Arab media urged to cope with rapid developments in new media

KUWAIT, May 2 (KUNA) -- Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah called on media outlets on Monday to cope with the latest development in information technology and to pursue accuracy to avoid causing chaos or panic in societies.
The minister made the statement in speech at the 13th Arab Media Forum, stressing the need to unify Arab visions in this regard.
"We as Arabs believe in the big role of our unity and can overcome difficulties facing us, but differences between some of us affect this," the minister said.
He urged traditional media to cope with the latest developments in transmitting up-to-date news, indicating that social media was among the leading tools that dealt with the regional events in over the last years.
He stated that a study showed that the use of social media in the Arab region is one of the highest rates in the world.
Media has been affecting decisions of countries and in some strongest states media is a maker of governments, he said.
He noted that the electronic media law recently issued has not been applied so far and its effectiveness in setting contemporary and different concepts on limits of public freedoms is unknown.
He pointed out that the forum is a chance to share expertise and views among Arab media persons.
Meanwhile, Egypt's former foreign minister Nabil Fahmi stressed the importance of media outlet's careful and positive handling of the developments in Arab countries to help over challenges.
He said there are restrictions for traditional media, but non-traditional media enjoys more freedom which can't be controlled.
Sessions of the forum, which is held under the auspices of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, continue for the second day in a row, in the presence of Arab countries' officials, media persons, figures and representatives of social media. (end) mdm.amh.hm