Bernama’s Active Role In OANA Boosts Global Profile, Expands Media Partnerships

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- The active role played by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) has been a catalyst in elevating the agency’s profile on the global stage.

Bernama’s Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said that Bernama has actively served on OANA's executive board for more than 20 years, alongside 13 other news agencies.

“The OANA platform has boosted Bernama’s international profile, attracting foreign news agencies to establish collaborations,” she said when met by Bernama International News Service (PBA) at her office.

Most recently, Bernama signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cuba’s Prensa Latina and Turkiye’s Anadolu Ajansi to further strengthen media cooperation and reinforce Bernama’s role as a global news player.

She added that Bernama is currently in the process of finalising a partnership with Mongolia’s Montsame news agency.

Bernama had already established collaborations with news agencies from Asia, the Middle East, and Eurasia, representing almost 70 per cent of the world’s population.

Malaysia, through Bernama, will host the 54th OANA Executive Board Meeting (EBM) over four days beginning Sunday (Feb 16).

This year’s OANA EBM centres on the theme ‘Future-Proofing News Agencies: Harnessing AI and Technology for Sustainable Growth’.

Commenting on the 54th OANA EBM, Nur-ul Afida said Bernama would seize the opportunity to promote news coverage on ASEAN, which Malaysia currently chairs.

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was founded to foster cooperation and unity among Southeast Asian countries.

The regional organisation was established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, the same year that Bernama was founded as a statutory body under the 1967 Parliament Act.

During the OANA EBM, Nur-ul Afida said Bernama would collaborate with Huawei to spotlight the role of AI in the media industry.

“Additionally, Bernama will also present a topic on fake news,” she said.

As Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama plays a vital role in providing comprehensive, up-to-date, and reliable news to the public and media practitioners.

Its reputation as a trusted news source is widely recognised by both local and international media organisations, even as the media landscape evolves alongside changes in politics and press freedom.

Media organisations in Malaysia, Singapore, and various international agencies subscribe to Bernama’s news services.

Apart from its wire services, Bernama delivers news via its radio and television channels, as well as through its official social media platforms.

Additionally, Bernama produces news content in multiple languages, including Chinese, Tamil, Spanish, and Arabic, alongside Malay and English.

The last time Bernama hosted the OANA EBM was in 2015, under the theme ‘Social Media and the Challenges Faced by News Agencies.’

OANA was established in 1961 on the initiative of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to facilitate direct and free news exchange among news agencies in a region that accounts for over half of the world’s population.

OANA currently has 41 member news agencies from 33 countries, with 13 agencies serving on its Executive Board.

The OANA EBM is held annually, with the last meeting hosted in Russia.

The 54th OANA EBM will bring together representatives from 13 international news agencies, namely the Islamic Republic News Agency (Iran),  Yonhap News Agency (South Korea), Azertac (Azerbaijan), TASS (Russia), Anadolu Ajansi, Xinhua (China), WAM (United Arab Emirates), Kyodo News (Japan), Qatar News Agency, Vietnam News Agency, Montsame (Mongolia), Perusahaan Umum Lembaga Kantor Berita Nasional or ANTARA (Indonesia) and MEHR News Agency (Iran).

Nur-ul Afida is scheduled to deliver her address at the 54th OANA EBM on Monday, followed by opening remarks from the President of OANA Hossein Jaberi Ansari, who is also the Managing Director of IRNA.

Two-panel discussions will be held, covering the topics ‘Evolving Newsroom: Building a Digital-First, Audience-Centric Approach to Stay Ahead’ and ‘Credibility in the Crosshairs: Combating Misinformation and Disinformation.’

Additionally, a renewal of the MoU exchange ceremony is expected to take place between ANTARA and Bernama, followed by a similar exchange between Kyodo News and Bernama.

-- BERNAMA