During his patronage of the Media Forum 2018:
Al-Awad: New media policy supports creativity and promotes positive messages
"We work to ensure that the media discourse enhances the kingdom's status as a pivotal country in the world"
"The Ministry is working on finalizing the media strategy"
"The Ministry will launch a digital media agency soon"
"260 thousand cinema tickets sold in Riyadh, and the Eastern Region would witness the opening of the first house in 4 months, and Jeddah in two months"
This came during the patronage of His Excellency of "Media Forum 2018" in Asharqia Chamber yesterday, in the presence of the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of Asharqia Chamber and a large number of media representatives and opinion leaders in the Eastern Province. The dialogue was led by the media representative, Mohammed bin Saad.
HE Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad, Minister of Information, stressed that the Ministry in its current activity seeks creativity, which can only be achieved by allowing the production of content and ideas.
He added that this is not the policy of the Ministry of Information only, but is the guidance of our wise leadership represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Highness the Crown Prince, may God protect them.
The Information Minister explained that the media work at the present time has changed a lot, so the Ministry worked to develop a plan consistent with the standards of today's information.
He added that the Ministry deals with the achievements of the Kingdom, and communicates with all institutions, and sets for each occasion a detailed information plan. This was evidenced by the success of covering Hajj rituals, the Kingdom's celebration of the national day as well.
He explained that the coverage was in different ways and different languages to the whole world.
Dr. Al-Awwad said that one of the most important projects that he has been keen to accomplish is the establishment of a media communication center for the purpose of developing an information plan covering all events and local events for various government agencies.
He pointed out that 40 cadres of the Ministry are communicating daily with all government agencies to monitor their achievements and cover their activities.
The Minister of Information said that the Ministry has established an international communication centers, which will address the world in three languages (English, German, French) and soon Russian, through the opening of liaison offices in those countries.
He pointed out that this step was the result of the discovery of weaknesses in communication with the global media, which is resulting in an increase in the level of negative handling by some media with the events in the Kingdom.
During his dialogue in the Media Forum, Dr. Al-Awwad revealed a project implemented by the Ministry with government departments to train the official speakers in order to assist the Ministry to those entities in providing content to the recipient of the achievements and services and facilities, and clarify the view on some of the comments deserve to be addressed and discussed.
He expressed his hope for further partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental institutions.
The Minister of Information said that the Ministry puts final touches on the media strategy after the separation of culture from the ministry.
He pointed out that the Kingdom has chosen to be a pivotal country in the world, and that this requires a great media work in support of this trend, which the Kingdom is pursuing in accordance with Vision 2030.
Dr. Al-Awwad said that the Ministry is working to reduce the negative news, and work on the dissemination of positive stories, based on the principle of the existence of the absence of local and international news, as the news here moves in moments to various parts of the world.
He added that the Ministry seeks to increase positive stories through marketing in a clear and simple language, not complex, that to reach the local community and the global media as well.
In addition, the Minister of Information argues that the Ministry is in the digital transformation within the strategy that works by focusing on the content.
He explained that the recipient is looking for content, and care less about the means. Therefore, the content may come through a newspaper or through a mobile phone or through television, so there are many means; "we cannot to keep our old style under this development."
He pointed out that channels of communication with an active presence and impact are open to all members of society.
He stressed that the Ministry will establish an agency interested in digital transformation.
Dr. Awad stressed that the Ministry is working to develop the bodies under its supervision. He also stressed the importance of developing local TV channels through the development of their content, and providing drama programs attractive to the viewers, so that the channels are suitable to carry the name of the Kingdom.
He pointed out that the development witnessed by Saudi TV recently contributed to the increase in the number of viewers, unlike in previous years.
The Minister of Information said that the film activity achieved sales exceeding 260 thousand tickets in Riyadh within five months. He is revealing that the Eastern Region will see the opening of the first cinema house within the next four months, while in Jeddah, during the next two months.
Dr. Al-Awwad pointed out that the Ministry is strong with the press institutions to overcome the difficulties facing the sector globally.
These institutions must also pursue their plans for restructuring and digital transformation in line with current market standards.
He pointed out that the Saudi Commission for Journalists is an independent body, and its evaluation comes through its members and its board of directors in order to provide better services. He stressed that the Ministry supports any good project that serves the country and society, and supports the Kingdom's position globally.
He criticized the performance of some electronic newspapers for not making news, and the adoption of what is published in other media channels, which constitutes a violation of intellectual property rights. He added that there are about 700 electronic newspapers in the Kingdom. The Ministry is in the process of launching a digital media agency that will be assigned the task of re-evaluating the scene according to new requirements, and support distinguished newspapers from them.
The Chairman of the Board of Asharqia Chamber, Abdulhakeem bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khaldi, gave a speech during the meeting in which he welcomed the Minister of Information Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad.
He noted that the Minister is leading a development plan in various sectors of the Ministry and its affiliated bodies, in order to upgrade the media industry of the Kingdom to the level of global competition. He wished him success in his endeavors.
AlKhalidi said that the enlightened media stimulates energies and faces problems and offers solutions and provides information that supports the building of our country.
He added that the media and its message of awareness in various fields is an important channel for openness to society, in which the Chamber moves within it.
He stressed the keenness of the Chamber to hold such a meeting through hosting the media competencies to confirm their firm conviction of the significant role that is played by the media, communicating the view of the Chamber and its activities especially in the service of society and the business sector, so that the media and its various tools became an integral part of the daily activities of the Chamber.
Al-Khalidi explained that media is a key tool for communicating our message and presenting our vision to the society in general and the economic community in particular.
At the same time, the Chamber improves the listening of the media outputs, the opinions of its visitors and manufacturers, and the comments and proposals that contribute to the development of the Chamber's work and supports its mission in providing outstanding services to the community and participants.
In conclusion, Al Khalidi valued the great efforts exerted by the Ministry of Information and media professionals to promote the media industry, and all that will develop and upgrade, in line with our aspirations for the future.
The meeting witnessed two presentations, the first talked about the activities of Asharqia Chamber in the media and its contribution to the content industry, and the second presentation dealt with the work of the Ministry of Information and its development in media performance.
