The head of the "National Council for Audio-Visual Media," Abdel Hadi Mahfoud, held a meeting today, Thursday, at the council's headquarters with the temporary committee representing electronic sites, chaired by Khaled Ayad, to discuss the issues they face, media policies, the war on Gaza, and its repercussions. Mahfoud stated: "This meeting takes place amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and southern Lebanon. The media has certainly played a fundamental role in confronting this war, as the act of the word is equivalent to the act of bullets, especially when this media, specifically Lebanese, adheres to objectivity, transparency, credibility, and the accuracy of information attributed to a reliable source. This has indeed occurred, giving Lebanese audio-visual, written, and electronic media credibility as a source of information."
He noted that "in the electronic media field specifically, solidarity among electronic sites is what necessitates their success and future role, and accelerates the approval of the unified law, as the actual situation of these sites is linked to the enactment of the unified law. At that point, they will seize their effective legitimacy, especially since there are many questions raised by some of you, indicating that there is a condescending view toward the owners of electronic sites by the owners of audio-visual and written institutions. I believe that this view is misplaced, and it implicitly recognizes that electronic media is the master of the media and not the opposite. So, have great confidence in yourselves in this field and do not fall victim to such a condescending view of your media."
He emphasized that "what gives importance to electronic media is the commitment to accurate information, reliable sources, and cooperation among you, as well as accessing actual information sources." He referred to claims that some official institutions do not allow journalists from electronic sites to cover their activities, saying: "The national council of media urges all official institutions to give electronic media opportunities to be partners with audio-visual and written institutions in covering any news, otherwise, we will not obstruct some electronic sites from threatening to attack and criticize these official and unofficial institutions. The national council of media stands in solidarity with electronic sites in this regard."
Mahfoud pointed out that "there are suggestions from some heads of electronic sites addressing the role of photographers, specifically photographer Khaled Abad. These are good suggestions, and I propose that they be conveyed to all electronic sites for discussion, and they could serve as a gateway to establishing a union for photographers in this electronic sector." He suggested that "due to the expansion of electronic sites, the temporary committee should be expanded to at least function temporarily as a substitute for the idea of a union. That is, the body of the temporary committee that includes all regions, governorates, and sects is considered temporary until the unified media law is enacted, serving as a de facto union paving the way for the next phase."
After the meeting, Mahfoud confirmed in a statement to "Wardna" that they are "awaiting the approval of the unified media law as an actual union, which is still under discussion in the Administration and Justice Committee," highlighting that "thanks to this law, electronic media in Lebanon will become the leading media."
For his part, the publisher of "Lebanon Files," Rabi' El-Habr, pointed out to "Wardna" the "importance of preserving media freedoms and the necessity of having a law that protects these freedoms."
