Nicosia: Modern media have to be responsible and inclusive, and promote dialogue among civilizations, was the main message of a roundtable discussion during the second day of the China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum that took place on Wednesday in Nicosia, focusing on media’s shared social and international responsibilities in the era of great transformation.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the debate was opened by Zhang Zhouxiang, Chief Correspondent of China Daily EU Bureau, who highlighted the programme China Watch, which includes publications in seven languages and collaborations with media worldwide. He emphasized that the role of the media and journalists is to connect and communicate rather than divide, positing that by fostering friendships, journalism can thrive and contribute to a better world.
Former CYBC Vice Chief Editor Yiannis Nicolaou stressed that while fake news remains a significant challenge, the most daunting challenge is artificial intelligence. He asserted that it is the duty of traditional media and true journalists to uphold truth, seriousness, and responsibility, especially in an era of great transformation where media must help shape a more informed, empathetic, and accountable world, while combating misinformation and promoting dialogue.
Vice Dean Wu Meihong from Beijing Foreign Studies University stated that the media should define their own narratives, rather than be shaped by external forces. He advocated for collaboration between Chinese and European media, not only as national voices but as global truth guides, tasked with presenting an honest depiction of the world while respecting common values and differences.
Philemon Bantimaroudis, Professor at the University of Cyprus, contrasted the operational norms of European and Chinese media, noting the former’s liberal democratic standards with emphasis on pluralism, transparency, and editorial independence, in contrast to the state-guided communication system of the latter, which prioritizes social harmony and collective responsibility. He noted that collaborations between these media systems could foster a more informed and resilient global public sphere.
Danna Bawuerjiang from Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics emphasized the importance of grounding journalistic reporting in primary sources and data responsibility. She argued that media should convey facts and construct meaning with objectivity, authenticity, and fairness, requiring rigorous fieldwork and disciplined data use.
Costas Gouliamos, Former Rector of European University Cyprus, highlighted the dominance of Western culture in the global flow of information, with most news originating from major Western-owned transnational agencies. He suggested that addressing ethical dilemmas in the media ecosystem requires social responsibility and open communication channels with countries like China for a mutually beneficial future.
Jin Juping from Xinjiang University proposed that media should serve as a medium for dialogue among civilizations, rather than a source of conflict, emphasizing Xinjiang’s cultural diversity. Evie Lambrou, Assistant Professor at Frederick University, asserted that media should evolve from merely reflecting a fractured world to helping build a coherent one, advocating for diverse, critical human perspectives in newsrooms to combat misinformation.
Finally, Hongyan Hu from Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences noted that despite advancements in AI, complex editing and business operations still require professional skills and full-time dedication. She emphasized the role of media in fostering cultural dialogue and mentioned Guangzhou media’s efforts in establishing international communication centers to enhance cooperation with countries like Cyprus.