Populism power and media dominate discourse at Mediacon 2026

BENGALURU: “Students should prepare themselves intellectually for a world where forces such as populism and authoritarianism are no longer abstract political theories but realities that influence everyday decisions,” film director Dibakar Banerjee said.He noted this while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 10th edition of MediaCon, an international annual academic conference organised by the School of Communication and Media Studies (SCMS), St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, on Friday.The conference revolved around the theme “Populism and Media: Power, Platforms and Voices in a Polarised World”, which examined the role of digital platforms, legacy media and alternative voices in shaping political discourse, public opinion and democratic participation in an increasingly polarised global context.“Practising your dreams, flexing your brains, and figuring out what you want to do and what you don’t will determine how well you survive what lies ahead,” Banerjee told students, emphasising the need for critical thinking and self-awareness.Vice-chancellor of St Joseph’s University, Fr Victor Lobo, highlighted the responsibility that comes with media influence. “The media is power. Use it with care. What you create can divide or heal,” he said.(With inputs from Akilandeshwari J)