DUBAI // Leaders of the media gathered for a conference at the Dubai Press Club on October 6 to discuss national security and journalism.
The three-month programme seeks to raise participants’ understanding of national security, its strategic dimensions and how the media should cover such issues.
The scheme also aims to help media professionals to evaluate challenges and understand regional and global developments.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Media Incorporated, attended the conference.
Mona Ghanim Al Marri, president of the press club, welcomed the participants and thanked Abu Dhabi National Defence College for providing specialists to address the delegates.
She said the programme, announced last May with the support of the National Media Council, would cover topics such as national identity and sovereignty, the notion of state and the elements that affect countries and their security, the importance of political stability in building people’s abilities, strategic thinking and how to define objectives and means of achieving it.
It will also cover information as a key element of national sovereignty and strategic thinking in developing media messages.
Dr Albadr Alshateri, professor of politics at the National Defence College, said: “At this momentous time in the region, it is high time to raise the level of awareness on the issues of security and information.
“Various states and movements use information, disinformation and misinformation to advance their causes or undermine their opponents.”
Mansour Al Mansouri, acting director general of the National Media Council, attended the conference.
The participants included editors-in-chief and chief executives of print, online, broadcast and radio companies. Mohammed Al Otaiba, Editor-In-Chief of The National, Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor-In-Chief of Aletihad newspaper, and other Abu Dhabi Media executives were in attendance.
Mr Al Otaiba said the programme was exceptional, as it covered national security topics that sought to understand and overcome challenges.
“The programme offers an understanding of the regional challenges and their impact on Gulf countries,” he said. “The surrounding variables force us to change the way we deal with these circumstances and to interpret the events from a different intellectual approach.”
Mr Al-Hammadi highlighted the importance of the programme and its topics. He said it will undoubtedly contribute to supporting the strategic and political backgrounds of media professionals thanks to the speakers from the NDC.
“The programme will raise awareness among participants and will give them a clearer idea of regional and global current issues,” he added. “The duration of the programme is enough to offer media professionals a strategic and academic perspective that will help them to form the right vision for their media companies.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
* Additional reporting from Wam