Gulf journalism, particularly the national Press, has demonstrated in various crises its commitment to fulfilling its national and professional responsibilities and handling events in a way that safeguards social security and stability and strengthens public confidence in institutions.
Yet, this responsibility should not become a burden borne by the Press alone, especially when other media outlets move quickly to circulate narratives that may lack accuracy or seek to influence public opinion.
One important fact is that Gulf journalism is often left to fulfil its role through individual efforts, without access to information or a clear compass to guide its direction.
On October 10 , Ms Samira Rajab outlined in an article entitled ‘National Media and Knowledge-Based Immunity in Times of Crisis’, published in Akhbar Al Khaleej, her views on the role of the media and local newspapers in confronting crises and wars.
“The most important thing to understand about the war crisis imposed on us in the Gulf today is that it is not merely a military battle. It is also a cognitive war in which artificial intelligence is used to spread fake videos and images, as well as misleading content that exploits digital platforms,” she wrote.
“On the other hand, the most important thing national media must avoid during crises is emotional reactions and the dissemination of material that spreads fear rather than awareness. It must avoid sacrificing accuracy for speed and replacing information with propaganda, so that it remains a bridge between the truth and citizens, rather than merely a propaganda tool,” she added.
These sound recommendations are extremely important, not only for officials but also for citizens.
The national Press is neither incapable nor lacking in ability or media awareness.
What it genuinely lacks is timely access to verified information and the flexibility to discuss it with the relevant parties.
Everyone must recognise that the media today carries a heavier burden than in the past.
Journalists are now expected to take on additional responsibilities beyond reporting the news and gathering information.
They must also analyse that information and present it to the public in a way that reveals the scale of the challenges facing our region, while remaining fully aware of their country’s fundamental principles at the national, Gulf, Arab and Islamic levels.
This is essential to prevent them from falling victim to the enormous amount of fabricated information being disseminated relentlessly across social media platforms, which have become the frontline in the battle to mislead public opinion and turn it against the interests of its own countries.
These campaigns exploit advanced technologies and artificial intelligence with considerable sophistication.
We must also highlight several negative practices observed during the crises and wars engulfing the region.
After watching wars broadcast live by foreign news channels, we have seen some of these outlets turn into platforms for fuelling discord in our countries by relying on inaccurate information and promoting it as absolute fact.
They have done so by capitalising on their long-standing reputations and established names.
Even major international news agencies, which we had regarded as unquestionably reliable sources, have fallen into the same trap.
They publish unverified reports and issue apologies only after the damage caused by their negative impact has already been done.
This brings to mind the actions taken by Britain itself during the Second World War, when it prohibited its citizens from listening to news broadcasts from Berlin, recognising the danger such reports posed to the morale of its people.
It is also surprising that some Arab news channels have fallen, and continue to fall, into the trap of what is known as ‘the opinion and counter opinion’, under the pretext of presenting opposing viewpoints.
They give airtime to analysts and experts from countries hostile to our national interests, allowing them to promote their ideas and the flimsy justifications they offer for aggressions against our security and stability.
At the same time, social media activists play an irresponsible role in aggravating crises, acting like a fifth column during wartime.
They distort established facts, stir up discord and conceal themselves behind modern communication devices.
As members of the national Press, we are committed to laws and professional conventions, and we believe in responsible freedom.
We, therefore, call for social media violations to be treated according to the same standards applied to traditional media.
Allowing these individuals to spread their lies without restraint poses an imminent danger to the minds of younger generations, particularly as falsehoods spread at extraordinary speed, like wildfire.
Supporting the national Press, therefore, is not merely a professional demand.
It is a necessity dictated by the nature of the current phase.
It requires strengthening mutual trust between official institutions and the media, facilitating access to information and treating journalists as partners in clarifying facts and confronting rumours, rather than as mere recipients waiting for official statements to be issued.
The more readily accurate information is made available at the right time, the better equipped national media will be to fulfil its role, and the less room there will be for misleading reports and false interpretations to gain ground.
Crises do not wait, and rumours give no one time to prepare.
Media outlets denied access to information cannot confront misinformation as effectively as required.
Therefore, efforts to strengthen the internal front must be matched by an equal commitment to strengthening national media.
This means enabling it to access the facts, respecting its role, and providing an environment in which it can fulfil its mission freely and responsibly, allowing national media to become a line of defence no less important than any other.
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