Digital Media Committee at Gulf Journalists Union Proposes Initiatives to Develop Digital Media

The General Secretariat – Manama: The Digital Media Committee of the Gulf Journalists Union discussed, during its first meeting, a number of proposals and developmental initiatives aimed at elevating Gulf digital media. Among the most prominent were the preparation of a Gulf charter for digital media and the establishment of a Gulf platform to monitor rumors and misleading news, within the framework of enhancing credibility and unifying professional standards.

This came during the committee’s meeting, held remotely last Tuesday via video conferencing technology, presided over by Rashid Nabil Al-Hamr, and attended by Mohammed Salem Al-Maawli, representative of the Omani Journalists Association; Khaled Al-Naqbi, representative of the UAE Journalists Association; Faisal Ahmed Al-Zahrani, representative of the Saudi Journalists Association; Owaid Ayed Al-Anzi, representative of the Kuwait Journalists Association; and Majid Hamad Al-Jabara, representative of the Qatari Center for Journalism. The Executive Director of the Union, Fawaz Ahmed Al-Sulaiman, was also present.

The discussions included a proposal to prepare a Gulf charter for digital media as an ethical and regulatory framework that contributes to unifying professional standards, enhancing transparency, combating rumors and misleading news, and protecting Gulf values and identity. Several mechanisms were proposed for its implementation, including integrating it into media work policies, organizing training programs to raise awareness about it, and preparing a simplified version targeted at the public.

The meeting also discussed a proposal to establish a joint Gulf platform dedicated to monitoring and analyzing digitally circulated misleading content, with the aim of supporting official media with accurate information, enhancing rapid and coordinated media responses, and building a knowledge database that contributes to protecting public awareness and strengthening trust in Gulf sources.

Committee members also discussed several topics related to the development of Gulf digital media, including the preparation of a unified Gulf strategy, supporting the transition toward professional digital content production, investing in training and capacity building, and leveraging artificial intelligence technologies within responsible professional and ethical frameworks. Additionally, they addressed unifying the Gulf media discourse and enhancing coordination in media communication and conducting joint Gulf media dialogues.

The committee recommended submitting all proposed suggestions and recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Gulf Journalists Union for study and appropriate action in accordance with established regulatory frameworks.

The committee expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the Union’s Board of Directors chairman and members for their continuous support of the committees’ efforts and their commitment to enhancing joint Gulf media work and developing the skills of journalists and media professionals to keep pace with digital transformations.