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ZU to host media freedom seminar

ABU DHABI — A ‘Media Freedom Conference’ will be held on April 14 at the Zayed University’s Abu Dhabi campus. Afra Al Rashedi and Abeer Baqasheer, two students at the university’s College of Communication and Media Sciences, are organising the one-day conference, as part of their capstone project.

Mohammed Youssef, CEO of the UAE Journalists’ Association, will be one of the speakers. “This is a very important topic that aims at convincing UAE officials to improve the laws regarding the freedom of -media here,” Youssef told Khaleej Times.

Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice-President of Zayed University, will also address the opening ceremony. “Zayed University students are keen on organising a number of extra-curricular activities that enrich their characters and enlighten their personalities,” he said.

Other speakers include Abdulatif Al Sayegh, chairman of the Arab Media Group, Mona Al Marri, chairperson of the Dubai Press Club, Jaber Obaid, manager of Emirates Media Radio, Turki Al Dakeel, Saudi journalist and owner of Misbar Centre, Abdullah Rashid, news editor of Al Ittihad newspaper, Mohammed Al Mulla, director of Dubai Media City, Hessa Lootah, assistant professor at Communications at the UAE University, Mona Bosmarah, general secretary of Journalists’ Association and Kefah Al Kaabi, head of sport section of EmiratesToday .

Main topics to be discussed include the development of the UAE media over the years, the level of freedom currently enjoyed by the media, the impact of Jebel Ali Free Zone, the role of women in the development of local media and the impact of the code of ethics on the UAE media.

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