The Minister of State for Information, Ms. Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab, on Wednesday during a Press briefing announced a five-year strategic plan paving the way for implementing the 45 initiatives aimed at restructuring the media landscape in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The new strategy, first of kind in the history, will help to upgrade the media and information affairs in line with the developments in the regional and global levels.
The Five-Year Strategic plan (2013-2018) of the Ministry of State for Information Affairs focuses on the following three key strategic issues:
1. A comprehensive rehabilitation and development of the information and communication sector in a manner that supports professionalism in the media practice and production, enhances national unity and the process of reform, ensures security and stability, spread a spirit of harmony and tolerance, and contributes to the spreading of awareness and knowledge throughout the community.
2. Introducing the reform project, the achievements of the government and its efficient performance, the process of modernization and sustainable development, to international and local public opinion through developing means of communication between the various government apparatuses and media outlets at home and abroad.
3. Making the media and communication sector an attractive field for investment, capable of achieving an added value and an element of diversification of our national income, as well as being one of the fundamental components of our diversified national economic activities and a source of regional and Arab radiation.
The strategy comprises of (45) initiatives or projects that will be gradually implemented, and in accordance to priority, over the next five years. In 2013, the Ministry has begun implementing some of these initiatives. The most important of which were:
1. Completion of a nationwide comprehensive survey of the media and communication sector in the Kingdom.
2. Completion of a comprehensive draft law for media and communications. This draft law will be submitted to the Cabinet soon.
3. Establishment of the Higher Authority for Media and Communications as an independent body in charge of organizing media affairs and boosting the professional performance of media in the Kingdom.
4. Establishment of the Office of the Official Government Spokesperson (OGS) to enhance communication with the media both locally and abroad.
5. Creating new studios and developing the old ones to stay in line with the latest audio visual media production.
6. Initiating a comprehensive training scheme for all sectors in the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) in an attempt to develop the process of production to meet international standards.
7. Restructuring the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) to reinforce media infrastructure and boost the performance of state media.
8. Develop an action plan for external media communications that relies on communicating with foreign media, portraying a correct image of the Kingdom of Bahrain abroad, and responding to the fallacies, lies and false news that spread against the Kingdom.
9. Boosting the media presence of the Kingdom of Bahrain both locally and abroad, through winning the title of Manama as the Capital of Arab Press for two years (2013-2014) and seeking to host the World Media summit in 2014, after it was hosted by China and Russia consecutively.
10. Carrying out a feasibility study of the housing project for journalists in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) in compliance with the directives of HM the King.
In the next stage, the Ministry is seeking to accelerate the implementation of the remaining projects or initiatives, which include, but are not limited to:
1. Construct new facilities in the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) in order to develop the media and the official media channels based on the new organizational structure that has been ratified.
2. Build institutional capacities for the sector by setting standards for media work in a manner that meets international standards.
3. Establish an advanced government communications system.
4. Form a broad network of media relations abroad.
5. Make the media and communication sector an attractive field of investment in order to contribute to the diversification of the Kingdoms national income.
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The New Organizational Structure for the Information Affairs Authority (IAA)
The organizational structure of the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) adopts redistribution of the IAA’s directorates that would support the development of this important official organization.
1. General Directorate for External Communication. The directorate is divided into three departments, namely:
Press Affairs Directorate: it is concerned with local press affairs and accredited foreign correspondents, the supervision and organization of press conferences and media events in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in coordination with the relevant government bodies.
Media Follow-up Directorate: it is concerned with the provision of media communication support both locally and abroad, creating a relationships of cooperation with foreign media journalists and professionals and facilitate their work in the Kingdom.
New Media Directorate: This department supervises the process of publication and development of all electronic media which are affiliated to the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), such as the websites and applications of smartphones and tablet computers of Radio and Television Channels and Bahrain News Agency (BNA). In addition, this department is concerned with the follow up and development of social networking accounts.
A new and modern building has been allocated to this General Directorate, equipped with the latest technologies and databases to facilitate worldwide media communications. This building is expected to be ready by early 2014.
2. Bahrain News Agency (BNA): The Bahrain News Agency has been upgraded to the status of a General Directorate to assume its place as the first national organization which provides official information, news and statements. The project for development of BNA focuses on the following:
BNA is a main source of official news coverage and publication.
