ABSTRACT
This keynote commentary at the 2021 Asian Congress for Media and Communication (ACMC) conference with the theme Change, Adaptation and Culture: Media and Communication in Pandemic Times is addressed through a discussion of three main issues: 1. The COVID-19 Pandemic and how it is being coped with;2. A parallel Infodemic-a crisis of communication, and the surge of 'disinformation' and truth challenges in this 'age of hatred and intolerance';and 3. The global Climate Emergency and the disproportionate impact this is having on the Asia-Pacific region. Finally the author concludes with an overview of some helpful strategics for communicators and educators from his perspective as a journalist and media academic with a mission.
ABSTRACT
Global lockdowns and border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that international conferences have taken on a virtual existence for more than two years. Uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and the enormity of its impact became a focal point of academic scrutiny for communication sciences and media research. Themes from the Asian Congress for Media and Communication Conference 2021 (ACMC2021) centred around change, adaptation and culture in pandemic times with 12 streams including democracy and disinformation, media influence and impact, and climate change in the Asia-Pacific. This commentary presents an overview of the conference and introduces four of the presentations delivered at the ACMC2021;two keynotes and two paper presentations. The keynotes discussed information challenges such as media freedom, truth, hate rhetoric and climate change while the papers focused on practitioner perceptions and the role of a higher order in securing media freedom and fair representation.