Ankuran Dutta
Prof. Ankuran Dutta is presently on lien from Gauhati University and rendering his service as the Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, High Commission of India, Colombo, Sri Lanka under Indian Council For Cultural Relations of the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India. Dr. Dutta served the Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University, Guwahati as a Professor.
Phone: 91-9910115696
Address: Guwahati, Assam, India
Phone: 91-9910115696
Address: Guwahati, Assam, India
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This is the Chapter-5 of the book "COVID-19, Racism and Politicization: Media in the Midst of a Pandemic" Edited by Kalinga Seneviratne and Sundeep R. Muppidi and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK
ISBN (10): 1-5275-7089-4 ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-7089-4
This 30-page document accounts for two behaviour sets in the context of COVID affected urban environment - the bad behaviour, which we termed as ‘Covidiot’ and compared it to the good behaviour, which we termed as ‘Covideal’. To be more precise, this document explains the bad behaviour of ‘Covidiot’, as an antagonist who endangers himself as well as others and thereby suffers the consequences, which is in sharp contrast to the good behaviour of ‘Covideal’ which is a model of intelligent response, watchfulness and civic responsibility during the pandemic.
Covidiot (pronounced ‘Cov – idiot’) is visualized as unthinking, undisciplined, irresponsible, reckless, self-indulgent, contemptuous of others’ safety and scornful of scientific temper.
On the other hand, Covideal (pronounced ‘Cov – ideal’) is visualized as curious about the pandemic and the science behind it, ready to apply his/her mind to overcome the challenge, disciplined and willing to make necessary sacrifices. He/she follows relevant health advisories/guidelines, adopts good practices, takes precautions and makes the needed behavioural adjustments.
The entire document is a demonstration of cartoon characters, their roles and activities comically explaining the science behind COVID-19 in the most simple, interesting and possible way to engage the urban population and espouse them for several behavioral changes for survival during and after COVID-19.
These behavioural changes are the ‘New Normal’ which has the only strength to build resilience among the people during and after the pandemic.
This work is based on an empirical research work done by Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust. Before the preparation of this document, the Trust has undertaken a formative research and developed about 50 Message Matrix on bad behaviour and its consequences and good behaviour and its benefit. Before finalizing the document, a pilot study was also conducted among randomly selected individuals belonging to different parts of the city – Guwahati.
In the final consideration, 15 messages were selected to represent the most appropriate behaviours (as well as their opposites) in the urban population during COVID-19, depending on which cartoons were prepared to engage readers and drive home visually the need to make behavioural changes. This is a first of its kind document on the concept of ‘Communication for Social and Behavioural Change (SBCC)’ targeted at the urban population in the context of COVID-19.
This is the fourth multimedia interactive document that ARMT has produced during COVID-19; out of which, ‘COVID Katha’ has become the national document, while others include ‘Break the Fake Toons’ and ‘MOTIVATION’ gaining popularity for shunning the rise of infodemics during COVID-19 and for its effort to inspire three crore higher education students of the country during pandemic respectively. In collaboration with UNICEF Assam, The Trust published “Kiting High” a comic story book for children on their new normal and also produced three puppetry shows on COVID appropriate behaviour.
[APA- Dutta, A., Bharali, B., & Lahkar Goswami, A. (Eds.). (2019). DeCoding Communication for Development In India's North-East (2nd ed.). UNICEF, Gauhati University & ARMT South Asia Publications.
MLA- Dutta, Ankuran, et al., editors. DeCoding Communication for Development In India's North-East. 2nd ed., UNICEF, Gauhati University & ARMT South Asia Publications, 2019. ]
The term C4D was coined with a motive to redirect communication for the purpose of development. It evolved with the understanding of the role of communication and how to use that as a responsible medium.
A number of articles here have been compiled chronologically and thematically to make readers comprehend the gradual evolution of C4D as a concept and then gradually move over to its applicability as well as functionality. After a thorough reading of its pragmatic abilities and studying the diverse ways in which it can be applied, the book gradually progresses towards the different mediums of communication through which Communication for Development can be restored and enabled for all-round development of society.
The book is subdivided into themes. The first is ‘Conceptualising Communication for Development’, which is an attempt to understand the concepts associated with C4D as well as define how it can be incorporated into curriculum in the academic sector.
