Xinhua president makes proposals to promote WMS' larger role in future

Cai Mingzhao, executive president of the World Media Summit (WMS) and president of Xinhua News Agency, put forward three proposals at the opening session of the WMS 2016 here on Sunday to help WMS mechanism play a larger role in the future.

Over 350 delegates of media outlets from 100 countries have gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for the two-day summit that is hosted by Qatar-based Al Jazeera under the theme of "The Future of News and News Organizations."

The meeting comes at a time when media is undergoing profound changes and audience demands are increasingly diversified. Traditional media faces major challenges as well as unprecedented opportunities.

In his speech titled "Deepening Cooperation and Exchanges, Facing Our Future," Cai said the rapid development of information networks and digital technology is catalyzing a revolution in mass communication and has brought about unprecedented opportunities for development.

He said as the Internet brings challenges, it has also opened a new door, adding that the advantages of professional news organizations are "prominent" and "irreplaceable," for they still provide the majority of content on the Web, while in most cases, new media simply serve as "copy and paste" devices to reprint stories from traditional media.

"Meanwhile, the Web, with its wide coverage and deep penetration, has helped professional news organizations expand their reach and enabled them to multiply their influence through effective use of multiple platforms and terminals," he said.

Cai also noted that with the rapid development of new technology, professional news groups will have greater development potential through their exploration and innovation of news gathering and distribution devices and formats.

"I am confident, therefore, that the present revolution brings more opportunities than challenges," he stressed.

Regarding the WMS mechanism, Cai said the summit, as an elite forum for communication and coordination for the global media, is playing an increasingly important role on the international media stage.

He therefore put forward three proposals so as to ensure that the WMS can play a larger role in the future.

First and foremost, Cai called on media outlets worldwide to improve public welfare and live up to their social responsibility in such areas as poverty relief.

"We are ready to enhance cooperation with media organizations from all countries to play a larger role in promoting global prosperity and progress through joint media reports, hosting photo exhibitions, producing TV documentaries and co-sponsoring public welfare campaigns with international organizations," he elaborated.

The second proposal is to encourage innovation and development, as well as the pursuit of excellence.

Cai proposed that in the next round of evaluation for the WMS Global Awards for Excellence, priority should be given to innovative news reporting so as to provide valuable examples and stimulate media innovation.

He also mentioned that the UN Environment Program (UNEP) has proposed a joint award for global environmental reports with the WMS, adding that the Summit's Secretariat will communicate and coordinate further with UNEP.

In his third and final proposal, Cai suggested that all media should enhance exchanges and promote concrete cooperation, saying it is increasingly important for media organizations to do this against the backdrop of multi-polarization, globalization, cultural diversity and the information age.

"Under the WMS framework, we are ready to host seminars on the innovation and development of the global media so that we can share our experiences, learn from each other and expand cooperation," he added.

Before the summit opened, leaders from 10 world's leading news organizations, such as Xinhua News Agency, CNN, Reuters, The Associated Press, International Information Agency "Rossiya Segodnya," Al Jazeera Media Network, TASS Russian News Agency, Kyodo News, MIH Grouo, and The Hindu Group, held a presidium meeting.

Over the coming two days, the delegates are expected to discuss topics such as the impact of technology on news reporting, mechanisms for protection of journalists, audience fatigue vs. editor fatigue and the reshaping of media's business models.

The notion of the WMS was first proposed by Xinhua with the aim of allowing leading media groups worldwide to better exchange their views on the challenges of the emergence of the so-called "new media," and enhance their win-win cooperation.

The first WMS was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing from Oct. 8 to 10 in 2009. Organized by Xinhua, more than 170 media leaders from across the world attended the event.

On July 5, 2012, the second World Media Summit was held in Moscow. This summit drew more than 300 representatives of 213 media outlets from 102 countries. Representatives exchanged views on electronic media development around the theme of "Global Media: Meeting Challenges of the 21st Century," the role of social networks in contemporary media space, the relationship between media and business sector and press ethics. Endit