IGCF 07: Renowned International Journalist Kelvin...

At an interactive session hosted during the sixth International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017), renowned, award-winning British journalist Kelvin O'Shea spoke on the importance of ethical reporting and the evolution of contemporary journalism. IGCF 2017 is currently underway at the Expo Centre Sharjah, and is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

O'Shea shared highlights of his 40-year career as a reporter and producer, especially focusing on his time reporting across the Middle East during the session, which was co-hosted by Sharjah Press Club. He said: Ethics is one of the tenets of strong journalism. Given the abundance of fake news' across various digital media platforms today, it is important to represent stories and personalities with accuracy and credibility, and in the most balanced way possible. People, on their part, must be rational and vigilant about the news they consume. Furthermore, delving into personal details for the sake of sensationalism may not create the right kind of engagement among readers and communities.

He added that continuous learning and passion are essential to the positive evolution of the global media and communications industry. Elaborating on changing journalism in a socialmedia-driven era, he remarked that conventional media platforms must broaden their appeal to accommodate diverse interests and target groups, while enabling and empowering local citizen journalists to create deeper engagement and open dialogue on important issues.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the sixth edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2017) runs from March 22 to 23 at Expo Centre Sharjah. Themed Societal Participation Comprehensive Development', IGCF 2017 examines how the world's nations can leverage effective government communication to achieve the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs), which have become the top priority of government programmes, international institutions, media organisations and civil society. Offering a transparent platform to examine current issues and formulate recommendations to help governments optimise the impact of their communication, IGCF 2017 convenes more than 2,500 local and international personalities from the ranks of government officials, experts, thought leaders, and government communication professionals.

LINK:	http://www.sharjahmedia.ae/en/media-centre/news/22/3/2017/igcf-2017-re...
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