On July 21, the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, themed "Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI," hosted a panel session titled “Media Literacy as the Guarantee of Information Security.”
Moderated by international news anchor and journalist Nadira Tudor, the panel brought together Jaffar Hasnain, TRT World correspondent; Wang Delu, First Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Eurasian Bureau of China Media Group; Zipporah Maubane, Head of Communications and Advocacy at the Office of the CEO of the African Union Development Agency; and Shafag Mehraliyeva, lecturer at ADA University, The Caspian Post reports citing AZERTAC.
Jaffar Hasnain emphasized that the realities of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict have not been objectively reflected in international media. He underscored Azerbaijan’s decades-long struggle to liberate its internationally recognized sovereign territories, pointing out that Armenian attacks continued for years and frequently targeted civilians.
Highlighting Armenia’s shelling of Ganja - one of Azerbaijan’s major cities - during the 2020 Patriotic War, Hasnain described it as a blatant violation of international law and humanitarian norms. “Regrettably, these realities have not been consistently or objectively reflected in international media,” he noted.
He criticized certain Western media outlets for downplaying or ignoring Armenia’s role as the aggressor and portraying Azerbaijan as bearing primary responsibility for the conflict. “This demonstrates the immense power of media in shaping public opinion, which can have both positive and negative impacts,” he said.
Hasnain warned that biased or inaccurate reporting distorts public perception and blurs the line between truth and falsehood. He stressed the importance of objectivity, ethical journalism, and access to accurate information in the fight against misinformation and information warfare.
In her remarks, Zipporah Maubane emphasized that leaders in both the public and private sectors bear significant responsibility for promoting media literacy. “Decisions made in information policy shape not just individuals, but entire societies. At the same time, every individual must be media literate and apply this knowledge in everyday life,” she said.
Wang Delu praised President Ilham Aliyev’s strategic leadership, highlighting his productivity and engagement with the media. He noted that during a recent meeting with journalists, President Ilham Aliyev responded to a wide range of topical questions. Wang also commended the rapid development of the Karabakh region following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day Patriotic War.
Shafag Mehraliyeva drew a comparison between media literacy and basic reading and writing skills, underscoring its fundamental role in navigating today’s information environment.
