Information minister participates in Google Hangout session

Manama, May 14 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi reached out to university students through a Google Hangout session. He urged them to use social websites to play an active role in supporting the official media, stressing the importance of valuing long-standing heritage, history and civilization and further strengthening the national identity. Bahrain University fourth year student, movie-maker and social media activist Omar Farooq Al-Awadhi moderated the one-hour session which was broadcast live on Bahrain TV YouTube Channel on link: https://www.youtube.com/user/bahraintelevision. . #Hashtag #حوار_مع_وزير_الإعلام was also launched for twitter users to express their opinions and take part in the session, considered the first of its kind in Bahrain. The minister stressed the need to commit to the fundamentals of Government-run media and said that TV success is getting harder in highly-competitive landscape which is open to more than 5000 channels. He said that viewers are more inclined to watch specialized channels and switch to Government-owned channels to watch the news mainly. He unveiled a plan to develop the information sector in Bahrain to focus on using modern media tools adequately to promote the conventional media. He voiced concerns over the misuse of the modern media tools, particularly pseudonyms, urging users to exercise self-censorship. Al-Rumaihi stressed the importance of public relation departments which are now playing a functional role in all official entities. He underlined the need train employees working in the media sector, pointing out in this regard that the ministry’s staff get trained in Bahrain and France. Two batches of trainees have so far graduated which helps develop the media sector in Bahrain. Citing updated statistics, he said that female media graduates make up more than 50% of Bahrain Radio employees, highlighting the establishment of a new media directorate so as to keep abreast of latest technological trends. The minister commended the live Hang Out session which, he said, proves that the official media spares no efforts to build bridges and reach out to others. He announced that a special Ramadan competition will be launched for university media students, stressing the importance of honing the creative skills and supporting budding talents. #Hashtag #حوار_مع_وزير_الإعلام was the second most followed on twitter in Bahrain.