FANA’s 51st General Assembly Convenes in Kuwait to Address Media Challenges

KUWAIT: The 51st General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) began in Kuwait, hosted by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), with representatives from member agencies gathering to discuss a comprehensive agenda. The assembly aims to tackle critical media issues in the Arab world, including challenges posed by ongoing regional crises. According to Kuwait News Agency, the conference was led by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al-Kaabi, Acting Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and President of FANA. He was joined by FANA Vice President and Director-General of KUNA, Dr. Fatma Al-Salem, along with senior officials from Arab news agencies and representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretariat General, which attended as an observer. In his opening remarks, Dr. Al-Kaabi emphasized the importance of accurate media coverage amid current crises in Gaza and Lebanon. He outlined the assembly's focus on enhancing media cooperation, sharing expertise, and advancing technologies to support regional and international news coverage. Dr. Al-Kaabi described the event as a crucial platform for discussing significant issues affecting Arab media and fostering collaboration among news agencies. He stressed the need for innovative strategies to improve agency performance, adapt to digital transformations, and maintain ethical standards. FANA Secretary-General, Dr. Fareed Ayar, highlighted FANA's active participation in the International News Agencies Congress, noting its leadership in six sessions since 2004. He underscored FANA's role in establishing connections with major regional and international media organizations and its collaboration with news agencies across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Dr. Ayar also emphasized ongoing training and development initiatives for agency personnel in journalism and technical fields. Dr. Ayar expressed hope for continued support for Arab news agencies in terms of financial backing and editorial freedom to counter misinformation prevalent on social media. He ext ended gratitude to Dr. Fatima Al-Salem and KUNA for organizing the conference and commended the delegates' dedication to developing unbiased and trustworthy news sources.