SUVA (Islands Business / Minfo / Pacific Media Watch): Ministers and senior officials representing information ministries from developing countries are in Beijing this week for a two-week series of seminars and workshops discussing media trends around the world.
Fiji’s Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary, Sharon Smith-Johns, is representing Fiji at the seminar.
Participants will develop new ideas on how to disseminate information to the public and at the same time ensure information is not distorted, inaccurate or unbalanced when it reaches the general public.
According to Smith-Johns, the seminar is crucial to committing Fiji to a knowledge-based society but at the same time, looking at the challenges faced by other developing countries.
“Developing countries can learn from each other if we make a collective effort,” Smith-Johns said.
“We come with individual challenges but we can make collective solutions. Similarly, this is something that the Bainimarama government emphasises and the Ministry of Information and the media outlets in Fiji can capitalize on.”
China’s International Department for the State Council Information office director, Jiang Weiqiang, told participants that developing countries at times have a weak international media voice.
He highlighted that 85 percent of the world's media was largely Western-controlled.
Director Jiang said this created a challenge for developing countries in ensuring correct information was shared.
This includes how developing countries face a dilemma when sourcing information from western media in shaping their own opinions.
“Developing countries should seek direct understanding and speak directly to each other. Seminars such as these can deepen the understanding and misconception from global media,” director Jiang said.
The seminar ends next week and will see representatives from developing countries look at China's various success stories and models to adopt for their own ministries.
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