Oman media on right track: Information Minister
Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information said that the Sultanate of Oman is reemerging anew and this revival is based on the roles undertaken by everyone in the construction process led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the leader of the renewed Renaissance and the builder of the nation who is keen that every citizen lives a happy life.
This was stated by the Minister of Information in an interview with Al Shabab Radio Oman Youth. The minister spoke about the Sultanate of Oman registering progress in the media index for the second year in a row advancing by 6 notches and ranking 40th in the Global Soft Power Index 2024 published by the British Brand Finance.
The minister said: “We are making great headway thanks to your efforts and the efforts of your colleagues in the Ministry of Information as well as the private media outlets including radio stations, newspapers. We also have the Majan TV channel. We should also mention the electronic media. Everyone is doing a great job on social media and are undertaking significant and effective roles. There are good indicators that we are moving on the right path which will surely lead us to the desired destination and all these efforts will be crowned with success, Almighty God willing.” Regarding the reasons that led to the Sultanate of Oman’s progress in the media index for the second year in a row and the advanced ranks it achieved in the global soft power index, the minister said: “The Omani media is broad even though some associate it with radio and television which being the most important forms of media. We also have 3 television channels each of which plays a fundamental role in promoting and introducing the Sultanate of Oman to the outer world. We also have 5 radio stations, in addition to Oman newspaper, Oman Daily Observer newspaper, Nizwa magazine, Oman News Agency (ONA), the news centre, the government communication centre and the Ain platform.
Speaking about the Sultanate of Oman advancement in the Global Soft Power Index, the Minister of Information said there is integrated work in all aspects of media work which undergoes great changes and we have a plan to present an electronic media that introduces the Sultanate of Oman and achieve our national goals.
The Ain platform contains an audio book library. Omani books are available in print, but technology has made the audio book available and this is provided by the Ain platform. We have a strong presence on e-platforms and there is great interaction and our electronic platforms are credible and trustworthy among the Omani society and this is yet another evidence of the development of the Omani media.” Speaking about the book fair, which concluded its 28th edition recently, the minister of information who is also the Chairman of the main organising committee of the Muscat International Book Fair said: “Muscat Book Fair is the most important cultural event in the Sultanate of Oman. It is one of the most important events in the Arab world as it sees the participation of well-known Arab publishers. Oman books have made their presence felt among Arab and international books and are sought-after by a wide segment of book readers,” Speaking about the Oman Youth Encyclopedia which was launched at the opening of the Muscat International Book Fair, the minister said: “The publication of Oman Encyclopedia is one of the most important cultural achievements in the Sultanate of Oman. It was overseen by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik when he was the minister of culture. His Majesty honoured me to be the editor-in-chief and supervisor of the Oman Encyclopedia. It is a great book that sums up all available knowledge and information about the Sultanate of Oman, the Omani people, nature, society, trees, seas, living organisms, human life, basic books, arts, etc.
The Ministry of Information held a workshop last year on the governorates’ media in line with His Majesty’s approach to develop the governorates and promote decentralisation. Certainly, for this approach to succeed the media is required to address and express the governorates and promote their activities. Specialised workshops were held in this regard which were attended by the governors, media specialists from the governorates and officials from the public and private media outlets. The workshop was aimed at explaining how the media plays its role in the success of the decentralisation of the governorates. It came up with many recommendations that would improve the media and the results will be felt by everyone in the form of strengthening of the governorates media and their coverage by the media, the minister said.
Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information pointed out that the Omani media, from the beginning, made a strong presence and represented the aspirations of the Omanis and expressed their issues.
Since the accession of His Majesty Sultan Haitham, the Omani media has highlighted the full range of developments, policies, programmes and projects that have been implemented. His Majesty closely follows the local media, he listens to the radio, follows the press, follows the Sultanate of Oman TV as well as the e-media. His Majesty issues directives to develop media performance and follows citizens feedback in all media forms.
Speaking about the documentary series dubbed Bait Al Ajaib ‘House of Wonders’, the minister of information said: “His Majesty is keen that the Sultanate of Oman’s culture and other forms of soft powers be present and influential globally in order to achieve our national goals, especially Oman Vision 2040 and the documentary series come within this context within the Ministry of Information’s plan to enhance international presence. The three documentaries highlight the Omani presence and influence in East Africa.” The minister concluded: “The Council of Ministers referred the Omani media bill to the Council of Oman, and now in Majlis Ash’shura. I am not going to talk about specifics, but the general philosophy of the Omani media is to express the citizens and their interests. It is the platform in which the citizens express their opinions and talk about their hopes, ambitions.
They can even express their criticism and this is guaranteed by the law. We always say that opinion is a duty that must be presented on various issues that touch the life of the citizen. The law keeps pace with the developments as it includes e-media platforms, artificial intelligence. We have revised the draft law so that it includes articles covering the aspect of artificial intelligence.
The goal of the law is to enhance freedom of opinion and the transfer of our experience, heritage, and history to future generations and to strengthen the unity of the nation.”
THE NEW MEDIA LAW AIMS TO ENHANCE FREEDOM OF OPINION
HIS MAJESTY CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE
LOCAL MEDIA
OMANI MEDIA MADE A STRONG PRESENCE AND REPRESENTED THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE OMANIS AND EXPRESSED THEIR ISSUES
HIS MAJESTY IS KEEN THAT THE SULTANATE OF OMAN’S CULTURE AND OTHER FORMS OF SOFT POWERS BE PRESENT AND INFLUENTIAL GLOBALLY
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY OF THE OMANI MEDIA IS TO EXPRESS THE CITIZENS AND THEIR INTERESTS