Editors, innovators meet in US to discuss trends in newsrooms

Editors from across the globe, media executives and innovators are meeting in Washington DC to take stock of industry challenges and lay strategies in the wake of disruptive technology.

The 67th World News Media Congress seeks to defend and promote media freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity in the wake of digital technology.

Emerging trends in newsrooms, ranging from traditional protection of news sources which is facing 'erosion, ' women in media to safety of journalists are among key highlights of the gathering at Washington Hilton Hotel in the American capital.

The global media  industry is exploring the unique ways through which editors and journalists can jointly develop and promote content to fully inform, engage and increase audience while breaking even as businesses.

Industry players are seeking sustainable and ethical ways of digital news gathering and dissemination as they seek to survive in the highly competitive media environment.

With the rise in mobile phone penetration and even newer versions of technology like the Apple watch, discussants are seeking ways of guarding against worst cyber security practices and the fast changing reporting practices.

Experts are demanding laws that will be required to deal with confidential sources after the Snowden-era case study.

Several speakers from leading global  media houses, The Washington Post,USA Today,Bloomberg,  and the Unesco Director General Irina Bokova are lined up to debate how  World media can professionally deliver journalism excellence in a highly competitive media landscape.

But while many speakers will grace the occasion, many of Sub-Sahara  African  voices remain muted yet it still account for significant quantity of news on the global  stage.

Mr Timothy  Kaberia, a freelance Kenyan journalist based in Washington DC decried how no voices from the  heart of Africa is lined up to meaningfully balance African view point.

"Africa should not just be seen as a source of bad news but also part of global  village in the digital era. Where are the  best practices jointly being supported by the big time media that have enjoyed a huge amount of negative content about us?" He said.

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