Media Forum Seeks to Boost Image of Palestine

More than 500 media professionals from over 50 countries are meeting [EPA]

Isanbul, 11 Sya’ban 1437/19 May 2016 (MINA) – The second International Palestinian Conference for Media and Communications begins today in Turkey.

The two-day event, hosted by the Palestine Media Forum in partnership with Middle East Monitor (MEMO), aims to encourage dialogue and provide an opportunity for discussion in an attempt to formulate a true image of the Palestinian cause in Arab and international media.

Renowned media professionals including writers, heads of newspapers, radio and television journalists, artists and directors, as well as intellectuals and international academics, will take part in the event which is split into workshops, courses, seminars and panel discussions.

Panellists will highlight and discuss the most successful methods through which fair representation of the Palestinian cause can be attained.

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MEMO Director Daud Abdullah said events such as these are vital to strengthening the Palestinian cause.

“The Forum offers an opportunity to appraise the performance and state of media coverage of Palestine on the one hand, whilst also providing an opportunity to interact with and benefit from the experiences of practitioners from various parts of the world,” he said.

“Finally, it is a platform to forge international relationships within the media fraternity.”

Palestinians from the West Bank and the diaspora are to attend the event, including the mother of Mohamed Abu Khadeir, the Palestinian teenager who was kidnapped and burnt alive by settlers in occupied East Jerusalem in 2014.

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“This forum is important for two reasons: it supports the Palestinian media and ensures Mohamed’s memory lives on,” Suha Abu Khadeir said.

A panel debate on “Combating Zionist Myths” is to be the first event in the Forum. Anas Altikriti, chairman of the Cordoba Foundation, will chair the discussion.

Al Jazeera’s Rawan Damen, Elias Karram and Jasim Al-Azzawi will also take part in the events over the coming days.

“It is a rare opportunity to have over 50 countries and over 500 media personnel work together for Palestine, share their passion in the hope of advancing their work and learning from each other’s experience,” Damen explained.

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“If we want to know the importance of the media then we need to look at the Zionists’ use of it. They alter the facts on the ground and disseminate the information,” Younis Abu Jarad, from Al Aqsa TV, said.

“We want to unite the media organisations to give a true image of the Palestinian situation and the sacrifices Palestinians make for their cause.

“The number of people in attendance proves people’s support for the Palestinian cause, especially at this time,” he explained. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Ageny (MINA)