The International Purple Fest 2024 held a seminar on “Destigmatizing Disability: Role of Media” at Goa University’s Lecture on January 10^th from 2-5 pm. It was organized by Sethu in collaboration with partners like Goa University, Owl House, NIMHANS, Google India, and Latika Dehradun, the event brought together counsellors, psychologists, media professionals, and Mass Communication and Journalism students.

The seminar explored both positive and negative portrayals of disability in the media, emphasizing the importance of sensitivity, authenticity, and need for increased positive representation. Examples highlighted employment opportunities at Mitti café in Bengaluru, 

Terrasine in Pune, and positive media coverage like Satyamev Jayate, the Restaurant of Mistaken Order, and ‘Taare Zameen Par.’

The significance of responsible reporting was emphasized, accompanied by guidelines for navigating social media’s impact on incident reporting. Group activities with discussions on media campaigns and potential initiatives. The seminar also introduced certificate courses in media and mental health for professionals, while addressing various mental health acts in the constitution, including the Mental Health Care Act-2017. The event provided an engaging platform with abundant learning and networking opportunities.

The recent workshop, titled “ Improving your Instagram and phone photography” held on 20 th
of December, 2023 at the International Center De Goa, Dona Paula by Sree Sreenivasan, delved
deep into the intricacies of online infographics and social media engagement. The workshop
was attended by a large number of enthusiastic participants which garnered a lively exchange
of ideas among attendees.

Through this workshop the attendees understood the significance of their ‘digital footprints’. It
dissected the subtle nuances of online presence, shedding light on how our actions in the digital
realm shape perceptions and interactions.

The workshop’s highlight was the exploration of potent storytelling techniques on social media.
Attendees learned to harness the power of visuals, moments, trust, and relationships to craft
compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.

Acknowledging the dual nature of social media, the session delved into its negative impacts,
including tech-related issues, FOMO, loneliness, and broader societal crises. Practical strategies
were shared to mitigate these challenges effectively.
The session forecasted 2024’s social media landscape, emphasizing ‘behind the scene’ content
creation, influencer engagement, and practical steps for managing online profiles through
Facebook legacy contacts and favorites.

The attendees were guided through decoding the attributes of successful tweets and posts,
providing them with a framework to optimize engagement, relevance, and resonance in their
digital content.

The workshop concluded with a hands-on session on smartphone photography tips, including
Digimentors’ key settings, creativity hacks, and Android-specific advice, empowering
participants to elevate their visual content creation.

The event culminated with participants leaving equipped with practical insights and actionable
strategies to navigate their digital footprints effectively.