In a world full of fake news, information manipulation and deepfakes, news outlets should be sources of trustworthy information. Retaining readers’ trust by delivering clear and verified information is as important as ever.
Many participants at the Central Asian Media Forum, which took place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, echoed this viewpoint.
Media professionals, tech experts and government officials discussed the region’s growing prominence on the global landscape, emphasising the unique stories it can tell.
“This region is definitely a part of the global media landscape, and it is one of the fast-growing regions in this topic,” said Claus Strunz, CEO and Editorial Director of Euronews.
“And so, it’s very interesting for us to take part in it, to be a partner, to maybe give impulses and to work together with the people in this beautiful country and to learn from each other.”
Serving as a meeting ground for information ministers of Central Asian countries, the forum addressed the problem of the spreading of false information.
“Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Information, highlighted that among the prevailing tendencies in mass media, a shared challenge faced by every Central Asian nation involves the dissemination of incorrect and deceptive content along with incendiary messages across social platforms and messaging applications,” she stated.
Other ministers supported her view, stressing the importance of tackling the dissemination of false information. They highlighted how progress in artificial intelligence, particularly with deepfakes, could be misused, making it crucial to educate people about media literacy and verification techniques.
At the same time, forum participants discussed the benefits and opportunities AI brings.
The way people consume information has shifted. Algorithms now dictate much of what readers see. As a result, publications must adapt, trying to find the balance between crafting compelling stories and optimising them for search engines.
“In the view of the conventional journalistic approach, this certainly poses a challenge for us. However, it’s not about pitting new technology against journalism; rather, we should consider it an opportunity to simplify our work,” stated Rufat Khamzayev, who leads the AnewZ TV channel in Azerbaijan.
Experts have pointed out that journalists can utilize AI to accelerate and enhance their workflow, though it should not take over their tasks entirely.
“It can support journalism, if we use it properly, correctly, and with all the responsibility. Or it can destroy journalism, if we rely on it, and it’s not able to be part of a neutral approach. We, human beings, are in the driver’s seat. We are not slaves of the technology. We decide what’s going on. We shape the landscape of the future,” Strunz said.
As the media environment keeps evolving, the forum acted as a timely reminder that although technology provides potent tools, it is essentially our human duty, honesty, and teamwork that will define the future of reliable journalism.
