Global media space supports democracy: U.S. Under Secretary at Colombo Press Club

U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Elizabeth M. Allen, last week stressed that global media space supports global democracy at a Press Club event at Courtyard by Marriot in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) hosted the Under Secretary who spoke on the topic “Global Media Space and Its Impact on Democracy.” She was joined by U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung at this event attended by parliamentarians, high commissioners, ambassadors, UN dignitaries, and the Sri Lanka media.

In her address Under Secretary Allen discussed how the global media space supports democracy and fosters peaceful, just, inclusive, and ultimately prosperous societies. She concluded that when a government constricts the rights and freedoms of its citizens, the future and the development of the country will naturally suffer.

Earlier Mr. Kumar Nadesan, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute opened the event by extending his gratitude to the Under Secretary for sharing her thoughts with the stakeholders representing diverse facets in Sri Lanka, including the members of the journalistic community.

Following the speaker’s address, the SLPI Chairman moderated a discussion with Under Secretary Allen. The discussion, which among other things focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the media explored a wide array of topics including the existing proliferation of information which shapes public discourse and how media dynamics pose various challenges to the democratic processes across the world.The speaker as well as the ambassador fielded a wide array of questions posed by the large number of journalists present.