An insightful conference was held today at the International Publishing and Book Fair by two journalism and communication experts, Abdelouahab Rami and Said Bengrad, to discuss the role storytelling and narratives play in the public sphere in shaping perceptions of modern conflicts.

The conference, moderated by the journalist Jamaa Goulahsen, shed light on the power of narrative and storytelling in shaping public opinion. Semiotics expert Said Bengrad stated: “Storytelling invades people’s minds to make them obedient, inhibit their critical thinking, and guide them towards standardized behaviours.”

Explaining further, he added: “The purpose of narratives is to dissociate people from reality and place them into a story,” adding that stories frequently replace ideology through the construction of a sequence of events and meanings.

On the other hand, Abdelouahab Rami argued for the functional nature of storytelling, describing it as a tool used to promote products, services, and ideologies.

He also criticized the media landscape, saying: “The trouble with media narratives lies in professional ethics and ideological biases.”

Finally, while commenting on a question about social media as the new agenda-setting force, Professor Rami said: “Social media narratives tend to be disorganized and fragmented compared to traditional media.”