In addition to the previous agreement, BNA will continue with the signing of cooperation agreements with Arab and foreign news agencies in order to publish news about the Kingdom of Bahrain in various languages. In this respect, an agreement was signed with the Egyptian Middle East News Agency, the Italian News Agency, the Russian News Agency, the Spanish News Agency and the Indian News Agency.
Using the latest technologies in the process of broadcasting news via news agencies
Developing the services of BNA to include audio, video and live transmission.
Creating a special department for translating into English and French in the first stage, and to other official languages of the United Nations Organization in the following stages.
Creating a research and information department to support the process of production and boost the level of news and reports published by BNA.
Increasing the number of editors-in-chief and editors who cover all news sections in BNA.
Creating a special department for correspondents abroad in order to ensure media presence of the Kingdom abroad.
A new building has been allocated to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) in accordance with international standards of news agencies. It is currently being supplied with the latest technologies and equipment. It is expected to be ready by the end of this month.
3. The General Directorate for Television and Broadcasting: This General Directorate has been restructured to increase the number of radio and television channels over the next five years with special emphasis on sports, economics, culture, tourism and history. As part of the development of television production, a special Production Department has been created in order to increase the number of television programs and documentaries produced. In addition to that, a special department for drama and documentaries has been created for the purpose of encouraging national drama production.
4. The General Directorate for Technical and Technology Affairs: With this array of television and radio channels, outdoor relay operations, satellite transmission as well as the development of high definition (HD) digital transmission, it was imperative to develop the respective directorate of technical and technological affairs to become a general directorate in order to serve all media production centers in the IAA especially the directorates of Radio and TV Corporation and Bahrain News Agency. This development on technical and technological aspects is expected to yield in positive results in terms of all sorts of media production.
5. Media Directorate: the directorate substitutes what used to be known as the Publication and Press Directorate. It specializes in issuing permits for media activities, according to legal controls, all while supporting the media liberties and regulating the media sector based on the most open standards.
6. Huna Al Bahrain Magazine: the Media Directorate is working on a new edition of the Magazine “Huna Al Bahrain” in both paper and electronic forms in order to continue publishing, after a break of more than a year, as a general social and cultural magazine that reflects the civil image of Bahrain.
7. The Electronic Gazette: the Directorate also achieved a cooperation project with the e-Government, in order to make the Electronic Gazette available online, and regularly updated.
Executive Summary of the five-year strategic plan of the Ministry of State for information Affairs (2013-2018)
Strategic Objective 1: A comprehensive rehabilitation and development of the information and communication sector in a manner that supports professionalism in the media practice and production, enhances national unity and the process of reform, ensures security and stability, spread a spirit of harmony and tolerance, and contributes to the spreading of awareness and knowledge throughout the community.
Program1: diagnose and restructure the current media scene.
Program 2: draft a new law which regulates the media and communication sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Program 3: develop the media and communication institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Program 4: support journalists, media and communication professionals.
Program 5: boost the performance of the Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
Program 6: boost the performance of the official Radio and Television Directorate.
Program7: rehabilitate print media.
Program8: rehabilitate audio-visual media.
Program9: develop the electronic media sector.
Program10: regulate the advertising sector.
Program11: rehabilitate the public relations sector.
Strategic Objective 2: Introducing the reform project, the achievements of the government and its efficient performance, the process of modernization and sustainable development, to international and local public opinion through developing means of communication between the various government apparatuses and media outlets locally and abroad.
Program1: establish an advanced government communications system.
Program2: expand the network of professional relationships with journalists, media and communication professionals and decision-makers in Arab and foreign media institutions.
Program3: communicate constantly with the legislative authority.
Program4: communicate and create partnerships with media committees in the GCC countries and the Arab League.
Program5: communicate and create partnerships with regional and international associations and organizations concerned with issues of the media and communications.
Strategic Objective3: Making the media and communication sector an attractive field for investment, capable of achieving an added value and an element of diversification of our national income, as well as being one of the fundamental components of our diversified national economic activities and a source of regional and Arab radiation.
Program 1: create a city for audio-visual industries.
Program 2: create a city for film production.
Program 3: create a city for digital production.
Program 4: present varied programs that would encourage positive competitiveness among local television and radio stations.
Program 5: create a city for book publishing industry.
Program 6: create an industry event regionally and internationally with a remarkable presence at the international level.