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12:05 GMT
Main panel at The 8th edition of the Arab Media Forum for Youth which kick-started at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo
CAIRO, March 9 (KUNA) -- The 8th edition of the Arab Media Forum for Youth kick-started at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Saturday.
Held under the rubric: "Youth...And Future Media", the two-day event is attracting Arab prominent media figures and journalists, along with media students.
Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League for Media and Communications Ambassador Badredeen Alali said in a keynote speech that media care for youth should be connected with development issues and job creation.
He believed that poverty, illiteracy and joblessness are core factors that could throw young people into extremism in Arab communities so high-quality education needs to be provided and integrated economic and social programs be launched.
He noted that Arab media is currently facing major challenges posed by globalization and impressive technological advancement that sometimes affect objectivity and professionalism.
The Arab League's senior media official underlined that it is imperative to draw upon available means to promote Arab media so that it could play an influential role in addressing challenges and other media risks.
Addressing the gathering, Bahraini Minister of Information Affairs Ali Al-Romaihi stressed the need to weigh the media development in the Arab region, mainly the presence of 1,200 Arab satellite channels, 86 of which are private ones.
He pointed out a "great revolution" in the media domain in Arab countries, mentioning in particular Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter.
However, the Bahraini minister stressed that the Arab world is really in need of highly-educated mass media that should be well aware of all goings-on and happenings.
On his part, Arab Media Forum Secretary General Madhi Al-Khamees said this year's event focuses on media job requirements for youth, media ethics and the future of youth in media.
The two-day forum provides a chance for the participants, including officials and media figures, to have dialogue on how to engage youth in the promotion of mass media's social role, he added. (end)
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