Experts call for active media role in the time of crisis
Media representatives from different Asian countries, who are
participating in a two-day Asia Media Conference 2009 in Bangkok, have
stressed the need for active role of the media in order to tackle the
impact of global problems including the current economic meltdown, food
crisis and climate change.
Speaking at the inaugural session Wednesday, they warned that the present economic crisis could lead to anarchy due to failure of many states in
dealing with the challenges.
Speaking during the plenary session on "Economic crisis - Impacts on Asian
Economic and Media", Kumar Ketkar, senior Indian journalist and editor of
daily Loksatta, opined that biggest revolutions and wars including the
first and second world wars had taken place after severe economic crisis,
and warned that the recent crisis might trigger further chaos in several
countries.
He added, "There has been discussion about alternative ways to crush the
present economic crisis and journalists should be able to point out what
the alternatives could be."
Speaking during another session "Media in Peace and Conflict- People's
Right to Know in Crisis Situation" senior Nepalese journalist and editor
of Nepali Times weekly, Kunda Dixit, said lack of advertisement and
'commoditisation' of media have forced media to self-censorship.
He said one of the threats to press freedom was the economic survivability
of newspapers around the world, and even the big US newspapers are now
seeking government subsidy in order to support democracy.
Nearly hundred media representatives from different Asian countries are
participating in the conference jointly organised by Asian Resource
Foundation, Actionaid and Oxfam. nepalnews.com/Ram Humagai (in Bangkok) Mar 25 09
