ID :
167172
Thu, 03/10/2011 - 12:16
Auther :

Mass Media 'Has Become A Key Pillar of Society'

Doha, March 10 (QNA) - The mass media has evolved to become a key pillar of post modern society, the Director of Police Training Institute said here.
Addressing a seminar, probing the 'Role of Media in Security Awareness', Dr Muhammed Abdullah Al Muhanna Al Murri, said, "Mass media whether visual, audio, video, electronic or print, has become a basic pillar of political, economical, social and security issues."
Directors from various departments of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), representatives of various state organisations, officers and students from the GCC countries as well as students from Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College heard experts speak on different forms of media at the one-day seminar held here under the patronage of the HE Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi attended the seminar organised by the Studies and Researches Section of the Police Training Institute (PTI) on Tuesday
Stressing the role of the media in educating the public and spreading awareness on security issues, Dr Al Murri said, "The media has evolved also become the main channel for publishing all type knowledge, science, art, literature, opinion and thoughts as well it can awake the public consciousness and educate them about the gravity of crimes and its devastating impact on the individual and society."
The seminar mulled the roles of all forms of media in the post modern era and experts discussed the critical importance of interaction between media personnel and security officials.
Expert at the office of the Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Dr. Hamdi Shaaban presided over the first session of the seminar.
The director of Public Relation Department of MoI Lt. Col. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah presented the first paper on 'Role of Security Media in Community Awareness'.
Lt.Col. Al Muftah explained how the media can play its role in disseminating information to the public, creating awareness among local community, groups and establishments to play an effective role.
He also elucidated the role of Public Relations Department in raising awareness. "The department conducts programmes to educate the members of the society in all fields as part of the five-year strategy of the MoI. These activities are organised with the advent of new trends, systems and technology as well as recommendations of joint Arab and GCC security initiatives," said Al Muftah.
In his concluding remarks Al Muftah suggested enhancing their partnership with civil society institutions like schools, mosques and families to support the media in raising awareness on security issues. He also pointed out the role of community police in this endeavour.
Al Jazeera Network's Director of Corporate Development Office Dr. Abdul Azeez Al Hurr presented the second paper on the role of print, audio and visual media in security awareness.
Dr Al Hurr started with explaining the average time an individual spends with media daily stressing on the strong relation between mass media and the general public.
He also expounded on the new generation media forums like facebook, twitter, you tube, blogs and smart mobile phones which provide various conveniences and adds new avenues to expanding the ways of influencing the public.
Dr Al Hurr recommended prefect planning, identifying target audience and simplifying the messages as well as shifting strategies to focus on the new generation media.
MoI Public Relations Department's Media Expert Adel Al Mehdi presided over the second session of the seminar.
Qatar Media Corporation's Media Expert Dr Yousuf Muhammed Al Ibrahim presented the first paper of this session titled 'Role of the Media and Debate on Media Awareness'.
Dr Al Ibrahim urged the gathering to understand the work and scope of media agencies in Arab countries and the critical need for co-operation on security issues. He called for a comprehensive approach to security topics and to engage specialists in this endeavour.
Qatar University professor Dr Mahmoud Qalandar presented the second paper titled 'Relation Between Media and Security Towards Integration of Roles'.
Dr Qalandar delved on the role communications in society, the impact of control and development of the media in post modern global societies. He also spoke on electronic public relations.
The seminar concluded with many recommendations like encouraging mutual respect and focussed co-operation between the police, mass media and the public. It urged the development of security culture among police personnel and the public and lay the foundations of the principles of community partnership in the security duties.
Staff Major General Saad Bin Jassim Al Khulaifi feted students Ahmed Al Kurdi from Hamza bin Abdul Muthalib School; Khalid Al Bakir, Abdul Hadi Al Murri, Husni Abdul Azeez and Hamad Rashid Al Nuaimi from Ahmed bin Muhamed Al Thani School; Ahmed Al Shahwani, Salman Mahmoud from Muhamed bin Abdul Wahab School and Muhammed Al Jeeli from Abu Backer Al Siddeeque School. These students participated in a research contest conducted by the Supreme Education Council.
Seminars such as this one are educational initiatives of the PTI for the year 2011.

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