ACN Network inks MoU with Media Federation of India to set up Federation’s Asian chapters

NEW DELHI: Digital news publisher Asian Community News (ACN) Network and India’s apex journalists platform Media Federation of India (MFI) have entered into an agreement to work together to expand MFI’s footprint in Asian nations by collaborating with media organisations and associations of these countries.

Representing over 15,000 journalists across India in 24 states, the MFI has ambitious plans to set up its foreign chapters globally in all major continents including Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Asia. It is also working to bridge the gap between the media industry and academia besides providing benefits and support to the journalist community and raise the level of their exposure from local to global level.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between ACN Network and MFI on Saturday. Arun Sharma, National President, MFI and Sanjeev K Ahuja, Editor-in-chief, Asian Community News Network signed the MoU on the behalf their respective organisations. The papers were signed and exchanged at the office of the ACN Network.

Dr. Deva Solanki, Media Director, Global Business Federation, Dubai, UAE, was also present on the occasion.       

As per the MoU conditions mutually agreed upon, MFI and ACN Network will work closely to set up foreign chapters of the Media Federation of India, especially in Asian countries, and enhance cooperation with various Foreign Media Houses (Print, Electronics, Digital, and New Media), Media Associations and Federations, Media Clubs in Asian nations.

Both sides also agreed to jointly organize journalists/editors exchange programs including media tours to the countries of the concerned media organisations, and associations, and vice versa. MFI and ACN Network also plan to jointly organize workshops, seminars, webinars, round tables, corporate and social awards etc on various subjects and issues concerning journalism, social, cultural, trade, business and industry with a special focus on Asian countries.

Since 2007, the MFI has been actively organizing media-related events and activities across the country, and is widely known for its flagship annual event ‘Media Excellence Awards’, which is the most appreciated and reputed  event. It witnesses a large number of congregation of media professionals from the country and the participation of foreign practitioners.

MFI had awarded ACN Network with the “The Best Asia-Pacific News-Media Agency” for the two consecutive years – 2020 and 2021 in recognition of its relentless reporting of Indio-East Asian affairs with a special focus on Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN.

Sanjeev K. Ahuja also had won the “Best Bureau Chief of the Year” award by the Media Federation of India in the year 2014 when he worked with the Hindustan Times. The ‘Gurgaon Collapsing’ series spearheaded by him in Hindustan Times had won International News-Media Marketing Association (INMA) Award at Miami, USA in 2009. He and his team had won the Gold Star Award, the highest intra-organisation award by Hindustan Times in 2008.

His comments have appeared on various issues in many news media platforms including The New York Times.

“By working closely with foreign journalists from all over the world, we have also extended engagements with foreign professionals to do notable work in providing skill development to journalists and exposure of best global practices for adaptation.  Under this new operations Federation is coming up with international conferences – awards – programs and foreign exchange program for journalists as well as media academicians,” said Arun Sharma, National President, MFI.

As per the MoU terms, both sides would invite Journalism and Mass communication students and faculty for different programs, send these students to ACN Network for internship or on-the-job-training.  ACN Network and MFI will jointly issue Certificate of Internship/OJT to the qualified Journalism and Mass communication students, and also conduct placement drives at various Journalism and Mass communication schools, colleges, and universities.

Dr. Deva Solanki, Media Director, Global Business Federation (GBF), Dubai said that GBF enjoyed an excellent rapport with the media houses and journalists in UAE, and would work closely with ACN Network and MFI to expand the Federation’s footprint to this region.

Based in Gurugram (Delhi-NCR), the Asian Community News (ACN) Network, is a digital news-media service (www.asiancommunitynews.com) dedicatedly covering news articles on Indo-East Asian affairs with a special focus on Japan, its art, culture, language, education, diplomatic relations, trade, business, and industry.

ACN Network is a member of the Web Journalists Association of India (WJAI), a Web Journalists’ Standards Authority (WJSA) registered as a Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It stands committed to following journalistic rules, regulations, and ethics laid down as per the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under various sections of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules 2021.