Philomena Gnanapragasam, the first woman head of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), says the organization is undertaking a comprehensive study to counter the global threat of fake news.

Philomena is a renowned international award-winning Malaysian broadcaster with over three decades of experience who rose to fame in 1984 with her character “Aunty Philo”, after she took over the radio show Calling All Children on Blue Network (now Traxx FM) from Maizura Mansur in 1984. She will head AIBD for the next five years.

Hosted by Malaysia, AIBD was set up in 1977 and comprises 26 full member countries, with 108 nations and private corporations as members.

Speaking at a press conference, she said: “We are working with the information ministers of several member states, UNESCO, including foreign and local experts, on fake news under the Angkor Anti-Fake News Initiative. We need to look into fake news today as it has been used to even take out political leaders in some countries.”

The findings of the year-long study would be presented at a media summit in Nepal next June, where some 1,000 broadcasters are expected to attend.

AIBD would also hold a gathering of information ministers from at least 14 nations in Samoa early next year. The meeting aims to pave the way for discussions on the development of broadcast in the region, including on how to deal with fake news.