‘Security agencies should adopt media strategies to tackle security challenges’

AMMAN — Media plays a key role in safeguarding pan-Arab security and defending regional issues, experts stressed on Sunday.

The experts, who convened at a conference on “media at security agencies and national policies to deal with modern types of media”, stressed the need for security agencies to adopt media strategies to deal with the security challenges facing the region.

“Media strategies by security bodies need to be constantly updated in light of the rapidly changing environment in the media scene and technologies,” said Mohammad Habashneh, the director general of Petra Institutions for Conferences who also chairs the conference.

The five-day gathering, which brought together experts in the field and representatives from Oman, Sudan and the UAE, sheds light on the concept of media at security agencies, legislation in this regard, the role of media in crisis management and media leadership skills.

“At present, pan-Arab security is under threat and facing many dangers and media have a great role to play in safeguarding it,” Samir Habashneh, former minister of interior, said at the opening of the conference, organised in cooperation with Atlas for Human Resources Development.

“Our priority at this stage is putting a stop to wars in the region and the press plays an important role in this regard,” he added.

Habashneh, who is president of the Jordan Society for Science and Culture, stressed the key role media can play in facing challenges and crises in the region and galvanising public opinion.

Participants at the event said media outlets can also combat terrorism by countering extremist ideologies.