Multiplying Tabligh Efforts Thru Effective Use of Media

1. Multiplying Tabligh Efforts Thru Effective Use of Media Wasim Malik Media Communication Team Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, USA

2. 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 newspaperswithin and outside of India • KhulafaatulMasihaba • Exemplified Holy Prophetsaw and Promised Messiahals • KhalifatulMasihVabaencouraged to reach out. Personal outreach. Letters to Heads of States

3. 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

4. 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 Mediato 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

5. Importance of Media Outreach • 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 Messageensures increased name recognition

6. How Can Media Team Help? • How to Leverage Media for Tabligh • Organize events that are significant to your audience; make message relevant to people • Engage with Media in timely fashion • Know who to contact • Ways to Engage Media • Call media to arranged events • Build relationship with media personalities such as local news anchors, etc. • Put a larger emphasis on events where there is media presence. • Don’t refer the reporter to a someone back in the office. If they walk away, chances are, they’re gone for good. • Make reporter’s job easy by following up • Training and Preparation to Engage with Media • Regional Media training • What to say/What not say; those who are not media trained should not be engaging with media • Non-verbal communication • How and when to write media advisory

7. 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’

8. 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, RamadhanIftaar Dinners, SeeratunNabi Day, Interfaith Meetings, etc.

9. 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.

10. Reach Out - Television & Radio • Interviews • Talk shows • Weekly radio shows • Community Service Channels • Debates

11. Reach Out - Internet & Social Media • 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

12. 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