In brief
During a November 10 interview with Xinhua, Belarusian Telegraph Agency head Andrei Mokhar highlighted the 7th World Media Summit’s success in building cross‑border collaboration and establishing common guidelines for journalism. He stressed the need for a harmonised AI framework to strengthen public trust and curb misinformation while calling for clear rules to keep technology companies accountable. The summit, which drew about 500 participants from 112 countries, is seen as a foundational platform for these efforts, but questions remain about how its agreements will be implemented worldwide.
World Media Summit in Beijing concluded on Nov. 9, and Belarusian Telegraph Agency director‑general Andrei Mokhar, speaking to Xinhua on Nov. 10, praised the event for fostering cross‑border media cooperation and laying the groundwork for unified standards to fight misinformation and regulate AI. Mokhar highlighted the summit’s role as a diplomatic channel between media outlets worldwide, arguing that open dialogue is a key mechanism for breaking the cycle of misinformation.
The 7th edition of the event, themed “Media in the Intelligent Age: From Consensus to Action,” ran from Nov. 5 to 9 and drew roughly 500 representatives from nearly 330 media organisations, think‑tanks, government bodies and international bodies across 112 countries and regions. The gathering aimed to reaffirm commitment to objective journalism, discuss responses to technological challenges, and develop joint positions on regulating artificial intelligence.
Mokhar explained that the summit seeks to consolidate the international media community by establishing unified standards and common editorial guidelines that can be applied worldwide. According to him, a harmonised framework is essential to reducing misinformation, strengthening public trust in news, and preventing serious errors when content is produced or disseminated without proper human oversight. He said:
"A harmonised framework is essential to reducing misinformation, strengthening public trust in news, and preventing serious errors when content is produced or disseminated without proper human oversight,"and added that the goal is to create common approaches and technical standards to build global resilience.
He lauded the summit’s emphasis on AI regulation, noting that technology companies evolve faster than legislation. Mokhar said the event identified areas of convergence in reporting global topics and underscored the necessity of universal AI standards beyond national borders. He urged the media community to set clear “rules of the game” for IT giants to protect journalists and demonstrate that truth remains attainable.
Looking ahead, Mokhar expressed hope for substantive discussions on AI, including ensuring equal access to tools for newsrooms in different regions, mandating the marking of synthetic content, and safeguarding authors’ rights. He stressed that a harmonised framework would help prevent misinformation and bolster public trust, but clarified that open dialogue alone cannot instantly end information warfare.
While Mokhar’s remarks highlight the summit’s potential impact, several open questions linger. How will the agreed‑upon guidelines be translated into enforceable policy in diverse legal and regulatory environments? What mechanisms will ensure that smaller or less‑resourced newsrooms benefit equally from AI tools, and how will they be protected from potential abuses by large technology firms? How will the international community monitor compliance with the proposed “rules of the game,” and what accountability measures might be instituted?
These issues are central to the summit’s promise of establishing a shared framework for responsible journalism in the age of AI. As the global media community moves beyond the conference, the effectiveness of its recommendations will hinge on sustained collaboration and clear oversight structures. Mokhar’s interview with Xinhua underscores both the ambition of the summit and the uncertain path toward realizing its objectives.
