The eighth Asia-Pacific Media Summit (AMS 8) officially opened in Hanoi on May 24. The event was hosted by VOV with the theme “Digital Media Everywhere: Repositioning Broadcasting”.

A VOV reporter interviewed ABU Secretary General Javad Mottaghi at VOV headquarters in Hanoi on May 23.

Reporter: What is your assessment of broadcasting technology in the Asia-Pacific region in comparison to other regions in the world?

Mr Javad Mottaghi: Technology has brought a lot of changes to the media industry that includes the production as well as the dissemination of the product. The broadcasting landscape in the Asia-Pacific region has changed rapidly to give a better service to the audience to produce better quality of programmes and to reach easily with the better access to the audience in different parts of the country and the region.

I take these technological changes as opportunities for the industry not challenges because this is an opportunity for global broadcasters to use the new technology and improve and deliver a better service to the audience by using all means radio, television, new media and Internet. The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) plays a very important role in dealing with this to help broadcasters access new technology as ABU has done during the past decades. That’s why you can see that the media industry is booming in the region and here we are.

Reporter: Which issues will participants in the AMS 8 focus on?

ABU Secretary General Javad Mottaghi

Mr Javad Mottaghi: I think participants will pay attention to all issues, all topics because we are talking about cultural diversity and diversity in the region. Participants come from different regions, different perspectives, different backgrounds and different countries. They have different views and different perspectives, and they will find something in sessions for themselves. I think all topics and all issues are relevant and will attract participants.

Reporter: What are challenges that the Asia-Pacific region must overcome to catch up with new technology?

Mr Javad Mottaghi: I would like to change the world “challenge” to “opportunity”. Because we are broadcasters, we should look into that way, not be frightened of challenge. We should translate it and change it into opportunities; then we will have plenty of opportunity to bring about positive changes to the media industry in the region by using new technology. We can do a lot with what it offers to reach the audience and serve the public as VOV has been doing for decades to reach the Vietnamese, to talk to the Vietnamese, to serve the Vietnamese and to fulfill the wishes of the public in Vietnam.

Reporter: What do you think about VOV’s position in the region and the world?

Mr Javad Mottaghi: VOV has a special position in the region because the country has been developing fast for the last few years. VOV has contributed to the fast development so we look at VOV as a successful organization who has been able to bring about positive changes not only to the media industry but also plays an important role in becoming the media for development. VOV plays a very positive role in the media for sustainable social, cultural, political and economic development in the country.

We have recognized how fast VOV has developed, and it’s the role of VOV to contribute to the social development, cultural development and economic development in the country. I think it’s a success story and I am sure that VOV has a lot of good experience to share with other countries as well.

Reporter: Thank you.