General News
South Asian Journalists Seek Stronger Cooperation At International Media Summit In Bihar
By Iyojo Ameh
Journalists and media professionals from across South Asia have called for stronger regional cooperation on press freedom, professional safety, emerging technologies and other challenges confronting the media industry.
The call was made at the 2026 International Media Summit held in Jamalpur, Munger district of Bihar, India, on Tuesday, where journalists from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka gathered to exchange experiences and discuss the future of journalism in the region.
The summit, organised by the All India Journalists Union (AIJU), India, was held at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Hall, Jamalpur. Indian Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Dr Bhim Singh, attended as chief guest, while Munger MLA Pranav Kumar was also present as a special guest.
The event was chaired by the National President of the All India Journalists Union, Ranjit Samrat, and attended by senior representatives of the SAARC Journalists Forum International, including its President, Raju Lama, and Secretary-General, Abdur Rahman.
Speaking at the summit, Singh described journalism as a critical link between society and information, ideas and facts, stressing the need for greater cooperation among media professionals across national borders.
“Journalism is an important pillar of democracy. Although our borders are different, the responsibility and objective of journalists is to provide society with truth, facts and accurate information,” he said.
The lawmaker said sustained dialogue among journalists in South Asia could contribute to strengthening professional standards and making journalism more responsible and effective.
Lama, President of the SAARC Journalists Forum International, also called for regular engagement among journalists across South Asian countries, saying regional conferences provide an opportunity to share professional experiences and develop responses to common challenges.
He said cooperation should extend beyond the exchange of news and include journalists’ rights, professional safety, press freedom and other issues affecting media practitioners.
“Relations among South Asian journalists should not be limited to the exchange of news. Cooperation is also necessary on issues such as journalists’ rights, professional safety, press freedom and common challenges facing the media sector,” Lama said.
According to him, the Jamalpur summit had created an avenue for journalists from different countries to deepen understanding and explore areas of collaboration.
The summit also featured discussions on contemporary developments in journalism, including the impact of communication technologies, professional safety, international cooperation and efforts to strengthen relationships among South Asian media organisations.
Participants included the SAARC Journalists Forum Nepal Chapter Convener, Rudra Subedi; Co-Convener, Md. Arif Ansari; Bihar Chapter President, Dr Shashi Bhushan Kumar; Madhesh Chapter Coordinator, Md Sadab Malik; as well as journalists Ramesh Chandra Kumal, Azmat Ali, Sushil Kumar Khadka, Abhilash Gupta, Pawan Prasad Sah and Arun Kalwar, among others.
The organisers described the gathering as the first international journalism summit held in Jamalpur, saying it provided a foundation for deeper dialogue and cooperation among media professionals across South Asia.
Participating journalists said the summit offered a common platform for practitioners from different countries to discuss shared challenges and exchange perspectives on the changing media landscape.
They expressed the expectation that the engagement would lead to more regular interaction and practical cooperation among South Asian journalists in the future.