Cabinet takes steps to curb inaccurate reporting

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, receives at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah Monday, Dr. Mohammed Al-Amro, Secretary General of the Shoura Council, who took the oath of office before the King. — SPA

JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers, chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Monday ordered the appointment of spokesmen for ministries involved in public services.

The Cabinet took this decision after noting that some unspecialized writers and journalists have made incorrect and fabricated allegations regarding the activities of some ministries looking after public services.

The Cabinet’s decision defines the major tasks of the spokesmen as being to inform the different branches of the media about any news, statements and clarifications as well as answering their queries.

Ministries, general organizations and government agencies have been asked to reactivate their media tools related to their activities, projects, and services.

The decision also stressed the importance of ministries opening channels of contact and cooperation with the media as making the best use of electronic websites.

The Cabinet also said that if any government body finds that a media agency has published incorrect news and has not responded in an appropriate manner to the replies of the government agency, then it should immediately report the matter to the official bodies responsible for looking into and resolving these cases besides filing a lawsuit against the erring media agency or journalist.

The Cabinet also confined the practice of journalism to journalists accredited by the Saudi Journalists Association.

Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said King Abdullah briefed the Cabinet on the talks, messages and consultations he had with leaders of brotherly and friendly countries and their envoys on bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them as well as the regional and international developments.

The Cabinet, Khoja said, lauded Bahrain’s recent constitutional amendments hoping that these would enhance the parliamentary and political life of the people of that country. — SG/SPA