The 15th Arab Media Forum kicked off in Kuwait on Sunday (April 22), with Sharjah being chosen as the ‘guest of honor’. Addressing the Forum, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC), stressed the strong brotherly bonds between Sharjah and Kuwait, adding that their shared agenda of developing healthy Arab media system and a forward-looking media vision in the region.
The SMC Chair reaffirmed the emirate’s commitment to building an honest and objective media system in the region and formulating an information system that is capable of embracing both global technological developments while respecting the cultural, moral and religious values and identity of the Arab and Islamic world.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said that the credibility of the media content is the foundation of building a media system, which is based on the conviction that the media is a strong pillar in the human development and progress.
He called for reviewing the current media models and tools and examining their viability in the light of local and global changes. He pointed out that the media messages emanating from long-established institutions are facing fierce competition from many voices that have found their expression through new social media and networking sites, often conveying both true and false messages and information.
“We are all aware of the magnitude of the challenges facing the region in all sectors, especially the unprecedented challenges on the media front, that need to be studied, and the extent to which the current media discourse is able to engage the followers of various electronic media,” he said.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi referred to a report prepared by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which shows that fake or false news, a growing concern in present day media, estimated to be as much as 70 percent, travels at the lightning speed using social media, wondering how governments and communities can face this challenge.
“The issue of fake news is linked primarily to the ethics of the profession. These ethics are not governed by laws and regulations, but stem from the spirit of self-regulation and responsibility,” he added.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi discussed the various initiatives of the emirate, which are aimed at developing the media sector, upgrading its tools and building a constructive media vision in light of the guidance of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
He pointed to the progress that government communication system has registered in the emirate. The government communication sector in Sharjah has been partnering with professional media in the region under the leadership of Sharjah Media Council besides launching several initiatives, including the International Government Communication Forum, International Government Communication Centre, Sharjah Government Communication Award and the Arab Government Communication Network.
