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Talking Faith Online: Navigating Religious Literacy in Digital Media

"Talking Faith Online: Navigating Religious Literacy in Digital Media" is a webinar at the crossroads of technology, religion, and sustainable development, designed to explore best practices for fostering religious literacy in the digital age. By contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Peace, this event underscores the critical role of digital media in shaping religious perceptions and fostering inclusive dialogue.

Inspired by KAICIID's commitment to leveraging media for peacebuilding, the webinar will feature a fireside conversation with four distinguished speakers, offering valuable insights into the complex relationship between digital platforms and religious understanding. Participants will gain knowledge on how to represent religious beliefs objectively and respectfully online, harness the power of digital storytelling to enhance interfaith dialogue, and implement strategies to combat misinformation and stereotypes.

In alignment with the International Day Commemorating Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, this session aims to equip participants with the skills needed to engage thoughtfully and effectively with religious topics in digital spaces. The webinar will delve into the nuances of religious literacy in online media, focusing on accurate representation of diverse traditions, and will explore approaches to build trust with various communities through respectful and inclusive content. Additionally, the discussion will highlight the ethical responsibilities of addressing faith in the digital realm, emphasizing the importance of content that respects differing perspectives while countering harmful misinformation.

SPEAKERS

Supinya Klangnarong, panellist at webinar on Religious Literacy and Digital Media
Supinya Klangnarong

Supinya Klangnarong is a distinguished advocate for media rights, quality journalism, digital rights, and citizenship. She is the co-founder of COFACT Thailand, a pioneering fact-checking platform and community initiative, and the Digital Thinkers Forum, a Bangkok-based think tank focused on digital rights and literacy.

Supinya serves on the committee of the IBHAP Foundation and is an honorary member of the Ethics Committee of The National Press Council of Thailand. She is also a policy board member of the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC). From 2011 to 2017, Supinya was a commissioner of the National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) in Thailand. She was the youngest and only female commissioner, representing civil society in the country’s broadcast and telecom regulator. Her tenure was marked by efforts to democratize policy and regulation in Thailand’s state-controlled broadcasting sector.

An Ashoka Fellow since 2004 and an Eisenhower Fellow since 2007, Supinya has a long history of media advocacy. She began her career as the coordinator and later the secretary-general of the now-defunct Campaign for Popular Media Reform, which emerged following Thailand’s major reform after the May 1993 popular democracy uprising. She also co-founded the Thai Netizen Network, an internet freedom advocacy group that arose after the military coup in 2006.

Supinya’s dedication to promoting media rights and digital literacy continues to inspire and drive positive change in Thailand and beyond.

Agustin Nunez-Vicandi, speaker at webinar on Religious Literacy in Digital Media
Agustin Nunez-Vicandi

Agustin Nunez-Vicandi is the Senior Programme Manager for the Africa Programme at the International Dialogue Centre - KAICIID, where he leads the programme's initiatives to promote interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding including the support of a network of journalists in the Central African Republic as part of an effort to engage media in dialogue in conflict areas - a strategy which has so far proven effective*. With expertise spanning political analysis, peace and security, human rights protection, dialogue, and mediation, he is the Centre's appointed spokesperson responsible for enhancing the organization’s media engagement, managing its presence on social media platforms and ensuring its effective external communications.   

Before joining KAICIID, Agustin served as a Human Rights Adviser at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), where he managed projects focused on empowering human rights defenders and national human rights institutions. He also played a key role in the OSCE Mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, contributing to the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, and later worked to promote peace and stability in eastern Ukraine. From 2018About text formats to 2019 he took a sabbatical to work with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in Myanmar, focusing on financial inclusion and economic development.

400 KAICIID-supported Journalists Promote Peace in CAR | KAICIID

Hadiqa Bashir, speaker at webinar on Religious Literacy and Digital Media
Hadiqa Bashir

Hadiqa Bashir is a 21-year-old feminist activist from the tribal regions of Pakistan, dedicated to challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and advocating for the rights of girls and women. Her journey as an activist began at the age of 11 when she bravely refused a marriage proposal, sparking her commitment to advocate against early and forced marriages.

As the founder of Girls United for Human Rights (GUHR), Hadiqa leads a dynamic team in empowering girls and promoting gender equality in an environment deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions. GUHR employs various strategies, including community engagement, legislative lobbying, capacity building, and awareness campaigns, to address systemic issues faced by girls, including child marriages, SWARA (exchange of girls), and gender-based violence.

Hadiqa's advocacy extends to international platforms, where she has been recognized for her unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and girls' rights. She has received prestigious awards such as the Muhammad Ali International Humanitarian Award and the Asian Girls Rights Award, among others.

Through GUHR, Hadiqa engages directly with adolescent girls through initiatives like the "Mashal ka Tarbiyati Kitabcha" (Education Manual/Guide) and the "Girls Go Back to School" campaign. She also amplifies adolescent girls' voices by identifying advocates and training them in leadership skills.

In addition to her advocacy work, Hadiqa is a survivor of early and forced marriage, which fuels her passion for creating change. Her resilience in the face of challenges and her dedication to empowering marginalized girls exemplify the transformative power of youth-led activism.

Obaida Farajalla speaker at webinar on Religious Literacy in Digital Media
Obaida Farajalla

Obaida Farajalla is a seasoned professional with a robust background in journalism, media, and public relations. He holds a master’s degree in journalism and New Media from the Jordan Media Institute and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Yarmouk University. His education is further enhanced by prestigious fellowships in Business and Entrepreneurship from Indiana University and Political Science from the Lebanese American University.

Obaida's career is marked by leadership roles such as Editor in Chief at Annaja7 Radio, Managing Editor at Altanweeri Magazine, and CEO of Mawadda Magazine. He has also served as an advisor to the Center for Strategic Studies at The University of Jordan and the Politics and Society Institute.

In addition to his professional roles, Obaida is deeply involved in civil society and youth development initiatives. He is a member of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System, the Secretary-General of the Arab Association for Enlightened Muslim Educators and has held various training and leadership positions in organizations focused on human development and youth empowerment.

MODERATOR(S)

Jelena Jorgačević Kisić, moderator at webinar on Religious Literacy in Digital Media
Jelena Jorgačević Kisić

Jelena Jorgačević Kisić, KAICIID Fellow, is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Belgrade weekly Vreme. She publishes articles in various domestic and international media, and her work has received several national journalism awards. Since 2022, she has served as the Vice-Chair of the International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ).

She graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, Serbia, where she also obtained a master’s degree in Theory of Culture. She later earned a master’s degree in Religious Studies at the University of Erfurt in Germany. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD at the University of Regensburg.

Most recently, she published the book We Were Given Each Other to Do Good: Nine Conversations About Ourselves and All of Us, which features conversations with eminent religious representatives from the former Yugoslavia.

She has organized, moderated, and participated in various roundtables, conferences, and training sessions aimed at bringing together religious leaders, youth, scholars, and media practitioners from the region to encourage dialogue about their mutual relationships, societal roles, and attitudes toward common values, as well as to foster collaboration on important social issues, including confronting the past, media freedom, and reconciliation processes.

Where Online through Zoom
Time Europe/Lisbon
Date
Speakers
Supinya Klangnarong
Agustin Nunez-Vicandi
Hadiqa Bashir
Obaida Farajalla
Language English
Interpretation Arabic
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