Shenzhen: Media organisations across the Asia-Pacific should strengthen cross-border fact-checking and work towards shared professional principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), said Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, she emphasized that closer cooperation was increasingly critical as AI, while assisting journalists in data analysis and information translation, could also generate misinformation, manipulated images, deepfakes, and automated disinformation on an unprecedented scale. Nur-ul Afida stressed that technology must enhance journalism without replacing its essential values such as accuracy, balance, fairness, transparency, and human accountability.
In her address at the plenary session of the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026, she highlighted the need for media collaboration in the region to move beyond conventional news exchanges towards practical initiatives that deliver tangible outcomes. She proposed initiatives like joint training in AI, data journalism, multimedia storytelling, journalist exchanges, and newsroom attachments, especially for younger journalists.
She suggested that media organisations could jointly produce stories on regional issues such as technology, the green economy, education, culture, and trade, while focusing on the lives and aspirations of ordinary people. Bernama, she noted, could contribute its experience as a national news agency operating within Malaysia's multilingual and multicultural society and the broader ASEAN region.
Nur-ul Afida expressed Bernama's readiness to share its expertise in multimedia journalism, fact-checking, journalist training, and cross-cultural reporting. Additionally, the agency was keen to learn from other media organisations about responsible AI use, mobile-first and data journalism, and engaging younger audiences without compromising accuracy for speed or popularity.
She acknowledged that technological disruption was not the only challenge facing the media, citing geopolitical uncertainty, changing audience behavior, and the financial sustainability of credible journalism as other reshaping factors in the industry. She advocated for portraying the Asia-Pacific region as more than just crises, disputes, and statistics, highlighting its diverse histories, cultures, and human stories.
Nur-ul Afida affirmed Bernama's commitment to building an Asia-Pacific media community that learns, innovates, and verifies together while earning the trust of audiences. She mentioned that similar challenges were being encountered in Malaysia, with discussions on these issues held during this year's National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) celebration organized by Bernama.
The Asia-Pacific Media Forum, organized by Xinhua News Agency and partners, officially commenced under the theme "Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action." The forum aligns with the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) "China Year," preceding the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which Shenzhen will host on November 18 and 19.