“Journalists Should Deal With News, Not Opinion”

In journalism, there is no clash between the old and the new, but the new world journalists should deal with news and not opinion, said Nayla Tueni, Editor-in-Chief, Annahar Newspaper, Lebanon.

Talking on the topic ‘Journalism: Old Vs. New’ on the first day of the 17th edition of the Arab Media Forum in Dubai, she said true knowledge lies with the crowd and not with journalists and therefore they should guard against spreading fake news and misinformation.

“Misinformation and disinformation travel fast. Trust should be created in what we (young journalists) do and observe transparency as a journalist. Think again what we do. A collection of facts should be based on a life experience,” she said.

Journalists should ask themselves many questions before they publish their reports. The questions should be: Can it go wrong; can it get published; is it worth covering and spending your time. Think about stories that last.  As it is, journalism is the first draft of history. If it’s inaccurate, we should fix it.”

She advised young journalists to be systematic and go for complex stories rather than mundane reports. “That requires understanding of world events, such as what’s happening in Saudi Arabia or Qatar.”

Held under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from 3-4 April 2018, the 17^th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) has brought together more than 3,000 prominent regional and international media figures and thought leaders.

Apart from high-profile local speakers, the two-day event features 50 speakers representing 20 countries from across the Arab region and the world. Under the theme ‘Impactful Media Trends’, prominent media personalities, writers, influencers and academics are sharing their views on diverse issues at the Forum with the aim of forging a new vision for the media.