The growth of ASEAN’s footprint in its constituency’s lives widens the space – and responsibility – by the region’s media to report on the challenges and opportunities of regional integration. While media can invest more in this story, ASEAN’s largely opaque approach to them doesn’t exactly speak of a maturing organisation. This shows few signs of changing radically any time soon, reflecting the less than open attitude toward media freedom by several of its member states, Johanna Son explains in this commentary.

As ASEAN turns 50, what do the people of Southeast Asia really think about it? While everyone is in agreement that the organisation has matured, more can be done to ensure it continues on the right path. Listen to these voices and more as the Reporting ASEAN media forum opens in Bangkok.

The Reporting ASEAN 2017 Media Forum kicks off with the first Talk Show – ASEAN@50: Maturity or Mid-Life Crisis? Join us in Bangkok on the 17th and 18th of February  as we discuss how to tell the ASEAN story.

The year 2017 will be a red-letter one for the Philippines and its international standing. The country will be ASEAN chair, under a new government, during no less than the 50^th year anniversary of the regional organization. Are the Philippine media ready to cover these?