47^th AIBD Annual Gathering

• The prestigious Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) has extended India's presidency for an additional year.

• At the two-day General Conference of the Institute held in New Delhi, the member nations of the AIBD unanimously decided this.

What is AIBD, or the Asia-Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development?

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was the umbrella organization when the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) was founded in 1977. 
• It is a distinctive regional intergovernmental organisation that provides support to nations that are members of the UN-ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).
• The Malaysian government is the host of its secretariat, which is located in Kuala Lumpur.
• The goal of the AIBD is to create a dynamic and unified electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through the creation of policies and resources.
• Founding Members: The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are founding organisations of the Institute and are non-voting members of the General Conference.
• Members: The organisation is made up of broadcasters from 26 nations in the Asia-Pacific area, including India.
• The 20th AIBD General Conference and Associated Meetings was conducted in New Delhi during the 47th AIBD Annual Gathering.
• It featured a variety of debates, talks, and idea-sharing sessions, with an emphasis on "Building a Stronger Future of Broadcasting in Post-Pandemic Era."
• Additionally, a five-year strategy for exchange programmes and cooperative activities was completed.
• The participating nations and member broadcasters made a joint commitment to work toward a sustainable broadcasting environment, cutting-edge technological expertise, and top-quality content.

What Role Has AIBD Played in the CoVID-19 Pandemic Era?

• During the Covid-19 pandemic, the AIBD leadership kept member nations connected online and continued a steady conversation about how media may lessen the pandemic's effects.
• Sharing information on the most recent medical advancements, inspiring tales of COVID fighters, and, most critically, fighting bogus news that was spreading as quickly as the virus, greatly benefited member nations.
• Even amid lockdowns, AIBD continued its training and capacity-building programmes. 34 training sessions were held in 2021 alone, with an emphasis on both established topics and new ones including climate change, green technologies, sustainable development, quicker reporting, children's programming, etc.
• The need for journalists to receive training in cyber security journalism has grown as the usage of the internet for broadcasting has increased.