Spotlight: World media leaders gather in Doha to face common challenges

World media organizations have pledged to enhance cooperation in an era when traditional media is facing great challenges.

At the World Media Summit (WMS) that opened Sunday, more than 350 delegates of media outlets from 100 countries gathered here to exchange their views on the theme of "The Future of News and News Organizations."

CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES COEXIST

The two-day meeting, hosted by Qatar-based Al Jazeera, comes at a time when media is undergoing profound changes and audience demands are increasingly diversified. Traditional media is facing both major challenges and unprecedented opportunities.

"As executives of media organizations, we all feel the profound changes in the media ecosystem," WMS Executive President Cai Mingzhao said in his speech titled "Deepening Cooperation and Exchanges, Facing Our Future" at the opening ceremony.

Cai, who is also president of Xinhua News Agency, said the rapid development of information networks and digital technology is catalyzing a revolution in mass communication and has brought about unprecedented challenges for traditional news organizations around the world.

"The Internet, while bringing challenges, has opened a new door," he said, adding that the advantages of professional news organizations are "prominent" and "irreplaceable."

"The situation of the media environment is becoming severe," Masaki Fukuyama, president and editor-in-chief of Kyodo News told Xinhua, echoing Cai. "It is a very meaningful opportunity for each media organization to exchange opinions about this situation."

Gary Pruitt, president and CEO of the Associated Press, also highlighted the importance of such a gathering of the world media in current circumstances.

"It's an important gathering of the world media with the focus on the future of the news, and how we can meet the challenges of the market," he said.

"The way of news distribution and the audience have changed today, which is the reality we have to deal with," Pruitt told Xinhua, adding that he will also focus on the common challenges encountered by the world media in his speech.

WMS MECHANISM HAILED

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

The first and second WMS were held respectively in 2009 and 2012, with the number of WMS Presidium members growing from nine to 16.

"There are lots of platforms of media communication, but what is unique about the WMS is that this mechanism has created a platform for the leaders, which is missing in the past," Dr. Salah Eddin Elzein Mohammad, head of the organizing committee of the summit, told Xinhua.

Mostefa Souag, director-general of Al Jazeera Media Network, also expressed his pleasure to hold the meeting. "The WMS calls for the social responsibility shouldered by media organizations. From an objective and fair way, our reports have meaning for the fate of the world."

For his part, Cai in his speech considered the WMS as an "elite forum for communication and coordination for the global media," and a platform which "is playing an increasingly important role on the international media stage."

PRACTICAL COOPERATION URGED

Ahead of the opening ceremony, Evan Garricks, Reuters' global head of sales operations, said he is "looking forward to finding a way out of this challenging situation and promoting practical cooperation among media organizations during the meeting."

Shortly afterwards, Xinhua's Cai put forward three proposals at the opening session.

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 said.

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

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

In his third and final proposal, Cai suggested that all media should enhance exchanges and promote 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.

"Different situation is faced by media organizations from different countries, but collaboration and cooperation are the consensus of the world media," said N. Ram, chairman and publisher of the Hindu Group from India. Endi