A FEMALE Bahraini journalist who secured a prestigious seat in the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) was part of a team that adopted a new global agreement on ethics for journalists.
The team, comprising Bahrain Journalists’ Association (BJA) president Ahdeya Ahmed, which approved the IFJ Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists also elected the new IFJ leadership to represent approximately 600,000 members from 120 countries.
The adoption of the charter and the elections were held at the 30th IFJ Congress which is underway in Tunis, the first time the forum is being held on the African continent.
The GDN yesterday reported that Ms Ahmed won the Gender Council seat for the Middle East in the IFJ elections held on the sidelines of the congress.
This was the first time Bahrain took part as a candidate for winning a membership of an IFJ committee.
Ms Ahmed said the achievement was “another success” for Bahraini women’s accomplishments, which she said aims to “protect women journalists’ professional rights” across the world.
“I nominated myself for the seat as the first Bahraini Press and media personality to participate in the IFJ elections.
“This (the win) also reflects on Bahrain’s endeavour to achieve equal opportunities for Bahraini women and boost their role in the march of economic, social and cultural development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad.”
The Bahraini team which consists of five BJA members, including vice-president Rashid Al Hamer, will address the status of newspapers in the digital age.
Mr Al Hamer yesterday called for rapid transformation of traditional newspapers into a comprehensive media system that promotes a multimedia content industry.
He pointed out the role of established Press organisations can play in the new digital age in producing reliable media content than “citizen journalists” who sometimes use social media to circulate rumour wrapped in news templates.
The congress focuses on three main issues: Newspapers in the digital age, good trade union practices around the world and status of newspapers in the Middle East.
The forum which ends tomorrow will also debate and approve the IFJ 2019-2022 working programme, a roadmap that seeks to strengthen the position of the IFJ as the global voice for journalists worldwide.
More than 60 motions have been tabled for debate, including motions urging action on gender equality in media, the promotion of the UN Convention on the Safety of Journalists, measures to tackle disinformation, the condemnation of the attacks against journalists and Press freedom in numerous countries and in defence of collective bargaining for freelancers and journalists’ author’s rights, among others.
- Information Minister Ali Al Rumaihi yesterday congratulated Ms Ahmed. Bahrain’s victory in this global event is a source of pride for Bahraini women, he said.
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