GCC media boost coordination to face challenges

Information Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi stressed the level of freedom enjoyed by the media institutions in the region, pointing out that it cannot be restrained by any official but should nevertheless be organised.
Addressing the 14th session of the Arab Media Forum, attended by information ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, he said there are no laws in the region restraining freedom.
“We look forward to what has become known as responsible freedom to which everyone working in this field must remain committed,” he said.
Al Romaihi warned of the danger of defamation, pointing out the need for Arab research centres to support the media institution in order to enable it to benchmark public opinion accurately and avoid any inaccuracy that could be caused by relying on non-Arab centres.

The minister said Bahrain had a special experience in this respect when cand satellite channels reported for a week the dissolution of a political society without a full understanding of the legal reasons while ignoring more important regional issues. This confirms the fact that those agencies and channels rely on biased opinions posted on some social media websites without ascertaining of real news sources.

Al Romaihi pointed out to the change in media concepts with every official or public institution having its own media body that helps the Ministry of Information in its work. Conventional media should not be led by other media be they social media or private channels, he said.
“The media cannot justify a mistake or shortcoming of any public institution as nowadays no one can hide anything,” he noted, stressing the role of citizens in this respect.

The minister affirmed the coordinated media policy of the GCC countries and cooperation with many foreign media establishments to rectify pieces of information. He pointed out rejection of all Arab countries of foreign interference in their internal affairs, noting the rectification of errors committed by some channels or writers through direct communication with them or through the laws regulating the media work. He added diverse visions and stances regarding a particular issue are something natural and it is necessary to boost the culture of logic and persuasion.

Concerning the need to invest in the youth and the ministry’s plan for the next years, Al Romaihi emphasised the need to deal with the fast-paced change by reviewing the media college curricula every six months and not five years. He reiterated support to the youth and full reliance on them.

As for the tendency of some countries to cancel their ministries of information, Al Romaihi said that every country has its own specificity that has to be respected.