Countries must be empowered to make full use of modern communication technologies.
Distinguishing facts from misinformation has become increasingly difficult in the current era.
Minister of the President’s Office for Strategic Communications Ibrahim Khaleel has stressed that maintaining the highest standards of journalistic ethics is essential to protecting the future.
He made the remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th World Media Summit, currently being held in Beijing, China.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Khaleel highlighted the rapid developments taking place in the global media industry and acknowledged the efforts of China’s Xinhua News Agency to bring media organisations from around the world together.
He said this year’s summit theme, “Media in the Intelligent Era: From Agreement to Action”, was particularly relevant to the challenges facing the industry. He described it as a call for countries and media organisations to work together and take practical steps towards establishing a credible and trustworthy international media system.
Noting that media and communication technologies have advanced at different rates across regions, Minister Khaleel said countries must support one another in keeping pace with these changes and ensure that all nations have the opportunity to make full use of modern communication tools. He also highlighted the importance of establishing platforms that facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and expertise.
The Minister pointed out that the media landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence and automated systems. However, he warned that these technological developments have also created new challenges in distinguishing accurate information from misleading content.
He observed that while user-generated content has become increasingly popular, journalistic ethics and professional standards are not always maintained in the material being produced and shared. As a result, the public is becoming more vulnerable to manipulated narratives and information that blurs the line between fact and falsehood.
Minister Khaleel said the widespread circulation of misinformation, misleading content and fake news was a serious concern that must be openly acknowledged. He described recognising the scale of the problem as the first step towards addressing it effectively.
He stressed that the international community must work collectively to counter these threats and protect societies from the serious harm they can cause. He also called on all stakeholders in the media industry to uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and strengthen professional training.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Khaleel said the time for discussions alone had passed, warning that agreements without practical action could leave the public increasingly exposed to misinformation and manipulation.
He urged media organizations and relevant stakeholders to bridge technological divides, reinforce ethical standards and commit to building strong and credible institutions. He emphasized the need to create a media environment grounded in truth, professionalism and public trust.
