Muscat: Media and Culture Committee at Majlis A’Shura on Wednesday hosted Ali bin Khalfan Al Jabri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information.
Al Jabri affirmed that the Sultanate is one of the most tolerant and open countries in the field of media and accepting others’ views.
He added that the Sultanate’ provides good space for freedom of expression through social networks, the official and private media means as well.
He highlighted the efforts made by the Ministry of Information to provide accurate information from their reliable sources, as well as the right of the journalist to get true information from its source.
He affirmed that the Ministry is making continuous efforts to prepare advanced training programmes for employees at the public organisations that deal with media means. Al Jabri pointed out that the Ministry of Information has repeatedly called upon organisations to ensure transparency, avail information quickly and facilitate access of journalists to such information. He said that some ministries have strong media departments that are provided with specialised media men who can answer the queries of journalists.
Hamoudah bin Mohammed Al Harsosi, Head of Media and Culture Committee at Majlis Al Shura stressed the importance of having official spokesperson for several sectors due to the change in perceptions and the importance of raising public awareness on how to search for accurate information. He highlighted the efforts made by the Committee in media and culture work. meeting also discussed the role of the Ministry of Information in enhancing the journalists’ right to get information.
The hosting of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information was attended by Rashid bin Ahmed Al Shamsi, Deputy Chairman of Majlis Al Shura, Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, Secretary General of the Majlis, Committee’s members and employees at the Media and Culture Affairs Committee.