AA director general calls world media to take ethical values into consideration

BANGKOK (A.A) - December 14, 2011 - Anadolu Agency (AA) Director General and President of Organization of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) Wednesday sent out a message to the world media by issuing the 50th Anniversary Declaration that underlined the media ethics. Kemal Ozturk said it was very important for the peace in Asia-Pacific and the world that news agencies should keep their editors alert against news and images which could shock people and lead them to feelings of hatred, hostility and discrimination against one another. During the 50th anniversary celebration of OANA in Bangkok, Thailand, Ozturk thanked Thailand News Agency for hosting the event despite the devastating floods that caused an immense human suffering and a big setback to economy. Ozturk said Golden Jubilee was an important milestone in the life of an organization, and the picture they had today of this region and OANA compared to 50 years ago was very different. OANA had grown to become the largest regional news agency alliance in the world with 44 national news agencies in it, Ozturk said. Ozturk said they shared their top stories, pictures and video as well as knowledge and experience and deepen their cooperation. "The main objectives of the Organization were defined as 'to increase and facilitate a freer flow of news and information in Asia and the Pacific and to encourage the removal of discriminatory actions and unnecessary restrictions by governments affecting news agencies engaged in news transmission or distribution so as to promote the availability of news information to people of the world'," Ozturk said. Ozturk said OANA had always functioned as a common platform for this vast area of the world where diverse political systems, colours, races, cultures and religions co-existed. "OANA also strived, in line with its charter, 'to commit itself to peace and understanding among nations and to oppose all forms of racism, colonialism and neo-colonialism'," Ozturk said. Ozturk said at a time when Europe and America were trying to cope with growing economic and social problems, Asia stood out with its dynamism and vibrancy. "The economies on this continent are growing faster than those on Europe or America. Asia has a more dynamic and younger population. Almost two thirds of the world population live here. Analysts around the world agree that balance of power in the world is shifting towards Asia. As the world and our region move towards more tumultuous times, as humanity faces growing financial and social problems, as we witness more wars, conflicts, terror attacks, natural disasters, earthquakes, floods and tsunamis, we as news agencies and together as OANA have to act more responsibly," Ozturk said. Ozturk said on the one hand they were trying to cope with the rapid and radical changes in the media industry and new phenomena like social media by devising new business models on the other hand they strived to maintain their responsible and reliable reporting. -Social media is a minefield- "The big shift in the media industry does not mean the end for news agencies. Although social media is a great tool to gather and disseminate news, it has some innate problems. It’s a minefield where there are a lot of hoaxes, fake identities, false stories, slanders, disinformation, unethical and graphic pictures of indecency. People hardly stick to media ethics and guidelines on social platforms," Ozturk said. "As you are aware, undignified pictures and videos of ex-Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi in his last moments were first captured by cell phones and uploaded to social media and internet and then they were televised over international media networks for days, shocking people all over the world," Ozturk said. -Ethical values- Ozturk said soon after the incident he sent letters to members of OANA, as well as to members of European Alliance of news agencies EANA and Federation of Arab News Agencies FANA drawing attention to the violation of ethical boundaries in these repeated broadcasts.  "We as Anadolu Agency refused to carry grisly pictures and video of Gadhafi being shot, lynched and his bloodied body dragged along and paraded. Our intention was never to encourage a news blackout or censorship," Ozturk said. Ozturk said AA had pointed out that every human being, even a tyrant or a dictator, deserved a private death and the published and broadcast images are of a nature that went beyond the red lines and carrying them did not serve the public interest to be informed. "We also felt that broadcasting these visuals was culturally offensive and insensitive. Even though the renowned icons of Western news media have chosen to spread distressing and graphic pictures of gore, and to shock people across the world, it will be a significant message to the world media if the call to uphold media ethics should come from us, news agencies of this region," Ozturk said. Ozturk said, "as news agencies we still have a lot of influence and guiding power on the media in general. It is very important for the peace in Asia-Pacific and the world that we should keep our editors alert against news and images which can shock people and lead them to feelings of hatred, hostility and discrimination against one another.   On this important day in OANA’s history, we would like to send out a message to the world media by issuing the 50th Anniversary Declaration that underlines the media ethics. In this declaration, we both promise to fulfil the public right to accurate and reliable information and also declare our will to uphold the media ethical guidelines. I appreciate your support to this declaration personally. I hope that with more dynamic and pro-active attitude and stronger and deeper cooperation, our agencies and OANA will remain relevant and thrive for many decades to come." At the end of his speech, Ozturk congratulated the 50th anniversary of OANA and thanked OANA members for enabling the organization to remain a vibrant and successful hub of information flow. Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikun, AA Deputy Director General and OANA Secretary General Tahsin Akti, and executives of member agencies attended the meeting.