NEWS AGENCIES WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST LIKE THE RADIO DESPITE NEW TECHNOLOGIES - OANA SEC-GEN

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- News agencies will continue to exist like other old media channels including the radio despite the emergence of many new technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), said Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) secretary-general Zaman Rezakhani. 

Zaman, who also serves as the International Relations Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), noted that years ago, the rise of radio and television led to predictions that news agencies would become obsolete. However, they continue to thrive today.

“If you look back to maybe 50 years ago, news agencies were totally different. They sent their messages by telegraph. Now they (news agencies) make use of digital instruments. They are online. So websites didn't threaten news agencies.

“AI is a new technology, like websites. We can make use of new technologies, and it will help us. It will help us to reach to the new generation. Lesser audience? No, I don't think it's a big threat,” he told Bernama when met after he delivered his opening remarks at the  54th OANA Executive Board Meeting (EBM) here Monday. 

Also present were Bernama’s Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Bernama’s Executive Editor for International News Service Mohd Shukri Ishak, who is also discharging the duties of Deputy Editor-in-Chief.

According to Zaman, news agencies can remain relevant if they embrace new technologies and adapt to changing audience needs.

However, he stated that AI cannot be used for every aspect of writing and is more useful and suitable for routine news, such as sports scores or stock market results.

“ AI can help you so much (for these two writings),  but for deep (human interest) articles, for getting in touch with the audience, you need to be careful,” he added. 

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks for the EBM, Zaman said AI becomes an opportunity when professional news agencies use AI to provide their audience with fast and reliable news.  AI becomes a threat when certain organisations or individuals misuse it to spread false information.

He also expressed appreciation for Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN for its effort in promoting cooperation among Asian countries as well as the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) which has always been an active and influential member of OANA.

Zaman also congratulated Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Kyodo News which will be celebrating their 80th anniversary while  Qatar News Agency turns 50 this year.

OANA meetings have always been more than just forums for collective decision-making, they are also invaluable opportunities for connecting, exchanging ideas, and cultivating professional relationships, he added. 

OANA was established in 1961 on the initiative of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to facilitate direct and free news exchange among news agencies in a region that accounts for over half of the world’s population.

OANA currently has 41 member news agencies from 33 countries, with 13 agencies serving on its Executive Board.

The OANA EBM is held annually, with the last meeting hosted in Russia.

The 54th OANA EBM will bring together representatives from 13 international news agencies, namely the Islamic Republic News Agency (Iran),  Yonhap News Agency (South Korea), Azertac (Azerbaijan), TASS (Russia), Anadolu Ajansi, Xinhua (China), WAM (United Arab Emirates), Kyodo News (Japan), Qatar News Agency, Vietnam News Agency, Montsame (Mongolia), Perusahaan Umum Lembaga Kantor Berita Nasional or ANTARA (Indonesia) dan MEHR News Agency (Iran).

-- BERNAMA