VIENTIANE, Laos—Acknowledging the increasing challenges posed by technology-driven information landscape, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for enhanced strategies to better engage citizens’ participation and public understanding of its regional integration goals.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the critical role of journalists and everyone who works in the field of communications towards navigating uncertainties, building resilience, and bridging connectivity gaps across the region.
“We must do more to inform and engage our peoples about the benefits of regional integration and cooperation, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in our ASEAN identity,” Kao said in a video statement at the 8th ASEAN Media Forum here on Monday, November 25.
The Cambodian diplomat and educator acknowledged the challenges posed by the proliferation of misinformation, declining public trust in traditional media, and the economic pressures threatening journalistic independence.
“Social media has, indeed, democratized access to information, but it has also become a powerful vector for spreading false narratives, complicating the media landscape across the ASEAN region and beyond,” he said.
For this reason, Kao underscored the importance of continuing collaborations between the ASEAN Secretariat and the media in terms of raising public awareness, promoting understanding, and addressing misconceptions about the regional integration agenda.
“By strengthening connections within our region and beyond, we can unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and cultural exchange. Additionally, building resilience will equip ASEAN to navigate uncertainties and challenges more effectively and in a timely manner,” he said.
In her remarks, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy to Laos Nicole Stechmann encouraged the production of “quality journalism” among media professionals working today. She described it “our best weapon against the dangers of disinformation.”
“It is your commitment to honesty, accuracy, and depth that can help build a resilient public, one capable of seeing through attempts to mislead and manipulate. Quality journalism does not simply state facts; it investigates, questions and contextualizes,” she said.
“This kind of journalism educates, empowers, and most importantly, protects. It fosters a society that is well-informed, not easily swayed by sensationalism or half-truths, but guided by a sound understanding of the issues at hand,” Stechmann underscored.
The AMF is an annual forum organized in partnership with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) to facilitate insightful exchanges and provide space for sharing ideas between ASEAN representatives and policymakers with media participants on emerging regional issues.
