Min. Of Information Kicks Off 1st Academic Media Conference

Ministry Of Information Kicks Off 1st Academic Media Conference

Gaza, ALRAY - Ministry of Information kicked off the events of the first academic media conference in Palestine “Palestinian Media… Meeting Resistance Challenges” on Tuesday morning at Commodore Hotel in the west of Gaza City.

The conference was held with the participation of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, local and foreign media personalities.

In the opening session of the conference, Mr Ihab al-Ghusain, Head of Government Media Office (GMO), welcomed the professors participating in the conference from the Arab world, particularly former Director of Al Jazeera Media Network Wadah Khanfar, who was not able to come in person to the Gaza Strip due the Rafah crossing closure.

Ghusain said the Ministry of Information wove good relations with all journalists and media organizations in the Gaza Strip, and promoted national issues, freedom of the press, and social responsibility.

It has established a government media network with launching ALRAY (opinion) official news agency in Arabic and English, ALRAY Radio Station, and Visual Broadcast Department for video reports and bulletins as a microcosm of the future Satellite TV Channel, he explained.

He pointed out that the ministry has worked to achieve the goals set for 2013, including the appointment of an English-speaking spokesperson for the government.

In a recorded speech delivered to the conference attendees, Mr Wadah Khanfar said the way made by the Palestinian journalists must be invested," urging to employ the scientific media principles.

He pointed to the tasks of media guidelines and lift the audience of solving ignorance , indicating that the obstacles plaguing professional colleagues must Tzliha to reach the goal.

He stressed the responsibility the media workers in Palestine should assume, which requires them to be biased to truth, regardless of the political agendas. He added that it’s hardship that builds a professional journalist.

In a previous report, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the conference Mr Salamah Marouf said the subjects of the papers submitted include: Palestinian media and national issues with nine papers, laws and ethics of journalism with four papers, media reality and organizations with 6 papers, and media and communication developments with five papers.

"In appreciation of Palestinian media workers, the ministry previously announced a competition to honor the best journalism works and recieved print, electronic and broadcast entries from 100 journalists. A shortlist of five would be given prizes for their submissions during the conference,"

The conference would also be permeated with a photo exhibition showcasing works of 13 Gaza photojournalists, and screening a film titled "Candles in the Darkness of Aggression" which features the struggling efforts of Palestinian journalists and the violations the Israeli occupation carries out against them in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem, according to Marouf.

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