World Journalists Start Talking on Post-COVID Era
By Chhay Sophal
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (April 19, 2021): World Journalists from 50 nations around the globe, including 3 Cambodians, on Monday face together via videoconference organized by the Seoul-based Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) to focus on the Prospect of Post-COVID Era and the Role of Journalism.
Korean officials, media figures and some 60 journalists from Asia, Asia-Pacific, Africa, America, Europe and the Middle East have teamed up to discuss their role in the post-COVID era. The conference is also with support from the Asia Journalists Association based in Korea.
The Monday session is featuring a discussion under the theme of “The Prospect of Post-COVID Era and the Role of Journalism” where journalists from around the world can discuss together the changes that have taken place in the world lives through the pandemic.
Speaking in his opening remarks, JAK President Kim Dong Hoon said the conference is setting as one of the greatest events for journalists around the world at this time saying that “The pandemic has brought sweeping changes across our daily lives”.
“Although we are all going through difficult situations because of the COVID-19
pandemic, we ask that you present your opinions and recommendations actively in the conference so that we may all present dream and hope to humanity and realize our calling as journalists as the conference is precious opportunity event if held only online,” Kim Dong Hoon said.
“We all share commonalities even if our country, gender, skin color, and ideologies are different. It is a fact that all journalists are working hard for freedom and peace and disseminate the truth with a warm heart and cold reasoning,” he added.
In his congratulatory addressing through an interpreter at the conference, Chung Sye-Kyun, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, said the world may well know that COVID-19 has been bringing about huge change across the world in “the most painful way. The pace of change has accelerated and its range has greatly expanded. Indeed, an era of great transformation with maximized uncertainty has dawned.”
“As people’s thirst for the truth becomes more unquenchable, the value of journalism becomes even more invaluable….when the media shed light on the world through truthful communication and balanced perspectives, its role as a mirror and window will truly shine,” the Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun said.
During the session, both speakers and some participants shared their countries’ experience and insights related to the COVID-19 with the conference such as pandemics, treatments, vaccination, and even corruption for vaccination in the era of COVID-19 and the preparation for the media role after the virus recovery.
The tomorrow session will focus on the “Global Climate Issues and the Role of Journalism” which will allow the conference to discuss the accelerating crisis of the issue.
Yesterday journalists also met for the rehearsal to assess the technical readiness and ensure the success of the online conference for the second consecutive year.
Since 2012, the JAK has invited journalists worldwide to Korea to discuss the future of journalism and introduce the guests to the realities of the divided nation in the Korean Peninsula, as well as its rich tradition and beautiful culture.
