The League of Arab States hosted the inaugural meeting of the 10th edition of the Arab Media Excellence Award committee today at its General Secretariat headquarters. The meeting follows a mandate from the 55th session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers held last November, aimed at elevating the standards of professional practice across the region.
Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector, emphasized that the award serves as a cornerstone for encouraging high-quality journalism. "This initiative is designed to strengthen the capabilities of both individual journalists and media institutions, fostering an environment of healthy competition and innovation," Khattabi stated.
Expanding Horizons: Categories and Vision The award categories for the 10th edition span four key sectors: Print, Television, Radio, and Digital Media. The primary objective is to highlight exemplary media models that prioritize "proximity journalism"—content that directly addresses humanitarian and developmental concerns, with a specific focus on youth and vulnerable societal groups.
Khattabi lauded the State of Kuwait for its continuous sponsorship and support of the award under the Arab League's umbrella. He expressed hope that this year’s edition would bring even greater regional visibility to the program. During the session, the committee discussed institutionalizing the award further, including a proposal to establish a Board of Trustees comprised of media experts to ensure maximum transparency and credibility.
AI and the Digital Future A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the impact of the digital revolution. Khattabi noted that the Technical Secretariat has categorized proposed themes for this year, with Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) receiving the most attention.
"The rapid integration of AI is profoundly reshaping media ethics and content production," Khattabi observed. "Continuous professional training is essential to keep pace with these shifts, which are not limited to media but extend to all service and production sectors in the Arab world." He highlighted that leveraging AI effectively is crucial for accelerating regional development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030.
The committee also extended its gratitude to permanent delegations and media unions for their cooperation, which led to a record number of nominations in the previous cycle. Moving forward, the award will continue to be governed by the Media Honor Code, ensuring independence and governance in its selection process.
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