Baku, October 5 (AZERTAC). A round-table meeting on the theme “Modern mass media and new challenges” has taken place at Kempinsky Hotel Badamdar as part of the 2nd Baku International Humanitarian Forum.

The round-table meeting featured three panels.

Moderated by Director General of Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AZERTAC) Aslan Aslanov, first deputy Director General of Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Mikhail Gusman, and former Greek foreign minister, MP Dora Bokayannis, the first panel discussed the role of social networks in transformation of modern society, and their impact on global political processes.

Opening the event, Mr. Aslanov said: “Indeed, Azerbaijan is well ahead of the rest of regional countries in terms of all economic indicators. All of you are aware that one year ago Azerbaijan became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in a tough membership race having collected 155 votes. And the country also successfully chaired the council. In addition, this year our capital Baku hosted the Eurovision-2012 song contest. Our Olympians also made us happy as they were a success story and brought home gold medals.”

“In short, I would set Azerbaijan`s goal in the transformation process as follows: our country is becoming an equal member of the world community. So creating such a platform here is a completely logical and timely step. On the other hand, new challenges facing humanity necessitate discussing the processes of the 21st century taking into account the features of a globalizing world. There are so many burning humanitarian issues in the world, and it`s high time we considered forming a new agenda emphasizing the necessity of solving these issues.”

He provided an insight into the issues to be discussed during the three panel meetings.

“Our first panel is called World Politics and Social Networks in the Age of Globalization. It will look at a connection between traditional information industry and rapidly developing social media. It`s quite obvious that in the 21st century the media is much more different than what we got used to working with at the beginning of our career.”

“The second panel will discuss Humanitarian Aspects of Journalism in a New Millennium. How does globalization change traditional media? We have to consider the issues of the role of modern journalism at a time when global humanitarian problems related to the existence and welfare of a human being are becoming topical.”

“What is the role of social responsibility of journalism in large-scale spheres as preserving and improving human life, as well as fundamental human rights both political and non-political? This is what the reports and discussions in our second panel will revolve around,” the AZERTAC Director General noted.

“The third panel, titled The Role of the Modern Media in Dialogue of Civilizations, will discuss the issues of modern media as a steady platform and channel for inter-cultural communication. It is journalism that has a special role to play in acquainting people with and bringing them closer to each other, building understanding among them, and strengthening tolerance in a new millennium when the issue of religious and inter-ethnic tolerance, understanding among different peoples, races, cultures, religions and social groups is taking topicality,” added Mr. Aslanov.

Mr. Gusman said social journalism was affecting many spheres of life, adding new types of journalism had many advantages in comparison with traditional media.

Former Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said: “News is becoming more of a global product and, as with satellite television channels, the Internet could help diffuse civilizational clashes by providing information that undermines myths and stereotypes.”

“The media are, and must always be, independent; and, because of their obvious power, it is convenient for us, politicians, to always blame them for inflammatory and irresponsible behavior. But, let us not forget that we are the primary source of material for their coverage.”

“Our responsibility then is of equal, if not greater, importance in promoting the dialogue of civilizations, their mutual understanding and tolerance and, even more so, their constructive cooperation,” Mrs. Bakoyannis added.

The first panel meeting featured reports by President of the World Council of News Agencies, Institutional Development Manager of Argentina`s National News Agency (TELAM) Juan Manuel Fonrouge,

Co-owner of "Kros" Group of Companies – Russian "Noviy Internet" agency Konstantin Maksimyuk, department chief at Institute of Information Technologies of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Irada Alakparova.

The second panel was moderated by President and CEO of Indonesian Antara news agency Ahmad Mukhlis Yousuf, CEO of AGI-Agenzia Giornalistica Italia News Agency Daniela Viglione and dean of journalism department at Baku State University Shamil Valiyev. This panel discussed the role of modern journalism at a time when global humanitarian problems related to the existence and welfare of a human being are becoming topical.

AZERTAC Director General Aslan Aslanov delivered a report on the application of multimedia technologies in the work of news agencies.

In his report, Mr. Aslanov said: “The creation and application of new technologies, including the Internet, is certainly the beginning of a new era in the development of the media.”

“The media technology will certainly continue developing being enriched with new elements, while latest news will maintain their current role. This is why as representatives of the news sector, we should always seek the spread of authentic, unbiased and professionally accurate news, as well as the delivery of this news to consumers.”

He touched upon the role of multimedia means in making and spreading news.

“The fact that news agencies today have video and audio news in their arsenal apart from text news is no surprise to anyone. Websites of many news agencies feature these types of news. Most of them use specialized video portals such as YouTube for spreading their video news. However, many news agencies, including AZERTAC have their technical resources.”

“However, AZERTAC is not falling behind its foreign partners even without using the services of specialized portals. In addition, video, audio news and infographics are widely used by consumers through AZERTAC`s internet resources,” Mr. Aslanov added.

The AZERTAC Director General highlighted efforts to reorganize the agency structurally and conceptually.

“Thanks to economic accomplishments of the Azerbaijani state, we have got the opportunity to enlarge the geography of our bureaus across the world and increase the number of services in foreign languages. The main item of our agency’s reorganization program is the establishment of central multimedia studio which meets standards of the region’s largest news agency.”

Adjunct Professor at U.S. Montana State University Thomas Goltz delivered a report entitled “Western Media Reporting on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Successes of the Spin Doctors", Director of Serbia`s Tanjug news agency Branka Djukic delivered a report called “Agency News and Online Journalism, Twitter and YouTube”.

The third panel was moderated by Director General of Bulgarian News Agency Maxim Minchev, AZERTAC`s Germany correspondent Vugar Seyidov, and Executive Commentator of NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation Ichiyo Ishikawa.

Senior Research Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy at the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies Ariel Cohen delivered a report called “The Global Marketplace of Ideas: How Governments Use Media to Compete for Hearts and Minds”. President of Morocco`s Diplomatic Foundation Abdelati Habek made a report called “The role of the modern mass media in the dialogue of civilizations”. Teacher at Baku Slavic University Rovshan Mammadov delivered a report on “The role and importance of the mass media in establishing international relations among diasporas”.

Other speakers at the event praised the organization of the Baku International Humanitarian Forum.

On the sidelines of the forum, some of its participants visited Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency. Mr. Aslanov received a delegation of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) led by Director General and Board Chairman Sheikh Mubarak Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah. The two directors general praised cooperation between their agencies within the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and International Islamic News Agency (IINA). Mr. Al-Sabah stressed the importance of expanding the exchange of news and experience between AZERTAC and KUNA.

AZERTAC`s Director General also received President of the World Council of News Agencies, Institutional Development Manager of Argentina`s National News Agency (TELAM) Juan Manuel Fonrouge.

They discussed prospects for developing the cooperation between AZERTAC and TELAM.

Mr. Aslanov also received Director of Serbia`s Tanjug news agency Branka Djukic, director general of Lithuanian ELTA news agency Grazhina Ramanuskayte-Tiumeneviene, editor-in-chief of “Moldavskiye vedomosti” newspaper Natalia Uzun, deputy director general of Tatarstan`s “Tatar-inform” news agency Leysan Abdullina, and representative of Russian ITAR-TASS news agency Daria Ovchinnikova.

The members of the foreign delegation underlined the importance of “Modern mass media and new challenges” roundtable meeting organized by AZERTAC as part of the forum.

They were presented with keepsakes.