OANA Chief calls for media academy

Tehran, Sept 3, IRNA – An educational academy is required at the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) to equip the members with the latest innovation and technical knowledge in face of new challenges, head of the media alliance said on Monday. Calling for educational forums and workshops to be held on the sidelines of OANA meetings in cooperation with non-OANA members, Aslan Aslanov, who is the incumbent President of the media alliance, said the initiative then in the coming years can be turned into an OANA academy. 'We have to be fully equipped with technical knowledge and innovation in face of new challenges,' he said at the opening session of OANA 43rd Executive Board Meeting in Tehran. 'We believe that such an initiative can help all members to benefit from the organization activities,' he said suggesting that some part of OANA budget can be allocated to implementation of the initiative,' he said. Aslanov, who is also head of the Azerbaijani news agency Azertac, suggested that a working group or committee be formed comprising of the executive board members to allocate the money. Creating a permanent secretariat for OANA with the aim of a better organization of events, as well as a more efficient information dissemination on possible changes in OANA was another suggestion made by Aslanov. He also called for reviewing the organization statute for modifying it in line with new developments. The 43rd Executive Board Meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) officially kicked off in the Iranian capital on Monday. OANA was founded in 1961 with the goal of facilitating information dissemination in the region, supported by the United Nations cultural entity, the UNESCO. The organization covering two thirds of the world population has now 44 members from 35 countries of Asia and Oceania. Iran, as a long-standing member, was the rotating president in 1997-2000. The period was followed by a term of vice-presidency until 2016. The country is now a member of OANA executive board. At the Tehran meeting on Monday, South Korea is expected to assume the rotating presidency for the coming three years. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish