The Diplomatic Institute discusses new media in conflict

The Diplomatic Institute hold a panel session on "the new media and its role in the conflicts - the Gulf crisis as a model. HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani, Director of the Government Communication Office, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, HE Lulwah Al-Khater, the journalist Abdulaziz Al Ishaq, spoke at the session which moderated by Jaber Al Harmi, Manager of Al-Arab-Daily.

Sheikh Saif discussed the role of the Government Communication Office in responding to media, including social media. HE pointed out that the establishment of the Office came under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir, to keep abreast of the development in media, including social media. Indicating that the development witnessed by media characterized by quick response to social media.

Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Ishaq spoke about the social media accounts and how some countries  control and manipulate it for the interests of the blockade states and stressed the importance of preparing a generation of Qatari youth to face social media.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, HE Lulwah Al-Khater, discussed social media, the development of media in relation with various strata of society and the public sphere. She reviewed the evolution of media since the emergence of printed newspapers and cultural salons, which were aimed at the "rationalization" of speech, providing of information, and the development of this idea through the intellectual class.

She also pointed out that with the spread of visual media, information began to reach other sectors of non-intellectuals whose role is to receive only. Which stimulated the capitalist class to acquire these means and try to produce information and news to suit their wishes and goals. "Then came the phase of social media, which has structurally changed the public sphere, hence, multiple public areas emerged; Twitter, Facebook and Snap Chat, and others. Noting that these new applications have created a state of "fragmentation" in the public sphere, so that anyone can identify with alternative communities, and be separated from the social, religious, spatial and temporal environment, which has resulted in cultural impacts on within the same society", she added.

She elaborated: Anyone can override the temporal, and spatial context for his own purposes by" fabricating "images, videos and audio clips and attributing them to other societies. Noting that such things are happening to the State of Qatar during the current Gulf crisis.

HE Mrs. Nadia Ahmed Al-Shaibi, Assistant Director of the Diplomatic Institute, presented a brief preview about the symposium, welcomed HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed and the attendees and Excellencies, the Directors of Departments, Assistants and guests of the academicians.

She expressed the hope that this session will contribute to raise awareness of the role of social media in our issues.

The session was moderated by Jaber Al-Haremi, who spoke about the role of social media in the blockade, which began with a news story from Twitter and quoted by Al-Arabiya channel and then piracy on Qatar News Agency.

The audience of Ambassadors, Director of Departments and University professors took part in the discussion, which highlighted social media and the importance of preparing a strategy to work in light of the new media variables.