(KPL) Over 70 journalists from 24 media outlets attended a media workshop for Lao Journalists as Lao PDR 's Chairmanship of ASEAN 2024 on February 15-16.

The opening ceremony was attended Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Phosy Keomanyvong, Australia Ambassador, Megan Jones.

Mr Phosy said a Media workshop is very important to the media sector, especially the Ministry of Information, culture and Tourism that responsible for promoting advertising through the media, ensure informAustralia Ambassador,Megan Jones said this workshop builds on previous collaboration with ministries in online training for Lao journalists to identify disinformation, misinformation and fake news, held last year.

It is my hope this workshop contributes to Laos’ success in the ASEAN Chair role. And supports Laos to leverage the opportunities and meet the challenges this year will bring.

International, national and community media shape our societies and our lives. Australia views the media sector as a critical cornerstone for an open, safe and resilient society.

Before the rise of social media, the basic assumption about the role of a mass media audiences was that they were passive and all the same. But as we know, the introduction of social media has changed this assumption and the future of the global information environment.

The audience now can not only choose what news they receive, but they also interact and shape the news and how issues are viewed.

Who influences and shapes a story is now highly contested, and the risk and cost of inaccurate reporting, disinformation, misinformation and fake news is much higher.

All countries in our region are learning how to adapt to meet these challenges, retain our agency and leverage the opportunities this new information environment brings.

Australia has been a close partner and friend to Laos for many decades. In 2024 we celebrate 72 years of unbroken diplomatic ties.

From early beginnings of cooperation in education and scholarships, development and infrastructure, Australia and Laos have broadened partnership in recent years to prioritising defence, police, immigration and customs cooperation, and economic reform and public financial management.

At the workshop, the participants will learn Lao PDR's media preparation for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.ation is disseminated accurately, quickly and accessible to readers, viewers, and listeners at home and abroad as widely as possible.

In addition, to ensure that the information does not contain errors or lack of movement in an incorrect and unprofessional way.

Mr Phosy also said the media will gather news about the 2024 ASEAN Summit in Lao PDR as the host, there will be media from abroad also participating.

This media workshop will present lessons to the Lao media is considered a very good opportunity and I see that the topics that you will present are all related to media work, such as understanding the history of ASEAN (ASEAN), the work of each pillar, advertising for international conferences, preparation and so on.

KPL