Dubai: Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and member of the National Media Council says that freedom of the press has now become the responsibility of journalists.
"When His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, gave the order not to jail journalists, he showed them a lot of trust and at the same time he put them to a test.
Responsibility means being aware of what is happening around us and what is good for our society.
Nowhere in the world does total press freedom exist , since total freedom means a total mess. I think our press is more free, in some issues, than some European countries. The press in UAE has many trends and schools, and all are based on transparent methods. Some could misuse this tool, but others are dealing with it in a smart manner.
Some officials or celebrities may take criticism personally, and this is where clashes start. It takes time to gain enough awareness in this matter.
The press has gained political support from the government, as it supports transparency and credibility. The National Media Council is independent and will revise media laws. I'm not talking about censorship, but about organising the media.