The second theme ‘Applicability and Functionality of C4D’ is applied to those topics which vividly describe the manners in which C4D tools can be, and have been applied, for the purpose of communication about various developmental aspects, be it health, science communication, CSR, education, journalism and other aspects.
The third theme, which is about C4D and the diverse mediums, deals with the different mediums that can be applied for Communication for Development. Hopefully the book can be a good documentation for C4D practices and can help enhance the quality of Communication for Development in the region.
[APA-Nagaraj, K. V., & Dutta, A. (Eds.). (2019). Reinventing Nationalism, Secularism & Plurality: Media Discourses & Deconstruction. ARMT South Asia Publications. ;
MLA-Nagaraj, Krishnapuram V., and Ankuran Dutta, editors. Reinventing Nationalism, Secularism & Plurality: Media Discourses & Deconstruction. ARMT South Asia Publications, 2019. ]
Nationalism, secularism and plurality are the notions under constant scrutiny in any geographical polity, democratic or otherwise. These have been conveniently used in power politics all over the world, as they appeal to human emotions. We in India have been endlessly debating through all public fora for mass political acceptance of our perspectives. Mass media, on their part, have not lagged behind in their reportage and analysis. Though these concepts have been borrowed from the West, in reality, they did exist in our political philosophy, but camouflaged differently. The ancient Indian political didactics mentioned the use of many political traps in pursuit of power. As the geo-political consternations become coarser and coarser, shriller and shriller, as of now, the discourse on these concepts has acquired expanded semantics. Of course, this has also contributed for a state of confusion. On one side, we propose support to a global village which is technologically determined, and on the other, clamour for de-Westernisation of every other thing in the world, be it political or cultural. This includes the notions of nationalism, secularism and plurality. The range of media discourses on these encompasses print, electronic and social media as well. The present volume is a sincere effort to present variegated perceptions of different ideological hues, as varied as India. The ultimate value of the volume is in its academic ‘mindfulness’ to the future path finders in media research.
Citations:
APA-
Dutta, A., & Ullah, M. S. (Eds.). (2019). Invisible Waves: Visible Changes- Community Radio Movement in Bangladesh. ARMT South Asia Publications.
MLA- Dutta, Ankuran, and Mohammad S. Ullah, editors. Invisible Waves: Visible Changes- Community Radio Movement in Bangladesh. ARMT South Asia Publications, 2019.
Published by ARMT South Asia Publications,publication wing of Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust (ARMT), HQ. A1, 2nd Floor, Block- C, SRD Laxmi Niwas, Sankardev Nagar Complex, North Jalukbari, Guwahati- 781014, Assam, India.
www.armt.in; +91-98641-56550
Distributed by Prokirti Media and Communication, Manikganj House, 2nd Floor, 216 Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Sharani, Dhaka -1000,Bangladesh.
Contact: +88 02 9515101,9515117; +88 01715 399850
E-mail: [email protected]
Publisher, Guwahati (ISBN 978-81-86307-48-9).
Vol. XXVIII, 2018-19
ISSN 0976-9072
Annual Journal of
Gauhati University Teachers’Association (GUTA)
Published in April, 2019
Edited by Ankuran Dutta
Educational Multimedia
eLearning
Radio Enabled Learning
Open Educational Resources
Community Radio
Television
Teleconference
Ethical Journalism Network defines that fake news is information deliberately fabricated and published with the intention to deceive and mislead others into believing falsehoods or doubting verifiable facts. A report of Council of Europe describes that there are three types of information disorder, namely, misinformation, disinformation and mal-information. Misinformation refers to the false or inaccurate information, deliberately created to deceive others. Disinformation is also about false information, deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organisation or country. On the other hand, mal-information is based on reality, but used to inflict harm on a person or an organization.
Literally, there is a thin line differences between all these terms. Fake news is the umbrella term that unifies all these types of information disorder.
World scientists are still in a race to find a coronavirus antidote for its cure. Since, no antidote is available until today, maintaining hygiene and physical distancing is the only way to survive in this crisis and hand sanitization is a must. Similarly, we need to sanitize our minds too by verifying the facts of the information flooded on the different platforms of social media about COVID-19. Therefore, it has become as important to flatten the curve of the Infodemic as to flatten the curve of COVID-19.
Citation: Dutta, A. (2020, May 26). Information Pandemic during COVID-19 [Online]. https://youtu.be/wCcDuKQ1c5E
Delhi Metropolitan Education