International Media Association for Peace Launches in Asia-Pacific
IMAP, Asia-Pacific – The International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) Asia Pacific chapter was launched through a webinar on October 31, 2026. The theme of the meeting was "Truth, Dignity, and Dialogue: Building a Peace-Driven Media Culture in the Asia-Pacific." Speakers from across the region delivered substantive addresses on ethical journalism, conflict-sensitive reporting, and digital misinformation.
The program moderator was Mr. Santosh Paudel, vice president of UPF-Asia Pacific and coordinator for IMAP Asia Pacific. In her opening remarks, the president of UPF-Asia Pacific, Mrs. Ursula McLackland, said that IMAP-Asia Pacific aims to establish a professional network for exchange, cooperation and dialogue among media professionals, and to explore the role of journalism in peacebuilding.
Global coordinator of IMAP, Mr. Peter Zoehrer, presented the global vision of IMAP and outlined a practical regional roadmap. He traced IMAP’s roots to the media initiatives of Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, particularly the World Media Association’s international exchanges. IMAP, he said, is a continuation of that tradition, adapted to digital communication and artificial intelligence, aiming to support responsible journalism and press freedom, including legitimate criticism of its own institutions.
The second speaker was Mrs. Shova Gyawali, founder and publisher of Nepal Republic Media. She argued that journalism must protect the public’s right to know while advancing dignity, democratic accountability and constructive dialogue. Accuracy must take priority over speed, views and online popularity. Although AI can assist research, translation and analysis, it cannot replace professional judgement, verification or transparent correction of mistakes. A free and responsible press, she emphasized, remains essential to democracy.
The third speaker was Mr. Iliesa Tora, a Fijian journalist working with Radio New Zealand Pacific. He framed peace-driven journalism around truth, unity and dialogue. Drawing on more than three decades in Pacific media, he connected journalism with the Blue Pacific vision of an interconnected region whose peoples can shape their own future. He argued that media should reflect shared cultural, environmental and economic interests while preserving regional agency amid geopolitical competition. Reliable information is especially important during climate emergencies, he said, when false or missing information can exclude vulnerable communities from assistance.
The final speaker was Mr. Alexes Joseph R. Bendijo, a broadcast journalist in the Philippines. He presented ethical journalism as a daily discipline of verification, fairness and accountability. Reporters should consult primary records, seek relevant responses and test official statements against independent evidence, he said. Fairness requires hearing affected parties while assessing the strength of their claims. He urged clear distinctions between news, analysis and opinion, and warned that edited speeches or authentic video excerpts can mislead when stripped of context.
The webinar concluded with a question-and-answer session, closing remarks from the moderator and a group photo.
By Santosh K. Paudel, Vice President, UPF-Asia Pacific October 31, 2026
