Conventional news media is passe, it’s practice that matters as the media landscape undergoes a major shift after the Arab Spring in the region with the rise of technology like social media and ordinary people involved in making the news.
Social media has played a major role in garnering support for gatherings and meetings. It has even helped organise gatherings such as the ones in Tahreer Square in Cairo. The news industry is remarkably challenged by the emerging “new media” platforms. This synthetic prelim produced unprecedented dilemma for traditional journalism and undoubtedly added more complications.
Dhaen Shaheen, CEO, Publishing Sector, Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), Executive Director and Chief Editor, Al Bayan Newspaper, says print still remains the most disciplined media amongst all the changes.
“There is a major difference between the newsroom of today and that of yesteryears. Today we have to prepare two sets of news. One for the online platform while the other for the next day’s newspaper when most people have already heard about the news – to give them something new.
“However, with the influx of social media, print media has also fallen in the trap of sometimes publishing fabricated news, without verifying the facts. This is dangerous and we need to constantly guard ourselves against such practices.”
As a result of this major leap, the audiences have become actively engaged in news making. The open digital space provides valid alternative stream source, not only for the media industry, but also for the audience; consequently, consumption patterns have evolved.
Such changes harshly question the ethics and professionalism of traditional media; field correspondents and dispatchers themselves came between the rock and the dark blue sea and their values of neutralism and accuracy have been subjected to severe testing, said panelists.
On the other hand, adversaries use new media platforms as a tool to lead media wars and propaganda. Sometimes they go to the extreme by ‘fabricating’ the news through reporters. “The Arab Spring would not have been possible without the social media, that has helped news to spread across the remote areas of the Arab World through mobile phones, tweets and facebook messages,” Rima Maktabi, Anchor and Senior Reporter, Al Arabiya News Channel, told delegates at the forum. “Arab media has been part and parcel of the Arab Spring and it has reshaped itself with the regional developments over the last two years. “However, in the process, we have also seen the influx of fabricated news planted to serve vested interests of different parties,” she said.
Despite these new developments, the fundamental role of the media has not changed and that is to provide accurate news. News accuracy comes first, experts say.
“While it is important for us to cover every bit of international news, including those in the war zone, the fundamental issue is to ensure accuracy,” said Samia Nakhoul, Editor Middle East, Thomson Reuters. “If there is a conflict in Deraa, we have to be there to get the right piece of news … so we dispatch teams there to ensure that we have our own source to report.
However, the danger with social media is the authenticity and if it is the truth? Sometimes, we hear rumours and people are under pressure to report those.
“We need two sources to verify them and we only release news when we are convinced of the accuracy — this is very important.”
Thair Soukar, Head of Digital Strategy, Sky News Arabia, says, the media needs to exercise patience in handling breaking news. “We are all under pressure to release news. But one must ensure accuracy and authenticity of the information.
“I do think that there is no conventional media anymore. There are conventional practices however – which is to ensure the right processes in verification, ensuring authentication and accuracy.”
Nadia Abou El-Magd, Input News Manager, “Masr Al-Arabiya” News channel, said: “Social media is not an alternative media. It complements the overall media. We could use Twitter and other social media outlets as an additional source.
“I also think that we should be more cautious and be more professional when dealing with serious news such as war and conflict in the Arab World. Accuracy should not vary in standards from one media to the other.”
The thought-provoking session was moderated by Rima Maktabi.
