The UAE government issues a federal decree law establishing and organizing the National Media Authority

The UAE government issued a federal decree law establishing and organizing the National Media Authority, which is a general federal body, affiliated with the Council of Ministers, and aims to unify media trends and messages and harmonize media policies at the federal and local levels by coordinating efforts with media agencies in the country, and unifying the country’s media discourse locally and internationally.

The Authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree Law, replaces: the Emirates Media Council, the National Media Bureau and the Emirates News Agency (WAM) in all powers, rights, obligations and legislation related to them, including the rights and obligations contained in any contracts, agreements or memorandums of understanding.

The decree law specifies the powers of the National Media Authority to propose strategic media directions for the state and general media messages, and to coordinate with media agencies in the country to ensure unification and harmonization of these directions and messages. Policies Media on level Federal And the localAnd unifying the state’s media discourse locally and internationally.

The decree entrusted the Authority with proposing and preparing policies, legislation and strategies concerned with regulating and developing the national media sector in the country, enhancing the name and reputation of the state, proposing the necessary legislation, regulations, standards and foundations for regulating and licensing media outlets and media activities, including media and electronic publishing, including those operating in free zones, and supervising the implementation of those policies and legislation after their approval by the Council of Ministers.

The Authority is also responsible for setting media content standards in coordination with the relevant authorities, and monitoring and following up on the media content of everything printed And it is published And it is broadcast inside State With what in that in regions Free, And also Information Related to public opinion trends about the state, analyzing them and taking the necessary measures regarding them, preparing, evaluating and following up on the state’s media narrative and contributing to enhancing its positive image.

The Authority, in accordance with the competencies specified in the decree law, develops and implements programmes, mechanisms and measures to manage media crises facing the state and develops appropriate solutions to confront or contain them in coordination with the relevant authorities, and works to develop capabilities, mechanisms and professional applications that support the state’s media system for early detection of crises arising from digital media threats, negative content and media misinformation, in addition to providing support and advice to the concerned authorities in everything related to media affairs to contribute to raising national awareness and providing appropriate information to confront media crises.

The decree law mandated the authority to develop the Emirates News Agency (WAM) to enhance its role as an official channel to support the publication, distribution and translation of official news approved by the state.

The authority’s tasks also include controlling the transmission, broadcast, redistribution and use of news flowing from various sources, whether local, Arab or international, in line with the state’s media policy at home and abroad, and ensuring support and highlighting the concept of national unity, and providing press institutions, publishing houses and news agencies contracted with it, radio and television stations and subscribers from individuals, institutions and social platforms with local and international news, articles, reports and photos in accordance with the best journalistic practices and professional ethics, and processing, editing and publishing news and journalistic materials, in both Arabic and English. And any other necessary languages, and proofreading them linguistically.

The decree law granted the authority the authority to contract with a network of correspondents around the world, establish local and international offices, receive, collect and send local and international news, pictures and press topics through a qualified network of correspondents, in addition to archiving local and international news and press topics, selling news services and media content, and training and qualifying national media cadres, especially those who use them to collect news and distribute it in multiple languages ​​in various parts of the world.

The National Media Authority is also responsible for registering and accrediting media professionals and foreign media correspondents in the country, including in the free zones, managing and heading media delegations for official visits, and representing the country in the media at all foreign and regional levels and in conferences and media events in the country and abroad, in accordance with the assignments issued to it by the Council of Ministers, and in coordination with the relevant authorities.

On the organizational side, the decree law specified the powers of the Authority’s Chairman. It also stipulated the appointment of a Vice-President of the Authority, and permitted the Authority to have a Board of Trustees whose formation shall be issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers.

The decree law also required that the Authority have a Secretary-General and specified his responsibilities to ensure the implementation of the Authority’s policies, strategies, legislation and regulations.