Al Romaihi calls for responsible, credible Press

Manama : Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Romaihi yesterday stressed on creating a responsible Press based on objectivity and credibility. 

Al Romaihi was speaking to media students and academics at the University of Bahrain. 

The minister welcomed the youth’s initiatives and innovative projects in the fields of radio, TV and digital media, noting the Ministry’s keenness to broadcast outstanding contributions on TV and radio programmes. 

He urged the media students to get engaged in the production of short films to promote unity, good citizenship, shunning extremism. 

Al Romaihi said that media is a $1.7 trillion global industry expected to top $2 trillion in 2019. Digital media represents approximately half of the industry. 

“Giant strides at the regional and global levels, the existence of nearly 1,300 Arab satellite channels and the establishment of public relations and marketing departments will open up opportunities for graduates,” he said, urging the national media colleges to update their curricula every six months, as per international standards, to keep pace with developments taking place in the media and communication sector. 

He said the Constitution guarantees freedom of opinion and expression and radio and TV programmes should exercise that freedom with  responsibility, objectivity and credibility without spreading sectarian or ethnic hatred. 

He pointed out that many national media personalities have proven their outstanding competence domestically and abroad and called on the national youth to improve their skills by getting engaged in training programmes. 

He said the Ministry recently signed an agreement with Tamkeen to train 100 Bahraini graduates to employ them in the Information Ministry and private sector media organisations.