State-Owned Media Should Find New Approaches To Raise Their Level Of Influence, Say Arab Media Ministers

Government-owned media outlets are still lagging behind in terms of influence, despite the huge budgets at their disposal. Panelists at ‘A Session with Media Ministers in the Arab World’ at the 18^th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF), who included Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, Information Affairs Minister, Kingdom of Bahrain, and Hussein Zein, Head of the National Media Authority, Arab Republic of Egypt, discussed the state of government-owned media in the Arab world, and the challenges they face in achieving their objectives and raising their level of influence.

While there are 1,230 TV channels in the Arab world, including 133 state-owned channels, TV broadcasters that command real influence are limited. “The media industry is one of the strategic sectors that constantly seeks to raise its level of influence,” said Mohammed Al-Romaihi. Recent reports revealed that the budget spent on media exceeds the budget spent on defence, which highlights the importance of the industry, he said.

The Information Affairs Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain also said that government officials should interact with media to gain the required credibility. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is one of the most influential and credible figures in the world due to his vision and achievements as well as the way he interacts with media.

Hussein Zein, Head of the National Media Authority, Arab Republic of Egypt, said that public media outlets have lost their credibility among audiences who tend to distrust them mainly due to weak content and messages. Zein said public media always ensures the accuracy of their stories before publishing them, which generally takes more time than privately owned media outlets.

To address these challenges, panelists said each outlet should develop its own unique approach for raising its influence. Promoting a media-friendly culture governed by the right regulations will help achieve the desired objectives, and help state-owned media become truly influential.

Earlier in the session, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, President of the Dubai Press Club and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Forum, said that the global media industry has seen the emergence of various transformational innovations like AI anchors. At a time when the world is preparing for the fourth industrial revolution, the UAE has taken the lead to accelerate development through futuristic initiatives and projects. Creating a coherent vision for the media requires a comprehensive understanding of the reality of the media including what it is able to offer and what its audiences are demanding. The AMF’s objective, she said, is to help media keep pace with the requirements of the current phase of development and support it in making positive contributions to the future of the world.