Using the power of the media

Acumen Fund CEO Jacqueline Novogratz’s latest journal entry from Pakistan follows.

September 3, 2006 – Karachi, Pakistan

In the late afternoon, we visit Mir Ibrahim Rahman and Imran Aslam at GEO TV. The air at GEO crackles with the excitement of young people using the power of the media to change the world. I’m struck by the power of this partnership between the young and innovative Mir with the more seasoned, deeply insightful Imran. They are trying to change the nature of media between them and turning issues on their heads. Their most current programming focuses on Satan telling people what to do given their assumption that Pakistanis prefer doing things they are not supposed to do. The cartoon-like Satan at GEO will beg people to chew pan, a traditional mix of betel and other leaves and spices, and then spit the red juice on the sidewalks and floors. It will ask people to litter and despoil places, too. You have to be intrigued by this station’s sense of humor as it looks at its own culture squarely in the face.

I have been watching GEO’s work on the Hudood Ordinances for the past several months and believe it has many lessons for Acumen Fund – and the world. Pakistan’s Hudood Ordinances are a repressive set of laws, focused largely on the rights of women. One of the worst is the ordinance stating women must have four male witnesses to prove a case of rape. They have been justified largely on the basis that they come from the Quran, and no recent government has been able to overthrow them in large part due to pressure from conservative forces. GEO interviewed seventeen religious scholars, including a number who actually helped create the Ordinances, to ask whether they did indeed come directly from Quranic law. Essentially, every one stated that the ordinances were man-made and, indeed, did not come directly from the Quran. Moreover, the campaign created widespread discussion about the Hudood Ordinances throughout the country. Recently, the government has moved forward a bill to overturn most of the Ordinances – to public outcry from some of the most conservative elements in Pakistan.

There are a number of important lessons for Acumen Fund. First, GEO did not go to the usual suspects on the left for their opinions. Everyone knows their opinions, knows what to expect and the point is to avoid polarization and allow discussion from the people who need to think differently about the issues. By focusing on religious men from the moderate left and moderate right, GEO brought the issue to light in a way that engaged a wider public in a much-needed conversation. There was great legitimacy from the holy men who know the Quran and did not base their comments simply on opinion. Those of us in every field need to do a better job of thinking about how we get different stakeholders to the table – and keep them there.

I’m sure GEO struggled internally as to how proactive they could be while maintaining their credibility and neutrality. Their job was to bring forth opinions and not to assert their own. The corollary for Acumen Fund is that we are here to support entrepreneurs and connect them to a wide variety of resources. Only in rare cases can Acumen Fund actually play the role of entrepreneur. Understanding this distinction is key to developing our core competency and impact.

Anis and Nargis Rahman hold a dinner for Acumen Fund, inviting a range of guests who include local businesspeople, writers and thinkers. The conversation is wide-ranging, and there is great interest in the kinds of young people who are attracted to Acumen Fund. Our challenge is to learn how to inspire young people around the world to get involved and use business practices to pursue a social vision. Though I have a difficult time with the custom of dinners starting at 10 p.m. or later in Pakistan, I leave feeling privileged to know the Rahman family and to be so embraced by so many here. I return to the hotel well after midnight and fall into a deep sleep, only to wake up two hours later and just resign myself to the rhythm of being here.