KARACHI: If an idea doesn’t scare you, it’s probably not a good one, your content is the vision you create, and your voice must be distinct to stand out.

These insights were shared during a panel discussion titled Content-Preneurship in the Era of Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence, held at the launch of a digital magazine curated by Mass Communication students at the University of Karachi on Thursday.

A panel of content creators and entrepreneurship experts discussed current trends in content creation and shed light on what the future holds.

The panellists included Bilal Hasan, widely known as Mysta Paki, who focuses on content related to human rights, community building, travel, culture, and food; Asad Memon, founder of Food Fusion; Usman Riaz, director of Glassworker, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature film; content creator Amtul Baweja; and Hasan Daudpota from Keys PR and Production.

Digital magazine curated by students launched at KU

Mr Riaz, speaking of the challenges he had to face while he was making Glassworker, said that he had no mentors in the particular field he was working.

“The biggest challenge for creators is securing financing. We all know how limited funding is for artists, and the toughest part is convincing others to invest. We often look to Disney or Netflix for support, but how can we persuade them if our own community doesn’t believe in us?” he said.

“Be careful what you wish for, but once you have, you have to believe in it,” he added.

Mr Bilal, a doctor who resigned mid-career to pursue content creation, shared his experience of convincing his parents to accept his career change. He also offered valuable advice for aspiring content creators.

“I often tell young people to find a voice of their own and stick to it, be yourself. Content creation is all about creating personal images and you won’t be cherished until you’re bringing something original to their screens. You have to be your own voice,” he asserted.

Mr Memon, known for his popular one-minute recipe videos on YouTube, which he runs with his wife after both left their mid-career jobs to focus on content creation, shared insights on how to build a personal brand.

“Your values must be strong, and you should stay true to what you’re creating, and it is of course a long journey, yet it pays well at the end,” he said.

Ms Baweja, who started off her career by comedy skits she used to create, stressed on the importance of consistency and sticking to what the creator likes to do.

“I used to be very shy and awkward, to a point where my friends asked me to stop and advised me to stick to acting, however, I did not, because I knew I had it in me. And it did get better. The key is to keep going and again, finding an original voice,” she said.

“Running behind something without having an original brand of your own won’t get you anywhere. In today’s fast-paced digital world, whatever works for me, may not work for you, so following someone blindly is not worth it,” reiterated Mr Bilal.

MediaVerse is a magazine curated by students of the department of mass communication of the KU, available in both print and digital formats. It features 11 sections, each dedicated to a unique theme, covering topics like current affairs, non-fiction, notable profiles, and short stories. Published annually, the magazine is developed under the guidance of faculty members.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024