A media academy is in the pipeline as Bahrain seeks to improve the standard of the country’s journalists.

There will also be over-seas training and appointment of foreign experts to support the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), as well as changes to Bahrain University’s curricula, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Minister of State for Information Affairs and official government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab revealed plans to improve the media sector yesterday, during a press conference following the weekly Cabinet session at Gudaibiya Palace.

“We have to acknowledge that we have a shortage of qualified journalists, editors and television and radio presenters and producers in the
media market, which is not helping us progress in the field as we should,” said Ms Rajab.

“The government has laid strong plans that will be implemented to solve that ongoing problem.

"Solutions include establishing a media academy, changing Bahrain University’s College of Arts’ curricula, training and education abroad and recruiting foreign experts to help the Information Affairs Authority.

“We are also studying other solutions as we look to create a strong supply of qualified media personnel.”

Meanwhile, Ms Rajab said the government would continue to monitor the Lebanese Communication Group which operates the Al Manar TV
channel and Al Nour radio station.

The GDN reported yesterday that the group had apologised for its previous coverage of events in Bahrain and pledged to stop reporting false
news.

Its apology was made at a meeting of the Arab States Broadcasting Union.

“The Bahrain government accepts the apology on good intentions and hopes that the apology will be a commitment to proper coverage in future,” said Ms Rajab.

“We will carefully follow the group’s operations in future and take necessary action in case of violations.

For now we have dropped our complaint against it.”

The group on Saturday pledged to be objective in covering Arab news and to abide by professional standards.

It said it was willing to subject its editorial line to periodic review to ensure its compliance with international professional covenants, treaties and accredited standards.

It also vowed to rectify any policy deviating from this professional framework and work towards preserving good relations with all Arab states, particularly Bahrain. - TradeArabia News Service