Malaysia To Strengthen Media Diplomacy Via Alumni Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry plans to keep in touch with foreign media participants in the Malaysia Foreign Media Visitors’ Programme through an alumni programme aimed at fostering closer ties as part of its media diplomacy efforts.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is keen to foster closer connections with all of you,” said the ministry’s Deputy Secretary-General  Dr Ahmad Faisal Muhamad at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Malaysia Foreign Media Visitors’ Programme, an initiative under the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme.

Describing the participants as the programme’s pioneering group, Ahmad Faisal said he hoped the relationships forged during the 11-day programme, which saw 13 media practitioners from 10 countries engage with government agencies and media institutions in Malaysia, would inspire greater collaboration between Malaysia and their respective media organisations.

He said the media had become an indispensable partner in fostering international understanding, shaping public discourse and influencing how nations perceive one another.

“Media diplomacy has become a crucial instrument in conducting foreign affairs,” he said.

Ahmad Faisal said the media provided a potent tool for projecting soft power, enabling nations to showcase their culture, values and ideals to a global audience.

“Through well-crafted content, media can help to enhance a nation’s international image and influence,” he said.

He noted, however, that the media landscape was changing fast, with the advancement of artificial intelligence, digital technology and the growing influence of social media impacting the conduct of government affairs and presenting both opportunities and challenges.

“We have to learn to manage real-time engagement, crisis communication and global narratives while facing the complexities of misinformation,” he said, adding that this made accurate and balanced reporting more important than ever.

Ahmad Faisal said the Foreign Media Visitors’ Programme was designed against this backdrop to engage closely with media practitioners from various backgrounds, share best practices and embrace diversity of perspectives in professional reporting.

“We hope this would enhance people-to-people ties and support the broader pursuit of peace, stability and international cooperation,” he said.

--BERNAMA