Blog – Page 10 – Asia Centre

Disinformation Winner of 2022 Philippines Presidential Election

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:5 May 2022
Post category:News

Disinformation, and lots over it over social media, was the predicted winner of the 2022 Philippines Presidential Elections. This was the sentiment of speakers and respondents as well as the results of 2 online polls on 3 May 2022 during an event to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. Entitled, “2022 Philippines Presidential Election: Fake Accounts, Bots, and Trolls”, Asia Centre, in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Southeast and East Asia convened a roundtable discussion to assess the impact of social media on mainstream media and election campaigning. (Watch the TikTok here, the event video here, and see…

Analysing the direction of Thai press freedom on World Press Freedom Day

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:4 May 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

Reporters wait for the general election results in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Reporters wait for the general election results in Bangkok, Thailand, March 24, 2019. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed about the state of press freedom in Thailand and Southeast Asia in an article 'Analysing the Direction of Thai Press Freedom on World Press Freedom Day' by VOA Thai published on 3 May 2022. Dr. Gomez said the regional trend of governments using laws related to defamation, 'fake news', Single Internet Gateway, media ethics - which collectively results in the media self-censoring on critical issues - is similarly being played out in Thailand. Read the…

COVID-19 and Infodemic in Southeast Asia

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:25 April 2022
Post category:Books Reports

Download Full Report In the academic article "COVID-19 and Infodemic in Southeast Asia" published in the first issue of Thai Media Fund Journal, Dr. James Gomez and Dr. Robin Ramcharan examine COVID-19 related ‘infodemic’ from 2020 to mid-2021. They take stock of how the 'infodemic' has adversely disrupted access to accurate public health information in Southeast Asia by and assess existing non-legal measures that have been used in response to the infodemic. Strategies reviewed in the article include: information sharing, fact checking, responses of technology companies, quality journalism and media information literacy (MIL) – each with shortcomings of their own. The…

Journalists Tell of Growing Asian Inequality

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:20 April 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

Photo from AFP

An op-ed based on the 2021-2022 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award, jointly convened by Asia Centre and Oxfam International, was published in Cambodianess on 13 April 2022. The two authors – Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of the Centre and Mustafa Talpur Asia Regional Advocacy & Campaigns Lead, Oxfam – pointed to the worsening inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially of the marginalised communities across the continent. Called to attention by Dr. Gomez and Talpur are journalists working to shed a light on these realities, who require support and encouragement. Read the piece here.

Can the Rohingya issue block the development of BIMSTEC?

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:1 April 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

Dr. Robin Ramcharan, Executive Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed by Sreeparna Banerjee from the Observer Research Foundation on 21 March 2022. Dr. Ramcharan discussed the current state of Rohingyas and displaced communities in Myanmar. Stating that BIMSTEC members should consider value connectivity and humanitarian aid, Dr. Ramcharan mentions that members should also aim to achieve Sustainable Development Goal pledges. To help alleviate the suffering of Rohingyas, Dr. Ramcharan suggests that BIMSTEC should support each other financially and politically. Watch the interview here.

Journalists’ Freedoms Can Be Re-Ignited

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:28 March 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

On 22 March 2022, 2021-22 Journalism for an Equitable Asia Award prize winner Phoung Vantha from Cambodianess spoke to Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director, Asia Centre, about the Centre's latest report Media Freedoms in Southeast Asia: Repeal Restrictive Laws, Strengthen Quality Journalism. The discussion was on the situation of media freedoms in Cambodia and what a roadmap for media development should look like.Read the article here.

China Uses Overseas Social Media to Spread Unique Views on War in Ukraine

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:25 March 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

On 22 March 2022, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed for an article 'China Uses Overseas Social Media to Spread Unique Views on War in Ukraine' by Ralph Jennings of VOA News. He commented on the use of advertisements by Chinese state-controlled media and recommends that the placer of the ads (who are not necessarily government agencies themselves) should be identified and traced back to the CCP.Read the article here.

Strengthening Quality Journalism to Fight Online Disinformation

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:22 March 2022
Post category:News

As the majority of news production and consumption shifts to social media so has government control. “Media Freedom in Southeast Asia: Repeal Restrictive Laws, Strengthen Quality Journalism,” outlines how fake news legislation is used to silence media organisations and journalists who produce and disseminate critical content online.Launched by Asia Centre and the Friedrich Naumann’s Foundation on 15 March 2022, the report recommends that governments focus on strengthening media organisations rather than silencing them. Through these efforts journalists can counterbalance online disinformation through verified information and quality journalism. Tech companies can help by not feeding hate and using algorithms to spread…

Asia Centre and Indonesian Parliament’s Expert Agency Sign MoU

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:22 March 2022
Post category:News

On 14 March 2022, Asia Centre and The Expertise Agency of The House of Representatives of The Republic of Indonesia signed a 5 year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Through the MoU, both organisations pledges to jointly undertake the publishing of research outputs, execute teaching and training programmes, develop course outlines and materials, and support each other to promote joint activities. Built off of a few years of engagement between the two organisations, the MoU formalises the path for future collaborations and joint projects. The Expertise Agency first participated in Asia Centre’s 3rd International Conference on Businesses in Human Rights in…

China Dictates Messaging About What’s Happening in Ukraine

Post author:Asia Centre
Post published:16 March 2022
Post category:Media Coverage

On 7 March 2022, Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of Asia Centre, was interviewed for an article 'China Dictates Messaging About What's Happening in Ukraine' by VOA News. He commented on how the CCP have been controlling the narrative of the Ukrainian crisis. Read the article here.