The Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) held an international workshop in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province on February 11-12 with the aim of boosting the regional media’s contribution to the building of the new ASEAN Community.

During the workshop themed “Bringing ASEAN closer to people’s hearts and minds”, participants discussed challenges faced by the media currently, as well as the role of journalism in fostering peace, security, stability and development in the region in order to promote the establishment of the major new regional bloc by 2015.

They stressed the importance of communications in promoting regional cooperation and integration.

Addressing the event, CAJ permanent Secretary Akhmad Kusaeni highlighted the rapid and strong development of social media, affirming that it should not be considered as a threat, but rather as an opportunity for the development of traditional media.

Participants noted that young people mainly use social media like Facebook and Twitter to spread news. However, they agreed that credibility is the key for the existence and development of traditional news media.

Social media changed the way traditional media operates, but it also provides opportunity for journalists to interact with their audience, they said.-VNA