A woman holding her child goes through a gate at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) has highlightedthe role of the media in the fight against COVID-19, saying “trust in the mediais most crucial in time of crisis.”
It has been over 10 months that the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc oncountries around the world. More than 33 million people have been affected, andunfortunately over a million people have died as a result. The pandemic isundoubtedly the biggest challenge facing the international community, the CAJ saidin its statement issued recently.
“This challenge for countries in Southeast Asia is no less daunting, if notmore. In an online informal meeting of members of the Confederation of ASEANJournalists (CAJ) recently, we heard how governments and societies in theircountries work together to battle the pandemic,” it said.
In order to express their concerns over the continuing pandemic and its economicand social impact and to demonstrate their solidarity with the governments andpeoples in the ASEAN region in coping with the crisis, CAJ members issued astatement to recognise the ongoing efforts by governments and peoples of allthe CAJ member countries to overcome the pandemic and its economic and socialimpact in their respective territories.
The CAJ appreciates all the hard work provided by healthcare workers whole havebeen at the frontline in battling the pandemic, and spirit of volunteerism byindividual members of the public in this critical time has given us some shiningmoments in these dark hours.
As governments and societies join hand to combat the pandemic, the role of themedia has become more crucial as ever, both in providing accurate information andkeeping the public informed.
Most important of all, media practitioners are reminded that they must not lettheir guard down as far as professional ethnics is concerned in their coverageof the pandemic. Trust in the media is most crucial in time of crisis.
The CAJ strongly promotes transboundary cooperation among its member countriesso that timely and valuable information on the pandemic can be shared. Equallyimportant, CAJ member countries can learn from each other’s experience infighting against the deadly disease.
Amidst the pandemic, the media, therefore, have responsibility to combat fakenews and disinformation about the pandemic which has become a scourge thatneeds to be countered through joint efforts and cooperation among all theprofessional media in the region./.
VNA
