Some selected media practitioners from Africa, Asia and other parts of the world on Wednesday 29th December, 2021 participated in a Dialogue on International Cooperation and Media’s Role in Combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
They unanimously condemned the blame game on the pandemic’s origin-tracing and implored world leaders to act responsibly in combating the third variant, Omicron.
They bemoaned the proliferation of fake news at the peak of the pandemic’s outbreak in 2019 and called for a paradigm shift to guarantee responsible journalism.
They reminded global mainstream media organizations to be conscious of the cardinal principle of being accurate and factual in their reportage.
They emphasized that the mainstream media should hold world leaders accountable for the production and fair distribution of the approved COVID-19 vaccines to narrow the immunization gap.
As organized by the Advanced Institute of International Studies and Training, China International Communications Group (CICG), the Dialogue was themed, “Build Consensus on Combating COVID-19 and Promote Global Development.”
The discussion focused on “Pursuing development and cooperation: the media’s role in the post-epidemic era” and “Spreading authentic and authoritative information: experience sharing on news coverage of the fight against COVID-19.”
With the objective to give full play to the role of the media in combating the persistent pandemic, the online platform provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences gained in international cooperation against COVID-19.
They extensively examined the role of media in these efforts, in a bid to build a new platform and mechanism for exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign media organizations.
They shared their thoughts on the local media role in the global agenda of fighting the pandemic, with Omicron as the latest variant.
The host, Mr. Wang Xiaohui, Editor-in-Chief of China.org.cn (China Internet Information Center moderated the four hours long Dialogue.
The speakers comprised Liu Chunxiang, Deputy Director of International Liaison Bureau of the State Council Information Office, Liu Dawei, Vice President of the China International Communications Group (CICG), Lorato Gaofise, Information Officer, Department of Information Services, Botswana, Abdul Karim Naatogmah, Manager of Communication and Media Relations, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana, Li Jianguo, Editor-in-Chief, Western European and African Communication Center of the CICG, China, Jared Ombui, Digital Manager of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Kenya, Tristan E. De Guzman, Director for Administration and Finance, Chief of Staff – Office of the Undersecretary for Finance, Legislative Affairs, and Freedom of Information, Presidential Communications Operations Office, the Philippines and Li Yang, Director of Editorial Office, China Daily, China.
The rest were Faruk Borić, Executive Director , Association of BH-PRC Friendship Center for the Promotion of BRI, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mohammad Imrul Hasan, Senior Producer, RTV, Bangladesh, Worku Belachew Asfaw, Editor-In-Chief, Ethiopian Press Agency/ Ethiopian Herald Newspaper, Ethiopia, Deng Yushan, Director of English Desk, Xinhua News Agency, China, Victor Jafar Doreis, Broadcaster, Radio Mozambique, Mozambique, Huma Sadaf, Reporter and Producer, Pakistan Television, Pakistan, Ayman Noubani, Director of Photography, Palestine News Agency, Palestine, Wu Qimin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Global Times, China, Raphael Bamidele Oni, Editor-In-Chief , Diplomats Extra Magazine, Nigeria, and M. Mazen Ayon, Head of English Department , Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria.
