Media forum marking 65th anniversary of OANA wraps up in Moscow
Moscow, September 21, AZERTAC
A media forum marking the 65th anniversary of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), bringing together heads and representatives of leading news agencies from across the region, has concluded in Moscow.
The anniversary forum focused on the role of news agencies amid the rapid transformation of the global media space, the development of professional cooperation, combating disinformation, the use of artificial intelligence, and maintaining standards of quality journalism.
The forum opened with a photo exhibition entitled “History and Development: 65 Years of Information Exchange in the Asia-Pacific Region.” Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary to President of the Russian Federation, read out a message of greeting from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the forum participants.
Three thematic sessions were held as part of the media forum. Participants discussed modern approaches to combating disinformation and fake news, the methodology and ethical aspects of using artificial intelligence in the media, as well as strategies for maintaining professional standards and improving the quality of information content.
Vugar Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of AZERTAC and Vice-President of OANA, also attended the forum.
Speaking at the plenary session, the Chairman of Board noted that the development of social networks, mobile technologies and artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the ways information is produced and consumed, forcing news agencies to adopt new formats and channels for audience engagement. At the same time, he stressed that regardless of technological changes, accuracy remains a fundamental value of professional journalism.
The Chairman of the Board of AZERTAC emphasized that artificial intelligence can be used to speed up certain editorial processes and process large volumes of information, but responsibility for the source, context and accuracy of the material should remain with the journalist. According to him, the task of a modern news agency is not to resist new technologies, but to use them effectively while strictly adhering to professional standards.
During the discussions, heads and representatives of news agencies from various countries exchanged experience in adapting traditional media to the digital environment. They also explored the growing role of social platforms, mobile devices and new formats for presenting news, as well as the need to strengthen audience trust in professional sources of information.
The media forum wrapped up with an award ceremony for the winners of the "OANA Awards" contest, followed by a commemorative group photo of the participants.
OANA was established in 1961 on the initiative of UNESCO. The primary objective of the organization is to secure the direct and free exchange of news among news agencies in the Asia-Pacific region, home to more than half of the world's population. Currently, the world's largest regional media organization unites 41 news agencies from 33 countries. TASS holds the presidency of OANA for the 2025–2028 term.
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