Thursday 19 / June / 2025
St. Petersburg: Oman News Agency (ONA) took part in the General Assembly meeting of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), held on Thursday in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the theme “News Agencies and the Challenges of the Modern World."
The event, attended by over 40 government and private news agencies, coincided with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a two-day event hosted under the patronage of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation.
In his opening address, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasised the critical role of news agencies in delivering credible journalism and countering misinformation, particularly amid today’s rapidly evolving global developments.
Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, highlighted the importance of protecting journalists in conflict zones, especially in armed conflicts, given their vital role in reporting facts and exposing the humanitarian suffering of war victims.
The OANA General Assembly addressed key topics, including the risks of disinformation and its impact on news credibility—particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies—as well as the experiences of international agencies transitioning from traditional broadcasting to digital platforms in an era of accelerating media innovation.
The meeting also included votes on the Executive Council composition for 2025–2028, the formation of the Technical and Ethical Committee for the same term, and the OANA Presidential Board for 2028–2031. Additionally, the assembly announced election results for the new OANA President and Secretary-General, presented awards, and approved reports from the Executive and Technical Councils, along with the appointment of vice presidents.
