in. A journalist, columnist, and author Bhatia was last an Editor with the English daily DNA. He was made a Press Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge in 2001. He currently writes and comments on current affairs and popular culture in several publications; his last book, 'India Psychedelic: The Story of a Rocking Generation', was published in 2014.

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