Global Arab Network | Gulf media – A tangible effect on the society development

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Gulf media – A tangible effect on the society development

Saturday, 12 December 2009 18:07

Media organizations in Arabian Gulf states can have a tangible effect on the development of their societies, said a recent study carried out in Kuwait.

The study was conducted by Media Professor at Kuwait University Dr. Hasan Makki, compiled in a KUNA publication entitled "Kuwait Summit and Gulf Ambition," issued on the occasion of the 30th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit scheduled to be held in Kuwait on December 14-15.

According to the study, media is second to none in the field of information distribution, and is the widest base of dialogue, discussion, and cultural and social integration in the region.

The study also mentioned that GCC media outlets can contribute to education by various means, through systematic education and continuing education. The media can also incorporate Gulf citizens into development efforts, by raising the motivation of masses towards building a sence of self-determination reflected on a personal and social basis.

The Kuwaiti academic also discussed the development of media in the Arabian Gulf, and its role in the development of the society, noting that audio and visual media began in the region as privately owned initiatives, as witnessed earlier in neighbouring Arab nations.

With the expansion of media organizations, political authorities in the region sought to mould these media outlets - especially radio and television - into state institutions. Then came the new millennium, which witnessed the introduction of the private sector forcefully into the media domain through radio and private satellite stations.

He categorized Arabian Gulf media as newspapers, television, theatre, cinema and the internet.

By ownership classification, he split media organizations in the region into three fundamental branches; organizations owned wholly by the private sector, organizations of mutual ownership by the private and public sectors, and organizations of full government ownership.

Dr. Makki also touched upon the ideological branching of media bodies in Gulf states, including a state ideology, which adopts the views of the government, a commercial ideology, which is guided by financial gain and a personal idealogy, which adopts the thoughts of the organization's benefactor be it religious, moderately conservative or progressive liberal.

An effective media is one which plays a major role in development throughout the different needs of everyday life, Dr. Makki noted.

In order for this development to be attained, the academic stressed there needs to be available three crucial values in media work emanating from freedom, followed by human and financial resources, followed by a philosophy and ideology, from which the organization's performance relies on in any given society or nation.

On the role of media, he provided two functions; as a source of alert for development to individuals and the society, and as a persuader of individuals and the society to practice efforts to employ this development.

The media can assist the development of the society by fulfilling internationally-adopted standards in respect of its role in the social system, he suggested.

These standards include news, social upbringing, creating motivation, dialogue, discussion, education, cultural awareness, entertainment and integration, Dr. Makki continued to say.

In the case of culture as a source of development, he warned against a dependency on foreign culture, stressing the need for local culturally-aware forms of media, and for television stations in the region, for example, to create a domestically-driven drama from the Gulf, based on the region's realities. (KUNA)

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