State Council holds open day for Omani media professionals

Muscat: The State Council on Wednesday conducted an open day for Omani media professionals by hosting a meeting entitled “The Council and Media: Cooperation and Integration” under the patronage of Dr. Khalid bin Salim Al Saidi, Secretary General of the State Council, in the presence of a number of media representatives of various local media.
Abdullah bin Saleh Al Buraiki, Assistant Secretary-General for Media and Public Relations, in his welcome speech said that the programme aims to enhance cooperation between the Council and the media, and build linkages with media professionals who cover the work and activities of the Council.
Through this meeting, he said the Council is keen to express appreciation for the efforts of the media and is an opportunity to brainstorm and exchange views on everything that would enhance media coverage of the Council’s work and activities.
“It has become necessary for institutions seeking excellence and leadership to attach great importance to the generation of an image that reflects the ambitions, values and goals of the entity,” he added.
Hatem bin Hamad Al Taie, Member of the State Council and editor of Al Roya Newspaper, presented a working paper entitled: “Media coverage of the work of the State Council: Reality and development prospects”.
He said, “The role of the media is to create space for information, education, analysis, dialogue and facilitate contribution to the Council’s coverage through the development of new participatory technologies.”
He indicated that it was imperative for the media to take a disciplined approach and assure balance, objectivity and maturity. He said that following the media coverage of the Council’s work, it had witnessed a qualitative and quantitative development, depending on the increasing activities of the Council and a translation of its keenness to improve the media handling of its activities.
Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Al Kindi, Associate Professor of Journalism at Sultan Qaboos University, presented two lectures entitled “An introduction to the parliamentary media” that focused on the importance of parliamentary media and its objectives, as well as the functions and challenges it plays. This was followed by an interactive dialogue with the attendees.
During the second lecture titled “Mechanisms to strengthen parliamentary media”, Dr. Abdullah Al Kindi addressed the local parliamentary media in terms of media material, its limitations, the activity of local parliamentary media, its relationship with members of society, topics in the local arena and the absence or shortage of parliamentary radio and television programmes. He presented a package of proposals for the future improvement of the parliamentary media.