Skopje, 17 September 2021 (MIA) — “The Media and News Agencies in the Post-Covid Age” is the discussion topic of the 29th General Assembly of the Association of the Balkan News Agencies – Southeast Europe (ABNA–SE) taking place in Prishtina, Kosovo, on Sept. 16–19. Organized by the KosovaPress news agency, the conference has gathered representatives of 12 Balkan countries’ news agencies, including the director of the Media Information Agency (MIA), Dragan Antonovski, with his deputy, Halit Ajdini. Besides considering the impact the pandemic has had on mass media, panels and roundtables will focus on topics such as weakened democracy and fact-checking. In addition, participants will discuss opportunities for cooperation between the media and institutions in tourism, culture and industry as a tool for public diplomacy and networking in Southeast Europe. The regional news agency network will also appoint new leadership and a new Secretary General. ABNA-SE, a non-profit professional association of the news agencies of Southeast European countries, was established in 1995 to promote teamwork between regional news agencies and encourage a climate of peace, friendship, security and cooperation in Southeast Europe. mr/