Bernama, TASS sign MoU to strengthen news cooperation

MOSCOW: Malaysia's National News Agency, Bernama, and Russia's News Agency, TASS, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday to enhance collaboration in news and multimedia content exchange, professional expertise, and emerging technologies. The agreement was signed by Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and TASS General Director Andrey Kondrashov, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) in Moscow.

Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida highlighted the MoU as a testament to both agencies' shared dedication to credible, accurate, and responsible journalism in an ever-evolving media landscape. She emphasized the growing significance of trusted news agencies amid the rapid dissemination of information globally and the rise of misinformation and disinformation, which threaten public trust.

Through this partnership, Bernama and TASS aim to bolster the exchange of news and multimedia content, share professional knowledge, and investigate new avenues in digital journalism, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Despite the transformative influence of technology on news production and consumption, Nur-ul Afida stressed the enduring importance of accuracy, verification, fairness, and integrity in journalism.

She expressed confidence that the strengthened media cooperation would foster better understanding between the people of Malaysia and Russia, providing audiences with a more diverse and balanced perspective on both nations and the region. Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida and Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Bernama's Editor-in-Chief, attended the OANA Photo Exhibition Ceremony, History and Development: 65 Years of Information Exchange in the Asia-Pacific Region, officiated by TASS General Director Andrey Kondrashov. They also participated in a plenary session celebrating the 65th anniversary of OANA.