May 26, 2019

Media’s Role in Times of Crisis in Focus at 5th Emirati Media Forum

The UAE media has succeeded in adapting to the changes and developments taking place in the region and helping articulate the country’s stance on various regional and international issues, media leaders and experts said at the Emirati Media Forum (EMF) on Saturday.

The one-day Forum, organised by the Dubai Press Club, was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event, which featured four sessions, saw the participation of over 100 prominent media and social media personalities.

In the second session which discussed the media’s role in times of crisis, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, and a number of key Emirati media figures acknowledged that the UAE media has succeeded in dealing with the changes that have swept the region with the utmost professionalism, transparency and objectivity. The session was moderated by Sami Al Reyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm newspaper.

HH Sheikh Sultan stressed the need to categorise any crisis, whether political, environmental, economic, social or cultural before dealing with it. It is important to be prepared to deal with a crisis before its onset by identifying strategic and political indicators and historical trends, he pointed out.

HH Sheikh Sultan cited Sharjah Media Corporation’s successful communication management during Cyclone Gonu, which hit Kalba in Sharjah. The Corporation formed an integrated operations room, which brought together various bodies and institutions, to keep the public informed and respond to their concerns.

He underscored the need to be swift in delivering information and communicating important messages during crises, in addition to being accurate, transparent and honest which helps prevent the spread of fake news and rumours. He also underlined the importance of relying on specialists to clarify the circumstances of any crisis.

Discussing the post-crisis phase, HH Sheikh Sultan said it was important to analyse the positive and negative aspects of any crisis and document the best methods to deal with it, which can be beneficial in dealing with any future events.

The session also discussed the level of the audience’s trust in local media outlets and whether there was a tendency to resort to international news outlets for news and information. Participants said that without a doubt, trust levels in local media outlets is high.

Participating speakers pointed out that criticism does not always harm the image of a country and can serve the interests of society. They shared an example of a tweet by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which expressed dissatisfaction with the services provided to citizens by an institution. They said this sort of constructive criticism contributes to the development of public services.

Participants stressed the importance of an integrated strategy for national media in addressing the challenges facing the country, especially the unprecedented hate speech from various sources. They added that the media shouldn’t hesitate to provide constructive criticism of governmental institutions in order to ensure people receive the best services.

Discussing how English-language media outlets in the UAE address various issues and how they differ from local Arabic media, participants noted that English content appeals to an audience of more than 200 nationalities in the UAE who mainly look for news that affects their daily life, unlike Arab audiences who are mostly interested in political affairs.

The Emirati Media Forum is a unique platform for dialogue between players across the media spectrum. It provides an opportunity to discuss developments in the media industry as well as local and regional issues, while providing a bridge of communication between local media organisations, journalists, experts and specialists in various media fields. It also seeks to give local media outlets insights and knowledge on how they can develop the leadership capabilities required to excel and sustain their growth.