Hanoi (VNA) –Representatives from members of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies(OANA) and guest agencies have highly valued the theme of the 44th OANAExecutive Board Meeting (OANA 44), along with the efforts of the Vietnam NewsAgency (VNA) as host.

The meeting was held in Hanoi on April 19 underthe theme “For a professional and innovative journalism”.

Nurini Kassim, CEO of the Malaysian NationalNews Agency (Bernama) and member of the OANA Executive Board, said: “The themeis highly relevant in the world of media today. Professionalism in journalismis needed more than ever due to the emergence of social media and thechallenges it poses to the trade.”

“While the rapid development of social media hasbrought along many positive changes, some negative side effects have beenobserved. The rising trend of citizen journalism has provided many stories ofpopular and public interest, but the veracity of the information can bequestionable and opinionated. This misinformation could then become widespreadonline and through social media,” she said, adding: “This lack ofaccountability threatens ethical reporting by mainstream and traditionalmedia.”

“This is where professional journalism can playa key role, something that news agencies can be proud of, where our journalistsand reporters are carefully trained, not only in writing skills, but also in thecardinal rules of journalism.”

The Bernama leader added that the credibility ofa news organisation rests on the professionalism of its journalists.

Commenting on the theme and contents of OANA 44,Kakuya Ogata, in charge of external relations of Japan’s Kyodo News, said thatthe VNA chose particularly important issues relevant to fake news and other challengesfacing news agencies for discussion at the event, which are also big problems forKyodo News. He added that the meeting’s agenda matched the current context.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Lao newsagency Khaosan Pathet Lao (KPL) Sounthone Khanthavong said that this themeaimed to bring benefits to all news agencies in the region with its itparticular emphasis on innovation and professionalism.

He added that this event was a chance for theKPL to learn from the experiences in press work from Vietnam, as well as theregion and the world.

In terms of preparations for OANA 44, KakuyaOgata said the VNA was successful in organising this event. He also wished tooffer sincere thanks to the host for its work.

Editor-in-Chief of the Australian AssociatedPress (AAP) Tony Gillies said: “It is a complex logistical exercise to bringmore than 20 news agencies in from around the region. So much detail isrequired and from what I have seen of the VNA’s work so far, they have done agreat job to bring us all together.”

“The programme itself looks full too and that’simportant. Busy media executives need to know the trip is worthwhile and thislooks good,” he said.

Echoing the view, KPL Director General SounthoneKhanthavong said the VNA held an excellent meeting with an agenda suitable forall participating news agencies. Activities within the event’s framework wereorganised in a professional manner, generating maximum effects.

Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency(BTA) Maxim Minchev also recognised the sound preparations made for OANA 44 andits meaningful content to all news agencies. 

The event has also helped popularise the imageof Vietnam to the world, he added. –VNA