DW Director General Bettermann: ‘Media is Defined by Reliable Content’
June 5, 2009
“We have effectively overcome the struggle between traditional and new media. The discussions here at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum have shown the only possible way to move forward: The media – regardless of how it is distributed – must live up to clearly-defined quality standards,” said Deutsche Welle Director General Erik Bettermann at the closing ceremony of the international conference in Bonn. “Media is defined by well-researched, verifiable and reliable content.”
More than 1,200 participants from approximately 100 countries came to the World Conference Center Bonn to participate in the three-day conference focusing on “Conflict Prevention in the Multimedia Age”. Representatives from the media, politics, business, science and culture joined in discussions with Deutsche Welle partners and NGOs at the conference – which featured a program of more than 50 different events.
The Director General went on to say that especially in conflict situations and political hot spots, the media is needed for two essential functions: They have to act as responsible professionals while honoring journalistic impartiality and contribute to conflict prevention and containment.
Bettermann also announced the third edition of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, which will focus on “Media and Global Warming”. It will take place from June 21-23, 2010 in Bonn.
Co-host of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum is the Foundation for International Dialogue of the Sparkasse in Bonn. The convention is also supported by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the government of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Bonn, DHL, The Economist, Intermedia, KD Deutsche Rheinschifffahrt AG and the dpa group companies news aktuell and picture alliance.
June 5, 2009