Kazinform head urges news agencies to gain foothold in social media

Baku, Sept 2, IRNA – In the age of social media boom, the traditional news agencies should retain their pivotal place in the world of information dissemination by playing an active role in the new media, head of Kazakhstan news agency said 'Internet-based social media are still regarded a main channel of social interaction, and news agencies can develop their range of influence by keeping an active role in such media,' Askar Umarov told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The head of Kazinform who is to participate in the executive board meeting of Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Tehran, said preventing the spread of biased information is one of the major duties of OANA. Cooperation with OANA, due to its member's credibility, is a good opportunity for acquiring reliable information, he said. 'Within OANA framework, members can exchange correct information in the quickly,' he said referring to the 44 news agencies that are affiliated to the regional organization. Umarov also described bilateral ties and agreements with members, including IRNA, Azertac, Xinhua and TASS, as a byproduct of OANA membership. The 43rd meeting of the executive board of Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) will be hosted by IRNA in Tehran on September 3. The day-long meeting will be attended by heads and senior officials of 18 news agencies from Russia, Republic of Azerbaijan, China, Qatar, Turkey, Oman, Mongolia, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bulgaria, and the Iranian Mehr News Agency. Most of the participating news agencies are members of the executive board, and some are invited as the observers and special guests in Tehran meeting. The OANA was founded in 1961 with the goal of facilitating information dissemination in the region, supported by the UN cultural entity, the UNESCO. The organization covering two thirds of the world population has now 44 members from 35 countries of Asian and Oceania. Iran, as a long-standing member, has been the rotating president in 1997-2000. The period was followed by a term of vice-presidency until 2016. The country is now a member of OANA executive board. The last (16th) general assembly of OANA was held in Azerbaijan's capital city, Baku, in 2016 to submit the presidency to the Central Asian country. At Tehran meeting, South Korea is expected to assume the rotating presidency for the coming three years. The executive board comprises of 13 members with Azertac, ITAR-TASS, Xinhua, Yonhap and Anadolu as its current board of directors members.