TEHRAN (Iran News) –The fifth World Media Summit took place in the Nansha district of Guangzhou, the central province of Guangdong, China, from December 1 to 6. Themed “Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development”, the event brought together 450 media practitioners from around the world, representing nearly 170 media outlets.

 This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for media experts from 140 countries to engage in dialogue and discuss various issues related to the agenda. It also served as a platform for increased familiarity and collaboration among media outlets worldwide. This event had several unique approaches and significant impacts on global media relations, some of which I will briefly highlight in this note.

1. An opportunity to enhance media integration and coordination:

The topics presented by experts and media managers in the World Media Summit were carefully chosen to thoroughly examine the challenges faced by the media from a global perspective and to share the best possible approaches based on scientific and empirical achievements. For example, many experts and managers emphasized the importance of using artificial intelligence capabilities correctly to prevent the production and dissemination of fake news and bias in information delivery. Mutual respect for ideas and approaches, alongside proposing solutions necessary for the growth and empowerment of media, was another characteristic of the World Media Summit in terms of enhancing media coordination and integration. Media outlets and countries align themselves with programs that promote the sharing of ideas and thoughts while respecting diversity. This respect, coupled with diversity, has contributed significantly to strengthening media relations within the summit.

2. Formation of new media relationships and collaborations:

Simultaneously with the development of social networks and other capacities of the cyberspace for information sharing, competitors and stakeholders in the field of communications have significantly expanded at the local, national, regional, and global levels. Those who package content in various formats using software mechanisms tailored to their tastes or the preferences of their audiences have established significant businesses, making the assessment and evaluation of content production sources a difficult task. The World Media Summit, by incorporating various mechanisms such as identification through regional unions and media performance records in challenging domestic and international situations in selecting and inviting conference guests, provides an opportunity for credible participants to come together and engage in more trusted discussions and pursue common goals.

During this conference, based on presentations by media outlets and experts, participants become aware of their approaches and jointly plan new collaborations and relationships. Furthermore, the fast-paced nature of media work, especially in the field of news, leaves little opportunity for international dialogues to expand collaborations and develop networks. From this perspective as well, the World Media Summit becomes a remarkable opportunity.

3. Capacity to address concerns of alternative media:

Criticism towards the media monopoly created by mainstream media has been a major focus of critical media theories for years. This monopoly, in addition to its content-related aspects, is also evident in the ownership of major media outlets, where individuals or companies exert significant control over international communication mechanisms. Even in an era where social networks and messaging apps have strengthened direct communication between individuals, this monopoly results in susceptibility and predetermined frames that shape the audience’s mental image of events and concepts according to the preferences of mainstream media or their owners. The World Media Summit serves as an appropriate opportunity for independent, alternative, or local media outlets to address the necessity of hearing all social and cultural voices and solidify media diversity as a leading principle in global interactions.

Media differences sometimes represent valuable identities that should not be eliminated as global integration trends unfold. Methodologies used in communication research show that perceiving truth is only possible when equal opportunities are provided to introduce ideas and values at the global level or when dominant media forces are not seeking to eliminate other perspectives and social values. The World Media Summit provides a capacity for equal opportunities for alternative media outlets to present ideas and policies in response to mainstream media.

4. Increasing interpersonal relationships as the primary basis for media relationship development:

A social relationship is fully formed when, in addition to its contractual dimensions, it also includes human and interpersonal aspects among the individuals involved. It is natural that each individual relies on their friends to face challenges and overcome crises in expanding their relationships. In the media world, which requires mutual understanding for effective collaboration, this issue has a special place.

The World Media Summit provided a valuable opportunity to establish two-way or multilateral recognition and deepen friendships among managers and media professionals from around the world. Sometimes, a bilateral meeting or informal conversation creates the groundwork for familiarity and future collaborations that are not possible in normal circumstances. When individual assessments of a manager’s or media professional’s credibility are added to the evaluation of the media entity they represent, it brings about more accurate judgments and prevents insignificant misunderstandings. Interpersonal familiarity and trust make it possible to keep the window of media-like conversations open to the greatest extent possible in media exchanges and confrontations.

5. Familiarity with China’s new development approach (‌humanomics) as an exploitable model:

There is no doubt that China’s model of development and progress is unique in the world, a successful native model that can be used in neighboring countries, across Asia, and even globally. Familiarity with this model at the World Media Summit was a rare opportunity for scholars, theorists, and media managers. The integration of humanomics approaches to achieve sustainable development, which President Xi Jinping introduced as his programmatic approach to continue China’s path of progress, demonstrates that in a vast and developed country like China, which actually has a high level of social normativity and orderliness, understanding the human needs and humanization of the economy is a necessary condition for speeding up development and achieving success.

Hard work, attention to detail, and sustainable relationships away from tension, while maintaining independence and national identity, are the useful characteristics of this model. A model that can bring developing countries in Asia closer together and create a greater potential for mutual cooperation between China and these countries. Of course, like any other model, this example must be adapted to the requirements of each country and region, and an appropriate model must be developed.

* Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati is the managing director of the Tehran Times.