The Board of Directors of the National Media Council (NMC) has approved the Council's Strategic Plan for 2017-2021.

This came during the board meeting, held today at the headquarters of the Dubai Government Media Office (DGMO) and presided over by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Board Chairman of the NMC.

The strategic plan is aimed at regulating the media sector in the UAE, providing support to the relevant entities, managing the country's reputation and achievements media-wise, both locally and internationally, and maintaining a progressive news media environment.

The plan also embeds the foundation for administrative services with highest quality, transparency and efficiency standards.

Present during the meeting were board members, namely, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Director-General of DGMO and Chairperson of Dubai Press Club, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Board Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Media Company, Ahmed al Jarmen, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Saeed Al Miqbali, Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Also present were Mansour Al Mansouri, Acting Director of the NMC, and Ibrahim Al Abed, Advisor to the Chairman of the NMC.

The Chairman and members extended greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

Al Jaber said the NMC board meeting was being held at the DGMO to emphasise partnership and cooperation among different media organisations in the UAE. He added that the board's next meetings will be hosted by different organisations.

The board members applauded the Dubai Press Club's recent launch of the "Media Leadership Programme" in cooperation with the National Defence College (NDC) in Abu Dhabi. The programme, backed by the NMC, aims to assist them in evaluating present and future challenges, as well as in dealing with various regional and global developments effectively and professionally.

Al Jaber described the initiative as "a step forward in building national capabilities by providing training opportunities and continuous education to develop the skills of the youth and to prepare them to assume leading positions in media organisations."

He also renewed the NMC's commitment to support all national initiatives and to promote cooperation among the media and academic sectors.

Also approved was the NMC's public services charter, which is aimed at aligning the national media organisations' objectives with the priorities of the UAE government and contributing to realise the UAE Vision 2021.

Al Jaber said the Charter's main goal is to ensure provision of competitive, inclusive and professional media contents that comply with the highest standards of objectivity, transparency and integrity.

The charter also calls for presenting the UAE's image as a haven for tolerance, a place where different cultures co-exist peacefully, and a country that guarantees the highest levels of freedom and acceptance of other cultures, far removed from extremism and racism.

The members reviewed the ongoing efforts to revise regulations governing the NMC, as well as the Key Performance Indicators and the progress of work on the national strategy for reading.

source : wam