Arab radio and TV stations have to keep pace with the information revolution in modern media to convey their message to wider classes of the Arab society, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said on Wednesday.
Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud made the statement in his address to the opening session of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASPU) conference here today, representing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
He stressed the dire need for a collective action to convey to the world the bright historical epochs of the Arabs that came to constitute the basis for a human and civilized conduct.
Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud noted that ASPU was established 60 years ago as a joint Arab media system that seeks to realize expectations of the people and offer the world a message on Arab just causes.
He referred to ASPU as a "media think-tank" whose member institutions work hard to realize goals of human and intellectual development as an urgent issue against the spread of a culture of extremism, violence and terrorism.
Meanwhile, the Information Minister called for enhancing media exchange among the Arab countries, saying that developing a media code of conduct is vital to unify the discourse against "challenges facing out countries." This annual event offers a chance to debate the union's activities over a whole past year, and explore prospects of a future plan to promote its media vision and message, ASPU Director-General Salah Eddine Maauoi said.
As part of the opening ceremony, ASPU 2014 awards have been offered to a host of member radio and TV stations for their efforts within the union's program exchange system.
An award was granted to each of the Saudi, Algerian radios while the Iraqi radio won two.
The best "Through Arab Eyes Award" for programs on people with special needs was offered to the Saudi "Lulua crosses the borders of darkness." Tunisian radio program "Children of the moon" cam second.
The best TV program award went to the Jordan's Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) and the second to the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation.
The best prize for a documentary program on the impact of social networking on the Arab societies was awarded to Egypt's Radio and TV Union, and the second the Moroccan National Radio and Television Company.