CHANGING DYNAMICS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC:

Power Politics, Economic Might, and Media Challenges

January 20-23, 2008
Bangkok, Thailand
Novotel Siam Square Hotel

Agenda

Conference blog

This conference provided the most current and reliable information on the big stories in the Asia Pacific, as well as the lesser known but important emerging issues.   Attendees received the latest on Asia's dynamic media as well as challenges facing journalists in the region.

Keynote Speakers:

• Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  Keynote Address: "Eternal Vigilance: The Role of the Media in East Asia Community Building," Sunday Jan 20, 6:30-9:00 pm.
• Orville Schell,  Arthur Ross Director of the Center on US-China Relations at the Asia Society, New York, New York, USA; and former Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. Keynote Address on U.S. Media Issues: "What Is Happening in the American Media and How It Relates to Asia," Monday Jan 21, 9:00-10:15 am.
• Sheila Coronel, Director, Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism, Columbia University, New York City, USA; 2003 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for developing investigative journalism in the Philippines.  Keynote Address on Asia Media Issues: "Between the Tiger and the Crocodile: Creating Spaces for Watchdog Journalism in the New Asia," Monday Jan 21, 10:45am-noon.
• Li Datong, Senior Editor, China Youth Daily;  former Chief Editor, Freezing Point Weekly of China Youth Daily, Beijing, China; free-lance writer and contributor to openDemocracy on current global affairs.  Luncheon Talk: "The Changes and Development of China's Media," Monday Jan 21, 12:15-1:45pm.
• Chris McNally, China Specialist, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.  Keynote Address: "China's Development Challenges," Tuesday Jan 22, 9:00-10:00 am.
• Jimmy Lai, Founder/Chairman, Next Media Ltd., Hong Kong, SAR China.  Keynote Address:  “Media Business in Greater China: A Conversation with Jimmy Lai,” Wednesday Jan 23, 9:00-10:15 am.
• Isaac Mao, Co-Founder of Social Brain Foundation, Beijing, China; Co-Founder of CNBlog the earliest website promoting grassroots publishing in China.  Luncheon Address: "Social Media in China: From Personal Meme to Massive influence," Wednesday Jan 23, 12:15-1:45 pm.
• Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP); Editor, CIDRAP Business Source; Director, NIH-supported Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance within CIDRAP; Professor, School of Public Health, and Adjunct Professor, Medical School, University of Minnesota
• Christopher Moore, Award-Winning Author, Asia-based novels, Bangkok, Thailand.  Dinner Address: "The Ghost of Somerset Maugham," Wednesday Jan 23, 6:30-9:00 pm.

 
Other Program Highlights and Speakers Included:

• Everything China. 2008 was a big year for China. Leading Chinese journalists, foreign correspondents and other experts talked about the Olympics, the impact of blogging, and other important China stories. Speakers included Isaac Mao, co-founder of Social Brain Foundation and CNBlog.org--the earliest evangelizing site in China on grassroots publishing--who openly challenged Google to support anti-censorship; Li Datong, former chief editor of Freezing Point Weekly, a publication of China Youth Daily, who was dismissed twice in his career from editor positions for his efforts to reform China's media; experienced sports journalist Francesco Liello, China correspondent for La Gazzetta dello Sport and board member of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China who covered Olympics developments since March 2005; and East-West Center's China specialist Chris McNally. 
• Michelle Burford, founding editor and feature writer for O, The Oprah Magazine led a panel on Covering Diversity in the United States.
• Cao Jianjie, deputy editor, Sports Department, English Service, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing;  and Xie Songxin, assistant to the editor-in-chief and director of National Department, China Daily, joined the panel on Covering the 2008 Olympics.
• Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times, joined the panel on Covering Conflicts. He also shared his photo exhibit on the Nepal conflict and talked about how these photos are being used in the peace and reconciliation process there.
  
• Pressian, a leading Korean online news service, joined our online panel.
• The"Covering Infectious Diseases" panel featured senior U.S. and Asian health reporters; and a panel of specialists discussed Migration and Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific.
• Burma insights from Aung Zaw, editor and director of The Irrawaddy  magazine, a foremost publication covering Burma; and from other Burmese journalists.
• Frontline views from Northeast Asia and Korean peninsula, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Islands, plus key issues that impacted the 2008 U.S. presidential elections and U.S.-Asia Pacific relations.
• Blogging and other New Media trends, challenges facing journalists and impact of newsroom nationalism on media coverage.
• Workshops on investigative reporting, enterprise reporting, web-based journalism and reporting on China. 
• Covering conflicts. 
• Conference registration included a half-day field trip into Bangkok's slums with people known for their work with the poor; to an organization outside Bangkok that offers help and protection to victims of abuse and HIV/AIDS and that promotes women's issues; or a tour of Bangkok's temples with a cultural expert. 

For more information, contact Susan Kreifels, East-West Center media programs coordinator, at kreifels@eastwestcenter.org, or call (808) 944-7176.