Freedom Forum holds 'Press, Power & Politics: Asia' forum in Hong Kong Nov. 16-17, 2000

11.16.00

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ARLINGTON, Va. — The Freedom Forum will hold its fourth and final global media forum for 2000 on "Press, Power & Politics: Asia" in Hong Kong on Nov. 16-17, featuring speakers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand and Mongolia.

The forum will open with remarks from Mrs. Anson Chan, Hong Kong chief secretary, and an interview by Bernard Kalb of CNN's "Reliable Sources" with Willy Wo-lap Lam, the long-time China editor of the South ChinaMorning Post. Lam was recently dismissed as editor and subsequently resigned from the paper. Among other topics, the forum will examine media coverage of elections around the region, especially the role played by television and online media.

"Throughout the world, people rely on the information a free press gives them to make important decisions," said Peter S. Prichard, president of The Freedom Forum. "In Asia, press freedom is alive and well in some countries, but nonexistent in others. And in still others, journalists face a daily struggle when they try to practice their craft. We hope this forum will illuminate the state of press freedom across Asia and help journalists find solutions to common problems."

"Covering politics in Asia is a volatile occupation, with threats of censorship coexisting alongside a thriving free press and a growing Internet media presence," said Chris Wells, senior vice president/international of The Freedom Forum. "This forum will highlight some of the challenges and opportunities faced by the media in this region."

The opening session will take place on Thursday, November 16 at 7:15 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, with remarks by Prichard and Chan, followed by the Lam interview.

The following panel discussions will take place on Friday, November 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All sessions will be held at The Freedom Forum Asian Center & Library, Offices 1502-03, 15th floor, Shui On Centre, 6-8 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

9 a.m.— "Two Systems, Two Elections: Contrasting Media Coverage of the Taiwan and Hong Kong Elections." Panelists are Christine Loh, columnist and former Hong Kong legislative councilor, and Wang Shih-Rong (also known as Rex Wang), executive vice president, Taiwan News. Moderator: Bette Bao Lord, author and trustee, The Freedom Forum.

10 a.m.— "Journalists Rate Election Coverage Around the Region." Panelists are Iqbal Athas, defense correspondent, The Sunday Times of Sri Lanka; Premesh Chandran, co-founder and deputy editor, Malaysiakiniof Malaysia; Y.J. Hahm, Asia correspondent, Chosun Ilbo of Korea; and Nomin Lhkagvasuren, former editor, Gobi Business News of Mongolia. Moderator: Arnold Zeitlin, director, Asian Center & Library, The Freedom Forum.

11 a.m.— "Hard Knocks: What the Indonesian Media Learned From the 1999 Elections." Panelists are Bambang Harymurti, editor in chief, Tempo, and Daniel Dhakidae, director of research and development department, Kompas, and president, Indonesian Publishers Association (invited). Moderator: Bernard Kalb, panelist, CNN's "Reliable Sources."

Noon. "TV and Elections: Is the Real Story On or Behind the Screen?" Panelists are Diana Lin, executive producer, TVB News of Hong Kong; Dorab Sopariwala, election analyst, Star News Channel of India; and Suthichai Yoon, group editor-in-chief, Nation Multimedia Group of Thailand. Moderator: Susan Bennett, director/Asian & European programs, The Freedom Forum.

2:30 p.m.— "E-news: Impact of Online Media on Political and Election Coverage." Panelists are Daisy Li Yuet-Wah, director, Apple Daily online of Hong Kong; Michael D. Marasigan, editor, New Media BusinessWorld Online of the Philippines; and Mark Stencel, managing editor, Washingtonpost.com's OnPolitics. Moderator: Adam Clayton Powell III, vice president/technology and programs, The Freedom Forum.

4 p.m.— "Drawing the Line: The Role of Political & Editorial Cartooning in Election Coverage." Panelists are Larry Feign, cartoonist, Hong Kong iMail; Sheridan Chandrasekara Opatha, chief cartoonist, The Sunday Leader of Sri Lanka; and Sara Seneviratne, cartoonist, Hong Kong iMail. Moderator: Nury Vittachi, columnist, Far Eastern EconomicReview.

All sessions are open to the media. The panel discussions on Friday are free and open to the public. They will be webcast on the Freedom Forum Web site (www.freedomforum.org).

The forum is the last of four conferences around the world that The Freedom Forum has convened this year on the topic of "Press, Power & Politics." Earlier forums were held in Peru, the United Kingdom and Ghana.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

IN HONG KONG: Susan Bennett or Arnold Zeitlin at 011-85-2-2598-8818

IN THE UNITED STATES: Donna Fowler at 703/284-2887.