Media Professor and Head of the Egyptian Women’s Media Forum, Hanan Youssef, took part in the 19th Conference of the Arab Women Media Centre, held in Amman, Jordan, earlier this month.
The event was held under the patronage of Princess Basma bint Talal and led by journalist Mahasin al-Emam, with many Arab female journalists attending from across the region.
During the conference, Youssef presented a study proposing a digital media campaign to support the Palestinian cause, using artificial intelligence to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign.
She emphasised the need for a scientific and strategic approach to counter the declining influence of Arab institutional media in covering the ongoing conflict, which has been overshadowed by social media platforms in shaping public opinion in both the Arab world and the West.
Youssef highlighted the significance of unifying Arab media efforts, particularly following a year of fighting in Gaza where tens of thousands of people were killed or injured.
She called for organised media campaigns to reinforce the Palestinian cause as the central issue of the Arab world. Youssef also praised the Arab Women Media Centre for addressing this crucial topic.
Meanwhile, Princess Basma stressed the media’s essential role in reporting on the Gaza conflict and called for international action to protect journalists and uphold press freedoms.
Al-Emam, who is the head of the Arab Women Media Centre, emphasised the need to protect journalists in conflict zones and called for enforcing laws that ensure media freedoms, access to information, and the right to peaceful demonstration.
The two-day conference concluded with several recommendations that emphasised the need to increase training for journalists on occupational safety, especially during and after conflicts, and how to handle information effectively.
The recommendations called for developing and enhancing media skills, particularly in using modern technology and artificial intelligence, to improve media content.
They also urged the preparation of digital media campaigns to raise awareness about sensitive and security issues, and to document the Palestinian narrative during the war, with a special focus on women and female journalists.
Additionally, the recommendations highlighted the importance of creating a joint media platform that connects female media coordinators across Arab countries.
This platform, they said, would facilitate the exchange of experiences, information, and studies, and support the documentation and empowerment of female journalists in their respective regions.
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