Sharjah 24 – WAM: The third day of the Global Media Congress (GMC) featured a panel discussion hosted by Saeed Al Eter, Chair of the UAE Government Media Office, which addressed the role of the media in promoting national identity amidst the challenges posed by cultural globalisation.

The session was moderated by Abdullah Abdul Karim, Acting Executive Director for News Content at the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

At the start of the panel discussion, Al Eter thanked Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, for his patronage of the Global Media Congress, organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), in partnership with WAM.

The Global Media Congress is a gathering of media talents from around the world, which aims to discuss the challenges facing the media sector and draft a forward-looking vision to shape its future, he said.

The panel discussion began with a question on the key role of the media in strengthening national identity. Al Eter stressed that the world is changing amidst economic and cultural globalisation and noted that the average time spent by an individual on the internet is seven hours per day, according to statistics.

He also talked about the state of cultural globalisation, adding that there are over 200 entertainment platforms worldwide used by nearly 1.4 billion people.

Major countries have a national identity that they aim to promote to the rest of the world, and the UAE is a pioneering example of a country that showcases its national identity, he added.

The media has a major role in promoting national identity, especially considering the importance of education and its related contributions, Al Eter affirmed, noting that some countries are exerting significant efforts to strengthen their national identity, referring to the role played by the media.

He then highlighted the example of Japan as a pioneer in promoting national identity, stressing that the Japanese people are proud of their national identity and culture, and spend an average of four hours per day on the internet.

He then highlighted the example of South Korea, which has successfully exported nearly 12 hours of Korean dramas to 91 countries.

Many Emirati children have iPads and spend nearly seven hours on them while 20 percent are not subject to any parental controls, which is a challenge in this area, Al Eter said. The UAE has launched many initiatives and pioneering programmes aimed at promoting the national identity, including the “Year of Zayed” and the “Year of Tolerance.”

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan strengthened the principles of national identity in the UAE, he said, affirming the importance of teaching these values to young generations.

He also highlighted the initiatives launched by the UAE to promote the national identity and the Arabic language. The country is a pioneering example in many areas and the importance of these initiatives and programmes to strengthening connections with the Arabic language, including the Million’s Poet Programme, the Prince of Poets Programme, and the heritage festivals held nationwide, he added.

The Arab Reading Challenge is a distinguished initiative launched by a unique leader, he stressed. The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to launch the challenge has increased people’s interest in the Arabic language, as well as the Madrasa e-learning platform, which involves 7,000 academic lessons.

Al Eter affirmed the importance of connecting young generations to the values and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed.