Press Club de France calls for Sharjah Media Centre to Join Association of International Press Clubs

Paris/Sharjah - March 19, 2012 (WAM) - The Press Club de France yesterday called for Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) to join the International Association of Press Clubs, taking into consideration its overarching role as the communications arm of the government of Sharjah and its ambitious efforts to serve the media sector in the region and the world at large. Olivier Galzi, President, Press Club de France, and Isabelle Bourdet, Director of Press Club de France, met with the SMC delegation headed by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, and Osama Samra, Director of Sharjah Media Centre. Bourdet said: "The Press Club de France pledges its commitment to extending support to Sharjah Media Centre. Towards this end, we will organize a visit to Sharjah to gain an understanding of the activities of the centre and develop appropriate joint media programmes." Sheikh Sultan welcomed the Press Club de France's call to join the International Association of Press Clubs. He said: "We will gain the membership of the global organization, which will facilitate our aim to foster cultural exchange between people, in addition to identify and adopt best practices, and provide advanced services to journalists from around the world." The Press Club de France, founded in 1986, is one of the largest press clubs in the world and is regarded as the first in Europe and the second worldwide. The Club actively hosts round-the-year briefings and meetings for the benefit of media professionals, besides facilitating networking opportunities between journalists and thought leaders. His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi briefed French media experts on the objectives of Sharjah Media Centre. Highlighting its role to serve the media community in the UAE and abroad, he elaborated on its membership programmes and roadmap for the future. In collaboration with officials of major French media houses, he drew up a media plan to foster the exchange of information, cultures and best practices. The synergy will aim to facilitate the development of comprehensive training modules by media experts and provide advanced media services to drive the vision of Sharjah Media Centre. The Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation said that France is among the countries that have achieved an international place in the domains of culture and media. "It is, therefore, rightfully placed to help us develop media initiatives that enable us to be more active on the global media landscape in an informed way." The delegation from Sharjah Media Centre toured the various departments at Press Club de France, and was briefed about the goals of its programmes. The delegation was also updated about the Charter of the International Press Clubs. Osama Samra remarked that the Sharjah delegation's visit to France came as part of Sharjah Media Centre's ambition to mark a global presence and translate some of Sharjah's cultural and media aspirations through participating in activities that spotlight the emirate as a hub of thought and culture. Samra expressed his appreciation of the hospitality and support extended by media organizations in France to Sharjah, and SMC in particular. Sharjah Media Centre is committed to strengthening the scope of media activity in Sharjah through offering round-the-clock support to media persons, as well media institutions and universities delivering industry-specific studies. Sharjah Media Centre provides membership to all journalists associated with the media sector within the UAE and abroad, as well as photographers and students of media colleges and institutes. The centre's members stand to benefit from the enabling resources it offers, including access to authentic information and related on-ground support throughout the year. Sharjah Media Centre also provides best-in-class technologies to help members perform their jobs effectively, besides keeping them informed of ongoing local, regional and global events. - Emirates News Agency, WAM