Editor-in-chief of The Star elected ANN chairman
Goh chosen from among representatives of 22 media groups in 21 countries
BANGKOK: The Star’s editor-inchief Datuk Leanne Goh (pic) has been elected chairman of Asia News Network (ANN) for 2017-18.
The election was carried out over the weekend by the executive board of ANN, an alliance of 22 media groups in 21 countries.
Goh, who succeeds Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn from Pakistan, recently received a lifetime achievement award for her leadership in media editorship and journalistic excellence from the World Chinese Economic Summit.
“I am honoured to be chosen by my ANN colleagues to chair the board, which is pursuing a number of regional media initiatives in the coming years,” Goh said.
“At a time when the West is getting more inward looking, this regional network of media groups is vital to reflect the dynamism and growth in this part of the world.
“We need to work together more closely than ever on our common ground, tell our stories from an insider’s perspective, and hold sway at a time when fake news and unprofessional journalism are taking root,” she said.
The ANN executive board had its annual meeting in the Thai capital recently.
Held in collaboration with the KonradAdenauer-Stiftung Media Programme Asia, the meeting’s highlight was a roundtable with former Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan.
On the fast-changing security and economic landscape of Asia, Dr Surin called on Asean to strengthen its global leadership in order not to be sidelined by major global powers.
The ANN board also acknowledged the appointment of editorial staff in Delhi, Phnom Penh and Bangkok under the newly-appointed managing editor, Cod Satrusayang, a Thai-born who was formerly a senior correspondent for Reuters and dpa.
“He brings a wealth of experience as we launch new services,” said Pana Janviroj, ANN’s executive editor, who added that these included an e-newsletter and website service.
ANN members also discussed a number of shareable initiatives, including new media strategies by Dawn and The Jakarta Post, data syndication from The Straits Times of Singapore, video journalism from China
Daily, as well as measures to deal with fake news and threats to press freedom from Bangladesh’s Daily Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
ANN members comprise The Daily Star (Bangladesh), Kuensel (Bhutan), Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), China Daily, The Statesman (India), The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), The Japan News and Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan), Vientiane Times (Laos), The Star and Sin Chew
Daily (Malaysia), GoGo Mongolia, Eleven Media Group (Myanmar), The Kathmandu
Post (Nepal), Dawn (Pakistan), Philippine Daily
Inquirer, The Straits Times, The Korea Herald, The Island (Sri Lanka), The China Post
(Taiwan), The Nation (Thailand) and Viet Nam News.