A Successful 10th AMS Anniversary

The Asia Media Summit (AMS) 2014 has come to a successful close, leaving us with a clear message that much work has to be done to enrich our broadcasting experience. AIBD Director Yang Binyuan made the remarks at the closing of the AMS 2014 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The AMS 2014, also the 10th AMS anniversary, was held from 3-8 May 2014 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia under the theme “Media and Diversity: Enriching the Broadcasting Experience”.

Mr. Binyuan said that diversity and its many dimensions, be they in new and emerging technologies, regulation and approaches to media issues and challenges, gave us insights to find alternatives in serving our audience and society better.

Much has been gained in the rise of satellite channels, but regulations to manage their operations and impact remain wanting.

Speakers gave us a flavor of initiatives in enriching our viewing experience on television. Our mandate is how best to adopt new trends on TV and web convergence as well as social media that will keep our audience and sustain our business.

We have heard numerous ideas, opportunities and lapses in regulating the media industry, in particular public service broadcasting. What is demanded is a set of clear regulation to catch up with innovations and ensure ethical and professional management that will benefit our organisation and society.

On watchdog or investigative journalism, speakers celebrate its many advantages, in particular curbing abuses in governance, yet its practice remains ad hoc and minimal. Our mandate is to ensure that media becomes not an obstacle, but a positive force for reform and change.

Other media issues for discussion and debate in this Summit also gave us a diversity of perspectives and opinions. We heard various practices of media coverage in times of emergency and disaster, high-impact learning strategies for organisational performance, innovations in the newsroom, approaches to audience engagement through radio and new media, and ways to do well as a responsible corporate citizen.

Our challenges are numerous, daunting and complex. Are we doing enough? Are we innovating enough? Are we tapping best practices? Or is it business as usual?

AIBD Director Yang Binyuan hopes that the Asia Media Summit continues to live up to expectations of offering alternatives and approaches in dealing with the current and emerging issues to ensure our broadcast industry remains vibrant, dynamic, relevant and sustainable.

This is an objective that AIBD with its members and partners remain committed. Our mandate remains strong – to tap the variety of expertise and resources of institutions and people with diverse background, competence and perspective that can enhance discussion and debate of current media issues.

Mr. Binyuan thanks all members, partners for their participation and sponsors and other supporters for believing in the value of the Asia Media Summit.

In particular, AIBD would like to express its gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Information and General Commission for Audiovisual Media of Saudi Arabia, for hosting and supporting this eventful Summit.