The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage's cultural salon in cooperation with the Al Jazeera network organized a seminar on "the Arabic language in the media", as part of the 10th edition Al Jazeera Film Festival being held in Doha.
    In his remarks to the seminar's participants, HE Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari addressed the status of the Arabic language in various media and the challenges facing it.
    The seminar was moderated by Dr. Ali Al Qubaisi, editor-in-chief of the Doha cultural magazine and associate professor at Qatar University, and was attended by Dr Muhammad Lutfi Al Yousifi, literature professor at Qatar University, and Dr Sabry Hafez, professor of comparative literature at the Qatar University, and journalist Jamil Azar, from Al Jazeera News Channel.
     HE the Minister reiterated that the development and promotion of the Arabic language were a prerequisite to the development of the societies, adding that language development should not be separated from the overall goal of sustainable development in which political, economic, social and cultural factors are interlinked.
     Language is the cornerstone in different media platforms, he said, pointing out that using proper and strong language helps the media in delivering messages to the public successfully.
    Dr Al Kuwari said that the status of the Arabic language in the media was not at the required level.
Addressing threat facing the Arabic language in the media is a very important issue, he said. This issue is of paramount importance to the future of the Arabic language in this changing world dominated by mechanisms of globalization and the powerful language that is characterized by the elements of power, dominance and control of the other languages.
    He stressed Qatar's keenness on the proper use of the Arabic language in the media, and called on the press to shoulder their responsibility in making Arabic a mainstay of the Arab media.