ASEAN press cooperation faces new opportunities and challenges

Thursday - October 27, 2016 01:00

At the recent workshop “ASEAN Journalism - Comparative Perspectives” jointly organized by the Faculty of Journalism and Communication (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and the KAS Institute (Germany), the challenges and opportunities for cooperation of ASEAN journalism were identified.

Hợp tác báo chí ASEAN đứng trước cơ hội và thách thức mới — ASEAN press cooperation faces new opportunities and challenges

This is the first international conference on ASEAN journalism in Vietnam with the participation of many scientists, managers, and people working in the field of journalism and media from countries such as: Dr. Bob Iskandar (Director of the Southeast Asian Journalism Federation), Dr. Kalinga Senevirattne (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand), journalist Le Van Nghiem (Director of the Department of External Information, Ministry of Information and Communications), Dr. Ta Bich Loan (Head of Youth Department VTV6, Vietnam Television), journalist Le Quoc Minh (Editor-in-Chief of Vietnamplus, Vietnam News Agency), Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong (Head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities)...

This is the first international conference on the topic "ASEAN Journalism: Comparative Perspectives"

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, ASEAN countries are all developing countries, many of which have not yet overcome the consequences of war, and their infrastructure is still backward. ASEAN countries' press appeared centuries after Western countries. Most of these countries do not have a strongly developed media industry. The living standards of people in ASEAN countries are still low, so the level of enjoyment of newspapers, magazines and mass media is only at the average level in the world. The current political regime in these countries has many differences, and there are also many gaps in socio-economic conditions, so the development of press in ASEAN countries is uneven.

The workshop was attended by officials, leading experts, and people working in the fields of journalism and media from countries in the ASEAN region.

In 1975, the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) was established. CAJ has the following objectives: to promote a healthy, free and responsible press; to advance the journalism profession and strengthen professional relations between ASEAN journalists and journalist organizations around the world; to enhance understanding among ASEAN nations to achieve prosperity, social justice and peace. Along with that, the ASEAN Journalists Code of Ethics was issued in 1987. These rules affirm general and specific values, promote humanity, emphasize the responsibility and conscience of journalists, strive for social justice for friendship and cooperation among nations.

According to journalist Le Van Nghiem, since the formation of the ASEAN community, ASEAN press cooperation activities have seen some improvement. ASEAN press has initially paid attention to reporting information about ASEAN member countries. Television and radio stations have regular columns about ASEAN. Each country has an ASEAN electronic information portal. Some countries have established permanent press offices to regularly report information about the host country. Some newspapers have sent reporters to ASEAN countries to report news and articles on important events. The press has contributed to helping people in ASEAN countries improve their understanding of ASEAN and its member countries.

However, these activities have not been as expected. Current limitations include the small number of ASEAN journalists working in other countries; not many meetings, contacts, and seminars on ASEAN journalism; information about ASEAN is not really abundant...

ASEAN press is facing new opportunities and challenges - that is the common assertion of many researchers. More than ever, this is the time for ASEAN press to have comprehensive and extensive cooperation activities to effectively promote its responsibility and role in the development of the community. It is time for ASEAN press to unite, increase information exchange, strengthen connections through common tools and forums... One of the recent typical activities for the above cooperation trend is the ASEAN Editors Summit 2016 held in April 2016 in Kuala Lumpur. The conference aims to strengthen media cooperation to promote ASEAN identity in the integration process. Here, a number of proposals were made for press cooperation such as: complying with the highest standards of professionalism and responsible journalism providing media reports on ASEAN issues; establishing permanent forums for ASEAN editors to meet and exchange views; Enhance the communication of ASEAN's vision and goals; identify, evaluate and reward outstanding news, reports and articles in cross-regional communication that contribute to raising public awareness and ASEAN integration.