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Full Text: World Media Summit Doha Statement

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Following is the full text of the World Media Summit Doha Statement, which was issued here on Monday:

World Media Summit Doha Statement

March 21, 2016

The World Media Summit held its third global gathering in Doha, Qatar, from March 20-21. Hosted by the Al Jazeera Media Network, more than 350 representatives from 120 news organizations based in 100 countries, along with leaders from several regional and international organizations, took part.

Under the theme, "The Future of News and News Organizations," discussions were held on some of the most important issues of our times, including the impact of technology on news reporting, sustainable business strategies, the protection of journalists and the ever-changing needs of the world's audiences.

The Summit's in-depth exchanges of views played a positive role in expanding common ground among news media and journalists in countries with different systems and experiences.

Stressing the importance and urgency of protecting journalists, we call on the international community to respect the rights of journalists and media organizations, in particular the right to access and disseminate information. Enforcement of these rights enables people to be aware of, and engaged in, the realities and events that affect their lives.

Considering that news media play a substantive role in the formation of public opinion in all societies - and in influencing public policy on major issues of importance to the lives of people - we call on the international community to respect the rights of journalists and media organizations to enjoy the protections granted by international humanitarian laws to civilians in areas of armed conflict.

The Secretariat of the World Media Summit will work with its members and with international organizations to explore mechanisms that could help guarantee the safety of journalists worldwide.

The World Media Summit will continue its mission to provide training to journalists in various aspects of media production, safety in hostile environments, and awareness of the rights and responsibilities of journalists.

Facing the rapid changes in technology in the Information Age, we believe we must constantly adapt to the new opportunities before us, while holding fast to our journalistic core values and ethical and professional norms and standards.

We encourage news organizations to increase the exchanges amongst their teams, and share experiences in a bid to learn from each other and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. In this regard, the World Media Summit will always be honored to welcome new members, to ensure that it properly represents all geographic regions of the world, and all types of media.

In the hopes of encouraging creativity and innovation in journalism, the World Media Summit will continue to grant the Global Awards for Excellence, and we will work on expanding the categories for these prestigious awards.

And, as always, we encourage media organizations to step up cooperation with their international peers, carry out joint public service campaigns, and play a bigger role in advancing human understanding.

Doha, 21 March 2016 Endit