We expect media to keep up with development of the country

Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has called local media organisations to continue their efforts in developing content and product of Emirati media to match the comprehensive development march taking place in the country and to bear in mind the citizens' best interest and needs.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid indicated the national achievements in economy and government services and requested media community to pick up equivalent development processes. He also called media to keep up with best international practices, attract international competences, utilise latest technologies and foster young Emirati talents.
His Highness expressed his gratitude and appreciation for local media and its significant role. He also stressed on their significant role in preparing young Emiratis and giving them the opportunities to acquire the required skills. Sheikh Mohammed also encouraged local media organisations to prepare the second the third tiers of leadership.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid asserted that to develop the Emirati media we must count on the efforts and innovation of young Emiratis capable of taking our media to new horizons during the next phase.
"We expect our media to lead and open doors for our young talents. As we need creative engineers, doctors and managers, we also need creative journalists and media workers. I would like to see young media leaders in the second and third tiers," said H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
He also expressed great confidence in Emirati media organisations.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid made his comments during the official inauguration of the second edition of the Emirati Media Forum (EMF). He was accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Media Inc.
Held at the Emirates Towers, the forum attracted a host of writers, journalists, thinkers, editors in chief, senior officials from local media organisations and international media figures.
Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the one day forum discusses several local media issues including the development of media content, the future of local media and the public's expectations. The forum also presents the unique experience of Abu Dhabi media in the field of Emiratisation. The forum also case-presents and discusses the creditability and the emerging role of social media in spreading rumours.
During the opening session, U.A.E. Minister of State and Chairman of Sky News Arabia, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, delivered the opening speech. Al Jaber asserted that the U.A.E. local media needs to become proactive and anticipative, provide deep analysis and interpretation for the current events, under carry its social and cultural responsibilities, deliver our message and voice to the world and reflects our sound peaceful culture.
Minister Al Jaber said that the local media is expected to take the initiative, duple the effort to reflect accurate image about our values and take an active role in presenting the reality of our religion, traditions and civilisation.
He added that the leadership has paved the way for us to excel in various sectors, take the lead and be the happiest nation. He indicated that all these achievements came real due to the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces.
Minister Al Jaber said, "Over the past years, U.A.E. media has registered many successes and achievements and we need to adopt balanced and objective strategy that shall contribute in enhancing and bolstering U.A.E. creditability regionally and internationally".
"When I call for a proactive role, I do not mean exaggeration but rather I call our national media to be an icon for ethics and professionalism" Al Jaber urged the U.A.E. media to explain and echo the government's political views and promote the global positions of U.A.E..
For her part, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office and Chairperson of Dubai Press Club, Mona Ghanem Al Marri expressed her gratitude to U.A.E. Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his continues support to the media sector, particularly media persons. Al Marri also noted the significant role of U.A.E. media in the development process of the United Arab Emirates ever since its establishment 43 years ago.
In her speech, Al Marri pointed out to the challenges facing the local and international media, namely the challenges presented to traditional media by social media, which have introduced new wave of competitions. She also touched on possible answers to challenges posed by social media, which can be encapsulated in creating good content, increasing interactivity and attracting the youth who constitute two-thirds of social media users.
Al Marri called on local media institutions to give media students more opportunity to partake in shaping the local media. She also emphasised on the importance of having confidence in young people's creative skills and innovative ideas.
The Emirati Media Forum, an initiative of Dubai Press Club (DPC), was launched in 2013 with aim of providing an out-of-the-box dialogue platform that looks into Emirati media and, in the same time, facilitate a fertile ground for young Emirati talents to come face to face with media professionals and elites. The DPC's Emirati Media Forum focuses on U.A.E. domestic media, taking into consideration its interaction with the regional and international media through dedicating such unique platforms as the Arab Media Forum and the Arab Journalism Award to discuss on issues impacting regional and international socio- political scenario.
Concluding the opening session, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid posed group photos with the officials of EMF's strategic partner, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), EMF's official partner, Etisalat, EMF media partner, Abu Dhabi Media, as well as with the Dubai Press Club team.
Source: WAM