Transcript Media Team

Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Multiplying Tabligh Efforts
Thru Effective Use of Media
Wasim Malik
Media Communication Team
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Islam & Media – In Perspective
 Holy Prophetsaw
 Letters to Caesar, Emperor of Persia, Kings of Ethiopia/Egypt
 Encouraged Muslim poets to write in defense of Islam to spread
the message of Islam
 Promised Messiahals
 Sent regular Statements, Ishtaharaat/Advertisements , Letters to
Newspapers, Leaflets/Flyers, etc.
 Widely covered by newspapers within and outside of India
 Khulafaatul Masihaba
 Exemplified Holy Prophetsaw and Promised Messiahals
 Khalifatul Masih Vaba encouraged to reach out. Personal
outreach. Letters to Heads of States
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Media Communication Team USA
 Genesis
Unsuccessful Walkersville land parcel effort
Nobody knew who we were
We had not been reaching out
Hesitation in getting in front of media/camera
Respected Ameer sahib formed Media Communication
Team
 Mission given to the Media Communication Team
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Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Role of USA Media Team
 Make Ahmadiyya Muslim Community the Leading Provider of
Islamic Content
 Increase Public Awareness about and Name Recognition of
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community throughout USA – Consistent
Message
 Ensure Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is recognized as the True
Voice of Islam
 Develop Special Team with Expertise in getting Media to cover our
events and build Relationship with Media in the USA
 Collaborate with Local chapters and National Amla members
 Media Interaction Training
 Help Develop Uniformity of Message in all external communications
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Importance of Media Outreach
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Tabligh Team and Media Team are complimentary partners
 Tabligh Team: As Content Expert develop appropriate material
 Media Team: Expertise in effective message delivery to greater audience
Effective Media coverage leads to: Positive image of Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community
 Positive image would lead to more receptive audience
 Positive Image Dispels misconceptions about Islam
 Media  Ability to address far greater number
 TV stations such as ABC, Fox, CBS, CNN and NBC each have >25 Million
viewership
 Top 25 Newspapers has readership of more than 10 million. Not
including online
Remember
Uniformity of Message ensures increased name recognition
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
How Can Media Team Help?
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How to Leverage Media for Tabligh
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Organize events that are significant to your audience; make message relevant to people
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Engage with Media in timely fashion
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Know who to contact
Ways to Engage Media
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Call media to arranged events
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Build relationship with media personalities such as local news anchors, etc.
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Put a larger emphasis on events where there is media presence.
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Don’t refer the reporter to a someone back in the office. If they walk away, chances are, they’re
gone for good.
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Make reporter’s job easy by following up
Training and Preparation to Engage with Media
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Regional Media training
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What to say/What not say; those who are not media trained should not be engaging with media
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Non-verbal communication
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How and when to write media advisory
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Why Use Media for Tabligh?
“Inventions of the modern age like post office, press, telegram, trains etc. are there
to serve mission of Islam-Ahmadiyyat” Promised Messiahals
 No matter how actively you engage with external audience, you cannot reach
out to the numbers that media can
 If not active in media, you are neglecting a large audience that is easy to reach
and presents many rewards
 Interfaith & multicultural activities with Media involvement: Message reaches
those who don’t normally venture out to these group settings. Helps establish
confidence in those who may not have ever met you
 Americans’ Complaint: “Muslims do not denounce terrorist activities”
 9/11 tragedy, recent attacks on the American embassies in the Middle East.
 Although we have denounced these attacks within our own community and
have organized efforts, such as our 9/11 Blood Drive. Making ourselves feel
better.
 Without reaching out to larger audience, we are merely patting ourselves on the
back, we’re not actively addressing the concerns of Americans: ‘Muslims
condone through inactivity’
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
What You Can Do?
Reach Out!
 Print Media
 Television & Radio
 Internet & Social Media
 Organize Events (External Focus): All events can be supported by the
Media Team inviting media, etc.
 Media Advisories: M4P, MFL, Blood Donation Drives, Flyer
Distribution Campaigns, Walk-a-Thons, Eid, Ramadhan Iftaar Dinners,
Seeratun Nabi Day, Interfaith Meetings, etc.
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Reach Out - Print Media
 Letters to the Editor: All members should be encouraged to write letters to
the editor about local community issues or Islamic issues. They should all mention
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and our tag line.
 Opinion-Editorials (op-eds): Encourage members to write op-eds as
individuals. Op-eds need work and all may not be able do this but should be
encouraged.
 Weekly columns
 Invite reporters to cover events: Eid, Ramadhan, Seeratun Day,
Interfaith Events, etc.
 Can use Print Media for advertising space as well.
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Reach Out - Television & Radio
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Interviews
Talk shows
Weekly radio shows
Community Service Channels
Debates
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Reach Out - Internet & Social Media
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Blogs
Many stories are now covered on-line instead of print
Patch ( local area internet news)
YouTube
Twitter (500,000,000 active users)
Facebook ( 1,000,000,000 active users)
Twitter & Facebook: not considered hard core media, but most
younger audience is getting their information via these channels
Muslims who believe in the Messiah
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadianias
Silly video and it’s wake
There are Opportunities in Challenges
Hazur’s simple reach-out plan
Friday Sermon Oct 28, 2012
 Organize Seeratun Nabi Days
 Print and distribute book “Life of Muhammad” extensively
 Proliferate Hadrat Masih Maud (als)’s perspective on the Holy
Prophet (saws)
 Prepare and print flyers
 Translate Hazur’s sermon into English and disseminate
 Translate other books on the character of the Holy Prophet (saws)
 Exhibitions