ABU DHABI, 17th November, 2019 (WAM) — His Excellency Mohamed Jalal Al Raisi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency, WAM, and Chairman of the Senior Organizing Committee of the World Media Congress, presided over the Federation’s 49th General Assembly of Arab News Agencies (FANA), which kicked off yesterday in Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the first session of the World Media Congress.
The conference was attended by Dr. Farid Ayyar, Secretary General of the Federation of Arab News Agencies “Fana”, and representatives of 14 news agencies of member states and news agencies from various countries of the world.
In his speech, His Excellency Mohammed Jalal Al Raisi welcomed attendees to the conference, which is held in conjunction with the World Media Congress.
His Excellency said: “The Supreme Organizing Committee of the World Media Congress is delighted to welcome you to this international event, which brings together the east of the world with its west, and its south with its north. We thank you for your valuable participation with many news agencies and institutions of print, radio, television and digital media.”
He added: “I have the honor to convey to you greetings from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and his best wishes for continued success and positive contribution to the enrichment of the sessions and discussions of the first edition of the World Media Congress, held under the slogan “Shaping the Future of Media”.
His Excellency stressed that our responsibility in the General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies “Fana” is growing day by day, in light of the rapid developments witnessed by the world in general and the media industry sector in particular. It requires us to continue to think, design and work together to address the challenges and discuss the important issues relating to newsmaking, message credibility and professional ethics.
He stressed the importance of strengthening joint journalistic work, supporting coordination and joining efforts in delivering media messages aimed at meeting the needs of our various media institutions, developing our societies and achieving the happiness of our peoples.
His Excellency, Director-General of Emirates News Agency, said that in light of the provision of modern communication technologies, social applications and smart software; We must make a positive and qualitative contribution to strengthening the Arab media scene, through the ability to cover events with high professionalism and global credibility, using the latest technologies and best intelligent programs in the management of news operations and various media productions.
He added, “In this regard, we at the Emirates News Agency wanted to implement the ‘WAM News’ project as an innovative news program that enriches the work of professional news and organizes the management of multiple work teams through an intelligent system which shortens time and effort, ensures quality and excellence and keeps abreast of developments in the media industry.” “.
Al-Raisi invited conference attendees to take a detailed look at this program at the Emirates News Agency pavilion at the World Media Congress.
Concluding his speech, His Excellency said, “I express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you for your valuable participation with us in this unique event in the region, looking forward, as Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee for this global gathering, that each Arab agency will have a distinct participation and multiple contributions in future editions and will invest in opportunities to strengthen partnerships.” And the conclusion of agreements with a wide range of regional and international institutions operating in the media sector.
For his part, Dr. Farid Ayyar said in his speech at the conference: “We meet today, for the first time, in this good land, enshrining an important tradition in joint Arab action, represented in the regular convening of the conferences of the Union of News Agencies Arabs aimed at discussing and developing issues of interest to news agencies in order to elevate them to the rank of world-class agencies.
We extend our congratulations to His Excellency Mohamed Jalal Al-Raisi, Director General of the Emirates News Agency, on the inauguration of the first session of the World Media Congress.
He pointed out that the Union of Arab News Agencies has been able to achieve an advanced position alongside regional and global federations, as it is today an active member of the International Conference of News Agencies and has chaired since 2004, six times, one of the sessions of this conference, which includes more than 130 news agencies in the world.
He added: “Furthermore, the Union has established a network of close and good relations with news agencies in Europe, Asia and Latin America, as well as with similar regional and international bodies, in addition to what it is doing at the Arab level by implementing training and qualifications that included all news agency executives”.
He stressed that the cooperation with the media department of the Arab League is in continuous positive development, as the union is one of the important arms in the joint work of the Arab media. During their council in its last session, the Arab ministers of information they directed thanks and appreciation to the union on issues to which the union contributed seriously and responsibly.
And he indicated that the importance of regional organizations, including the Union of Arab News Agencies, is increasing markedly right now because its weapons participate through the transmission of news and information and mainly contribute to building strategies aimed at creating cases of interaction between countries and peoples in an integrated, interactive and cooperative context at all levels and in the various areas of interest of the world.
He explained that “Fana” supplies the countries of the Arab world, through its Arab news agencies, with 90 percent of news, reports and images, and is also like an “Arab UN for news”.
He thanked the Emirates News Agency, WAM, for the capabilities provided, which facilitated the holding of the conference in Abu Dhabi, and also commended the efforts of the members of the General Assembly.
The conference included a round table discussion during which representatives of the European Press Agencies and the European Association of Press Agencies participating in the conference reviewed a number of media initiatives and projects, as well as their vision for relationship development with the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA).
Conference attendees congratulated the UAE for organizing the inaugural World Media Congress, underlining the importance of this major global event in formulating a forward-looking vision for the future of the media sector and building fruitful and sustainable partnerships between various media.
Ahmed Jamal –
