Information Minister attends Arab Forum Media

Kuwait, Apr.27 (BNA)Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi took part in the 12th Arab Media Forum, being held under the patronage of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Leading Arab media figures, senior officials representing Arab media and press institutions, writers, columnists, thinkers, academic figures and experts attended the symposium, being held under the theme "Social Media, Telecommunications Network". The minister stressed the need to enhance community awareness and ensure social media are used freely and responsibly so as to achieve positive purposes. He hailed media openness in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, stressing the importance of responsible freedom so as not to encroach on others' rights or defame the reputation of individuals, institutions and states. He slammed certain users who misuse social media websites in inciting on violence, violating others' rights and liberties, under cover of fake accounts and pseudonyms. He urged social media users to pay no heed to such fake accounts, stressing the need to turn such tools into platforms for constructive dialogue and fruitful ideas. Al-Hammadi stressed the importance of the early dissemination of awareness and cautioned against the social media tools which, which can be a double-edged sword, underlining the need to engage the family, civil society institutions and official entities. He stressed the role of social and conventional media and other outlets in shaping the public opinion, underscoring the importance of promoting essential media values and principles, particularly honesty, realism and objectivity. The minister called for cooperation between the GCC member states to exchange knowledge, information, expertise and cutting-edge technologies, in addition to coordinating between media institutions. He expressed his delight at being honoured by the Kuwaiti Premier, along with other outstanding figures, including Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) Chairman Moaness Al-Mardi. Al-Bilad editor-in-chief. Bahrain News Agency (BNA) has also been awarded an excellence award for social media.