Erik Bettermann, the Director General of DW reiterated the need for quality journalism that would go along way to counter conflicts.

He said: “In the age of mass media, high quality journalism isn’t a thing of the past, in the future, it will be required for civil society and peace making processes. Publishers and broadcasters must drastically assimilate to a changing media world in order to maintain journalism with quality and relevant content.”

Bettermann stated that in today’s world full of conflicts, journalists are required to live up to their social responsibility and that a “return to distinctive journalistic ethics is necessary.”

He implored journalists to use well-researched stories that foster awareness on how to solve conflicts. “Our role as multimedia journalists is to prevent conflicts and not just accompany the destruction.”

Bettermann noted that the role of the media in preventing, accompanying and covering conflicts will become more and more important as inexpensive and easy to use as new media gains significance in countries like Chad, one of the poorest countries in Africa.

German’s Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe and Media Andreas Krautscheid said the role of the media in conflict prevention is more than just reporting on the conflict.

“Journalists should not only rush to cover conflicts but they should also find solutions to them,” he said adding that the consequences of quality journalism have the intrinsic values in peace building.

The UN Assistant Secretary General, Chief Information Technology Officer Soon-Hong Choi said that providing the right information at the right time is one way that the media can embark on, in order to help in ending conflicts. Citing the example of Manila in the Philippines, he said that a simple short text message (SMS) that was circulated by a single journalist sometime back, helped to put democracy on track.

The global forum with an international focus has drawn media representatives from around the world, including many partner associations of Germany’s international broadcaster, and key figures from the world of politics, culture, business, development cooperation and science.

The event incorporates podium discussions, workshops, interactive presentations, exhibitions, networking opportunities and an appealing social program arranged with the support of renowned partners.