Wednesday May 30, 2007
Use ICT, media urged
KUALA LUMPUR: The media should make use of communications technology to change people’s views on issues of global concern, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
“It is time for you to examine closely how communications technology, from websites to mobile phone software, can be exploited to change what people believe and what they can do in support of the war against poverty, illiteracy, environmental degradation and other global concerns,” he said in his keynote address at the Asia Media Summit 2007. His speech was read out by Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin.
Najib said the approaches by the media should be creative, innovative and persuasive to make a difference.
He outlined several possible issues for the media, such as reducing conflict and ensuring that the UN Millennium Development Goals were achieved.
“If the media replaces the ‘culture of clash’ with dialogue by eliminating the logic of power and replace it with the power of logic, the world would be a better place to live,” he said.
Finally, if the media could play its watchdog role in the interest of the people around the world, the world might be able to attend to crucial issues which concern people.
Najib said if the media helped to criminalise war, and supported the war against poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, spread of HIV, environmental degradation and other issues, there would be no doubt that the United Nation’s development goals would be achieved before the deadline.
Najib said dialogues such as those conducted during the media summit were the most effective step to stop the destruction of the world.
“Dialogues can resolve conflicts and lead us to development and prosperity. They can help us stop violence, for instance, by examining the consequences of a solitary approach to human identity,” he said.
Najib said global issues such as terrorism, climate change and poverty had not “escaped” media coverage but added that such concerns constantly kept “slipping” out of the current thinking.
“The notion of an interdependent world remains far from being understood. Its result is a world full of contradiction, misunderstanding and conflicts.
“But it also offers opportunities to take action on the urgent problems facing humanity,” he said.
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