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| Around 100 journalists from 60 countries gathered in Seoul Monday to discuss self-regulatory activities of the media and effective fact-checking systems at the World Journalists Conference 2022, hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea. Courtesy of Journalists Association of Korea |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Around 100 journalists from 60 countries gathered in Seoul Monday to discuss self-regulatory activities of the media and effective fact-checking systems at the World Journalists Conference 2022, hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK).
The conference, which kicked off Sunday for a three-day run, was held in a hybrid format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overseas journalists were invited to participate online, while Korean journalists and foreign correspondents joined offline at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.
Since 2013, the annual event has gathered journalists from around the world to discuss a variety of media-related and other pending issues, becoming one of the major journalism events worldwide.
This year's event was held under two themes: "Current status of fact-checking by global journalism and the operation of media's self-regulatory organization" and "A society changed by journalism," looking into each country's best practices in journalism that have brought changes to their respective society.
"We may have differences in country of origin, gender, ethnicity and ideology, but we all have one thing in common. We all work hard for freedom and peace by spreading the truth with cool heads but warm hearts," JAK President Kim Dong-hoon said in his opening remarks.
He expressed regrets that the event has been held online for three consecutive years due to the pandemic, saying, "Once the COVID-19 situation recedes, I would like to invite you all to Korea to show our beautiful traditional culture and the lifestyle of peace-loving Koreans."
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said in his congratulatory message that the World Journalists Conference has played a vital role for the past decade in bringing journalists around the world together and sharing their ideas on prominent global issues.
"In particular, for the past two years, under the COVID-19 crisis, journalists have played a critical role in protecting people's lives by sharing news about quarantine policies and pandemic experiences of each country. I hope all participants of today's conference will pave the way to create a 'healthy community' by sharing your knowledge under the spirit of solidarity and cooperation," he said.
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| Participants attend World Journalists Conference 2022, hosted by the Journalists Association of Korea at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Journalists Association of Korea |
On Monday, the participants discussed the seriousness of fake news that has worsened amid the pandemic, and shared effective practices for eradicating misinformation, along with policies to build trust in media through self-regulatory efforts.
Jung Min-ho, digital content editor of The Korea Times and head of the JAK's international relations department, joined as moderator.
About 30 speakers shared their robust fact-checking practices, along with tools and reliable platforms to help combat the sheer volume of misinformation in the rapidly changing media environment.
The speakers included Chong Eun-ryong, director of Seoul National University (SNU) Fact-checking center; Elira Canga, media project manager at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; The Irish Times columnist Frank McNally; and Asia Journalist Association correspondent Rosalin Garganera, among others.
During her speech, Chong highlighted the joint efforts of local media outlets in strengthening self-regulatory systems.
She noted that regulating misinformation by law may threaten the freedom of expression, mentioning that the Korean government's push for an amendment to the Act on Press Arbitration, which aims to impose punitive damages on media outlets and reporters for producing "fake news," has been put on hold following backlash from journalists in and out of the country.
On the last day of the conference, PUBLISH CEO Sonny Kwon, a digital media and block-chain technology expert, will give a presentation about blockchain-based news systems, after which journalists will discuss the impact of media on society.
The speakers will include The Post Media reporter Rethea Pann and Chung-Ang University media and communication professor Lee Min-kyu.
