The East Asia Journalists Forum 2004, Nov. 16-21, in Seoul, South Korea, was a major conference of 49 journalists, journalism educators, and related academics and professionals from all over Asia—South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines—and Australia, Russia, Germany, and the United States.
I. About the Program of the Forum
The Program, divided into three parts, was well planned. One part was a panel on developments in the media industry. This was highlighted by the exciting story of Ohmy News, a pioneering online citizen newspaper in South Korea. It is the first newspaper in the world with citizen reporters—35,000 of them! Now on its fourth year of operation, it has become financially stable, drawing support from advertising and reader/viewer fees. It demonstrated its power when it successfully mobilized public opinion against a politically motivated move to impeach President Roh in 2004.
The second panel was on mass media and peace initiatives. The main paper here was “Peace Journalism: A New Approach to Conflict Reporting,” by Crispin C. Maslog, Filipino visiting professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The third part was a series of academic lectures to give the journalists backgrounding. The highlight of this part was the lecture on stem cell research by eminent South Korean scientist, Hwang Woo-suk.
The Program squeezed 22 sessions into two hectic days. But it was not all work. The organizers made sure that there was play—tourist trips outside Seoul to the Demilitarized Zone, Hyundai car factory, Gyeongju, and Bulguk Buddhist Temple in Seokguram.
II. About the organization of the Forum
To organize a conference of this magnitude takes good planning, staffing and logistics. The Journalists Association of Korea should be congratulated for a job well done. The conference sites were spacious, efficient, and user friendly, provided with power point facilities and simultaneous translators.
The hotel meals and sponsored meals were delicious, sumptuous, and hot! Perhaps too hot for some delegates. And the sit-down lunches and dinners Korean style were a challenge for those of us who had big tummies. We have to thank the sponsors, who also gave generous gifts, like Hyundai, which gave each delegate one car each. Never mind if it was a small car.
But most of all we have to thank JAK President Lee Sang-ki and JAK International Affairs Committee chair Kang Seok-jae, who was conference chairman, for making sure the conference went on schedule and the participants were happy. We appreciate the fact that they went out of their way to make us feel at home. Their hospitality, Korean style, was simply overwhelming.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the conference was the closing program, which showcased Korean hospitality, drinking and singing prowess, and passion for fun. With Kang SJ as emcee, it started with the traditional Korean “love toasts,” where man and woman of his choice, or vice versa, with arms interlocked in front, and sometimes around the neck, drank wine bottoms up. No one was exempted. After a few love toasts, the singing challenge began. It ended with a “Korean Idol” singing contest, with this Professor as sole, and authoritarian, judge.
There were a few surprises, like the singing and dancing talents of the American girls (Sonia Smith, Susan Kreifels, Wendy Hoke and Ann Augherton), who tried to bribe the judge with kisses. Also the American boys (Irwin Gratz, Mac McKerral, Neil Ralston, Robert Leger, and Terence Harper) who tried to do the same, but were rejected by the judge. JAK President Lee tried to sing. Kang SJ was an excellent singer. But the best of the best was Park Seong Ho from South Korea, who won the title of the “Korean Idol.” The latest word is that Park is going on an Asian concert tour to raise money for the newly formed Asia Journalists Association.
On a serious note, this writer is happy that the Forum was a success with the bonding of participants at the end of the conference. The usual formality at the start of the conference became warm embraces at the end.
The second major success of the forum was the consensus arrived at the closing session: (1) A unanimous resolution condemning the killing of Filipino journalists, (2) Forming the Asia Journalists Association, and (3) Adopting a four-point action program on Peace Journalism—research, training, peace journalism manual, and an Asian Peace Journalism Award. We look forward to implementation of these projects in the near future.
“The Professor” (Name given by Singapore delegate Ivan Lim to
Crispin C. Maslog, School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
