|
 Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan will address the 'Who's who' of the global media industry at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, this week. He is among 100 'most influential and respected media leaders in the world' picked to join the WEF's inaugural International Media Council (IMC). "It's a rare honour to be selected as a member of the council," said Gan.
 "Given that the media plays a pivotal role in shaping global events, it's also a great responsibility. I take this as a unique opportunity for me to discuss issues of great importance with some of the most powerful men and women in the world." 
"Given that the media plays a pivotal role in shaping global events, it's also a great responsibility. I take this as a unique opportunity for me to discuss issues of great importance with some of the most powerful men and women in the world." The IMC is a new body set up by the organisers of the WEF. More than 3,000 journalists around the world were asked to suggest potential members and 900 nominations were received. The final list was chosen by a special committee of experts. Gan was the only Southeast Asian selected and one of nine Asians. Other prominent IMC members include New York Times' Arthur Sulzberger Jr, Washington Post's Bob Woodword, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and Google's Eric Schmidt. The IMC will interact with other WEF-established organisations - the International Business Council (100 most respected business executives), International Gathering of World Economic Leaders (50 top heads of state and politicians) and the Young Global Leaders (leaders from all walks of life under 40). The IMC meeting - to be held in conjunction with other WEF activities from Jan 24-28 - will focus on the clash between old and new media. Gan will be among those speaking at the opening session themed 'Old Questions, New Answers' which will examine the challenges facing the old and new media. He will also be on a panel session entitled 'Journalism is Dead - Long Live the Journalist' which explores the meaning of journalism in the new media world. Meetings with Gates, Soros "I assume malaysiakini was picked because we are a new media with a healthy dose of old journalism," said Gan. "There has been a lot of excitement - as well as hype - over the potential of new media. A lot of us - journalists who are facing the painful process of migrating from old to new media - are still trying to make sense of the rapid changes we see around us." Gan will also participate in a number of informal meetings, including a breakfast meeting hosted by Microsoft's Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, and a lunch meeting with philanthropist George Soros. "I hope to hear what they have to say about the complex problems confronting the world today, and perhaps share some of my views with them," said Gan. The prestigious WEF in Davos - a mountain resort in Switzerland - has been an annual meeting place for global leaders 'committed to improving the state of the world'. This year's forum - themed 'Shaping the Global Agenda - The Shifting Power Equation'. Equation' - will see more than 2,400 global leaders, among them more than 800 CEOs, meeting for five days in the Swiss Alpine resort. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also scheduled to speak at the forum on the issue of Islam and globalisation alongside New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.
Premesh Chandran is the CEO of Malaysiakini.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
