Former Editor in Chief of the Eurasia Media Network Malik Ayub Sumbal gave an interview to the International Multicultural Network and shared his memories regarding Azerbaijan. Eurasia Diary publishes his interview below.
Malik Ayub Sumbal is an Award Winning journalist, Anchor, Broadcaster and Analyst. He has been working in the various leading media organizations of the world for the last 15 years. He served on several key positions like Editor in Chief, Managing Editor, Editorial Director. Malik has won the Syracuse University Mirror Award for 2012; The S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University confers the Mirror Awards annually to honor excellence in reporting on the media industry.
Currently Malik is based in Beijing and working as International Planning Editor at China Global Television Network CGTN. He also served as Editor in Chief at Eurasia Media Network in Baku, Azerbaijan for two year.
1.We build bridge between really bright people. We empower each other and value the diversity, celebrate and reward their successes. What is your model of success and what does it mean to be a journalist?
"I think for me the model of success is to deliver and do justice with your profession whatever be the profession you have it doesn't matter. If someone called him or her successful then he/she must keep in mind the level of success and its responsibilities associated with this success."
2.What experience do you have in this media field?
"I have been in the media industry for the last 15 years. I started my career even before my graduation. I used to write columns, participated in the debates and other competitions. My school where I studied played a distinguished role in building my personality and providing me great confidence of speaking. I used to be the stage secretary of our school literacy society. I worked with many international TV channels on key positions. I got US Mirror Award in 2013 on one of my story about media ethics. I used be to a columnist, political analyst and commentator with many international TV channels. I worked as Editor in Chief with the Eurasia Media Network in Baku for two years."
3.How did you come to work at Eurasia Media Network?
"I came to Baku, Azerbaijan and when I saw the people and the country I really fell in Love with this country. The hospitability of the people of Azerbaijan is marvelous. I have no words to appreciate it. So I decided to work with Eurasia Media Network. I spent two years almost in Baku and travelled all around the country. Baku is like my home now."
4.What challenges are you looking for current position?What’s the best thing about working for international media?
"To work for the international media, one should have a vast knowledge of global affairs and to look on the every development around the world. I like challenges because without challenges there no charm in work."
5.Could you define in your own terms multiculturalism?
"The world has gone to be multicultural now because the people are mixed. You can find the people of any country anywhere. The big metropolitans are the best example of multicultural societies in the world."
6.What are the negative effects of multiculturalism in the counties you visit ?What have you learned from working with diverse populations?
"Multiculturalism have positive affects as compared to the negative one. The foreigners in any country are the ambassadors of the other country in the host country so they take always positive images of the country when went back home."
7.What policies do you think bring the greatest hope for managing competing media interests in multicultural societies?
"Whatever be the policies are there but media should play a role of social responsibility."
8.What are the implications of Multicultural Media for the spread of democracy in the world today?
"The democracies in the today's world are totally dependent on multicultural societies like UK, you see a big number of people are not the local."
9.How is multiculturalism anti-European?
"Europe take it as like Anti-Europe otherwise it is not anti-Europe in anyway. Europe is in fear of disappearing in this multicultural world."
10.Describe a situation in which you utilized your multicultural skills to solve a problem.
"The security issue could be better tackle through multicultural approach. Various countries adopted it and they are successful."
11.How has diversity played a role in shaping your social style?
"I lived in many countries so I feel a similar kind of atmosphere whole moving around these countries, so this is all because of the diversification and indeed it make my personality more open and able to give space others."
12. How do you define social justice?
"I think that the equal distribution of wealth and resources is called Social justice and the societies who have lack of social justice there is always tense atmosphere and there is constantly upsurge of a revolt."
13. You have been Azerbaijan, what kind of things did you do in Azerbaijan that you couldn't have done in other countries you were?What do you miss the most about Azerbaijan?
"Azerbaijan has many things which is not in the other countries. The thing which I missed a lot is the people of Azerbaijan and the beautiful dialect Azeri Language which I use to speak. I have enjoyed a full liberty and practiced journalism."
14. As everybody knows ,multiculturalism has failed in a number of countries around the world, Azerbaijan Republic has declared it as a state policy. This policy is successfully implemented in our country and the achievements in this field are also recognized on the global level. In addition, some states intend to learn and use the Azerbaijani experience in multiculturalism. Azerbaijan President IlhamAliyevdeclared 2016 a "Year of multiculturalism" in Azerbaijan to maintain, further develop and popularize the traditions of multiculturalism. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan IlhamAliyev has declared 2017 the Year of Islamic Solidarity in the country .Islamic solidarity is a natural extension of the multicultural environment in Azerbaijan.Do you have further views and suggestions about this issue?
"In my view President Ilham Aliyev have a bright vision and he has done a lot to highlight the image of Azerbaijan in the Muslim and Western World. Azerbaijan culture is rich and the showcasing of this cultural is one of the best tool for Azerbaijan to set its Foreign Policy."
15.If you could give one message to International Media- Multicultural Media , what would it be?
"Be objective and do justice with your profession, otherwise you cannot satisfy the world inside you."
