Praise for responsible journalists

Journalists act as the conscience of the nation, says Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Journalists act as the conscience of the nation, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said yesterday, pledging his commitment to a free press. At an Arab Journalism Award board meeting yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed called on members to "further promote and develop the concept and principle of free media through introduction of positive benchmarks that spur Arab media to make a qualitative leap in the open media sky", the state news agency, WAM, reported.

He expressed his support for press freedom but said that at the same time, journalists must commit to integrity, objectivity and impartiality. "They should strive to spread the truth, which contributes to facilitate change and development in our Arab communities," he said. "The journalist is the conscience of the nation and spokesperson of the community, and if he betrays his conscience he betrays his nation and insults himself and his establishment before insulting others."

The board chairman of the board for the new award session, Khalfan Al Roumi, the former information minister, thanked Sheikh Mohammed for his patronage of the Arab Journalism Award. The award programme began in 1999. It is run by the Dubai Press Club and open to journalists from across the Arab world. * The National