FIJI SUN AMONG 30 NAMED IN ASIAN YOUNG MEDIA LEADERS FELLOWSHIP
THIRTY EDITORS AND JOURNALISTS FROM ALL OVER ASIA ARE TAKING PART IN A NEW PROGRAMME TO GROOM FUTURE MEDIA INDUSTRY LEADERS.
Jennis Naidu, a digital journalist with the Fiji Sun, is the only Pacific Islands participant selected.
The Young Media Leaders Fellowship initiative, originally suggested by World Editors Forum president Warren Fernandez - editor-in-chief of flagship Singapore Press Holdings’ daily the Straits Times - is being backed by Temasek Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SPH’s state-owned major investor. Object of the programme by the Asia chapter of the World Editors Forum is to nurture the next generation of media leaders, committed to shaping the regional future.
The group says the aim is for YML Fellows to “contribute effectively to the pursuit of good journalism, foster dialogue and greater connectedness among one another, and build up newsrooms to meet the needs of their societies in these uncertain times”. The inaugural class will now gather online over the next six months to share experiences, exchange ideas, amplify the impact of news reporting and learn to lead in an industry transformed by technology.
“This is especially relevant as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to batter global economies and threaten the future of the publishing industry,” says Fernandez.
“We want to expose Asia’s future media leaders to the diverse challenges facing the media industry across the region and provide them the opportunity to network and build partnerships to share best practices and improve capabilities.”
WAN-Ifra chief operating officer Thomas Jacob says top news publishers already meet regularly at more than 50 of its events and meetings annually.
“With the Young Media Leaders Fellowship in Asia, we are now able to create a similar platform for the next generation of industry leaders,” he says.
It is hoped Fellows will be able to tap on the network of media leaders across the region, and newsrooms will draw on mutual strengths to achieve greater impact.
Says chief executive of Temasek Foundation Connects Lim Hock Chuan, “We hope that Fellows can use the opportunities given to grow and be empowered to build up not just their newsroom but also to contribute to thought leadership to shape the challenges in our society.” The YML programme will now take place mostly through online platforms, with participants attending a week-long online executive leadership programme in June, attending the online Asian Media Leaders e-Summit in July. They will participate in various online dialogues on regional political, economic and societal issues, planning events, activities and stories to mark World News Day, and gathering in Singapore in January next year for a ‘Fellowship finale’ where the Asian Media Leaders Summit will be held, conditions permitting.