The third Shusha Media Summit took place on Monday in Shusha, hosting over 140 journalists and foreign media managers. Recognized as the largest media gathering in the South Caucasus region, it welcomed representatives from Europe, Asia, America, and Africa.
A representative from Mehr News Agency also attended this summit.
Media Literacy Ensures information Security
Jafar Hasnain, a journalist and host at TRT World, stressed the importance of media literacy at the event: “Media literacy is not only about receiving information but also about critically evaluating it-assessing its source and determining its credibility.We must learn to rely on diverse and trustworthy sources. Unfortunately today, manny news platforms ignore principles of accuracy and reliability.”
He continued: “We have repeatedly witnessed the consequences. Misinformation causes confusion within society, manipulates public opinion, and can even lead to social tensions. The only way to prevent these issues is through self-education.Providing accurate information to ourselves and those around us, using social media consciously, and refusing to accept content without verification has become essential.”
Zifora mobaneh,head of Communications and Advocacy at the African Union Development Agency,emphasized that media literacy primarily rests with government leaders and private sector officials since decisions shaping information policies impact not only individuals but entire societies. She added that everyone should acquire this literacy skill for daily life.
Mobaneh highlighted critical thinking’s role in media literacy: “People must not accept what they hear or read promptly; instead they should learn how to evaluate its accuracy. We need to create opportunities for this learning by first understanding how media influence various sectors like politics, economy, education, and everyday life.Media are more then channels for transmitting information-they play a central role in shaping public opinion.” She called for increased educational efforts so that media literacy becomes institutionalized across all layers of society.
Shafaq Mehr Aliyeva, lecturer in Communication and Digital Media at Azerbaijan University, added: “Media literacy is as vital as reading and writing skillsin the twenty-first century.It involves two key aspects: developing interpretation and judgment abilities; second, cultivating an open-minded approach.Focusing on these will lead to healthier and richer societal discussion.”
The Impact of Social Media on Public Trust Within Media Literacy Frameworks
Sergey Sokolov, Head of Public Policy & Government Affairs at TikTok covering Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Mongolia remarked: “Social networks differ significantly from customary broadcast or print platforms.”
He explained: “Traditional social platforms tend toward editorial curation-that is users see what editors deem fit-whereas TikTok depends entirely on content users wantto watch.”
Sokolov noted TikTok’s algorithm functions uniquely: “User follower counts don’t determine exposure; even accounts with no followers can generate millions of views.”
Dennis Yu ،a specialist associated with Google و YouTube، founder & CEO of Blitz Metrics said during his speech that one major challenge today is identifying credible objective sources amid vast digital content proliferation.
< p >He warned:”Artificial intelligence presents both opportunities و risks like electricity -proper use facilitates work while misuse without accountability leads to serious consequences.”< p >< img alt = "Report by Mehr News Agency on holding third Shusha Global Media Summit + images " height = "413" src= "https://media.mehrnews.com/d/2025/07/22 /3 /5610637.jpg ?ts=1753185629885 " width = "620">
< p >Yu further explained:”Artificial intelligence has revolutionized content creation but accompanied ethical & security challenges grow . Scenarios depicted often by Hollywood where AI dominates humankind are less fantasy now -a future possibility worth serious attention . Proper management could avert threats ” he said .
< p >Seamus Clancy , Head Public Sector healthcare nonprofit sales LinkedIn stated : “LinkedIn caters specifically business professionals processing five million transactions every minute across our network .”
“the company invests heavily to create economic opportunities featuring new-skill-related content,” he added ,”building connections & networking while tailoring relevant material engaging users.”
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Karen Sutherland , a media trainer researcher University sunshine Coast Australia emphasized some users behave ethically when using TikTok others share scandalous material utilizing diverse tactics attracting audiences regards AI-powered tools’ rising adoption she stressed both evolution significance : “Proper use prevents personal data leaks threats,” she concluded .
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