The National Media council (NMC) has concluded the interview process for Youth Media Council applicants, where 153 students of various media colleges and institutes, as well as media representatives from across the UAE, applied to be considered for one of the 12 seats that make up the Council.

A media committee was formed to select 12 applicants to serve as the Youth Media Council members based on several criteria, including a successful track record and in-depth knowledge of the media sector. The final results are set to be announced on Sunday, November 4, 2017.

The committee includes Jaber Al-Lamaki, Acting Executive Director of Media and Strategic Communications at the National Media Council; Mohammed Al Kaabi, Project Assistant at the Office of the Minister of State for Youth; Mohammad Al Hammadi, Editor-in-Chief of Al Ittihad newspaper; Nart Bouran, CEO of Sky News Arabia; Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief of The National; and Dr Ahmed Mourad, Dean of the Faculty of Science at the United Arab Emirates University.

The National Media Council had launched the Youth Media Council during a Youth Circle to discuss the results of a survey the NMC had conducted with the UAE University Center for Public Policy and Leadership on "Youth and Sources of Information and News". The survey offered a glimpse into the UAE media sector, proposing solutions to develop it and encourage young people to get involved in this strategic sector.

The Youth Media Council aims to identify the views of young people on various topics to ensure that their expectations and opinions are met. The Council will leverage the skills, experiences and creative ideas of young people to prepare, design and guide the projects and initiatives of the National Media Council and the media sector in general. The Council also aims to promote positive and responsible engagement across the various platforms of communication, thereby supporting the country’s national goals, visions and initiatives.