The draft law is a revision of the Press and Publications federal law of 1980.

She told Khaleej Times on Wednesday that the discussions in the FNC were held in association with the National Media Council (NMC) to streamline the media activities in the country.

Dr Al Qubaisideclined to disclose details of the amendments being proposed by the FNC in its current session.

“Our role is not to evaluate the draft but to try to reach balanced amendments to help the media to work in a convenient atmosphere which will be in public interest in the country,” she said. She added that the draft law would ensure freedom of the Press.

The draft law states that there shall not be prior censorship of any media outlets in the country. It incorporates the previous directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to prohibit the imprisonment of journalists, resorting instead to fines when there are violations of public law. The draft law states that the owners of all newspapers and their editors-in-chief should be UAE nationals, who do not have a crime record.

In cases of emergencies (or other instances decided by the cabinet) newspapers and other media outlets, will be obligated to publish all information sent tothem by government agencies.

The journalists hope that the draft law will be subject to discussion and incorporate the opinions and inputs of UAE journalists before a final media law is issued. All journalists will be invited to attend the FNC’s discussion of the new draft law inits upcoming term.TheFNC can make any necessary recommendations to the law, and forward them to the Cabinet for consideration before the final ratification of the media law.

Most of the journalists see that the current revision of the 1980 law is long overdue. There have beenmajor changes in public life, and the nature of media.

The workers in the media see the decision of Shaikh Mohammad toprohibit the imprisonment of journalists as a step in the right direction for the future of media in the country.