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19 March 2024

‘Media Leadership Programme’ launched

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By Staff

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club.

The Dubai Press Club (DPC) has announced the launch of the ‘Media Leadership Programme’ in cooperation with National Defense College (NDC) in Abu Dhabi, to help media officials in the UAE enhance their skills for tackling issues related to national security and its strategic dimensions.

The programme, backed by the National Media Council (NMC), also aims to assist them in evaluating present and future challenges, as well as in dealing with various regional and global developments effectively and professionally.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club, said this joint effort is in line with the UAE’s aim to prepare national leaders in various sectors, and to develop their strategic thinking to enable them to positively participate in the future development of the country.

She added that, as a member of the National Media Council, which strives to build national cadres, this programme aims to assist local media leaders to execute their duties in the highest professional way through sharpening their research, analytical, critical thinking, dialogue and evaluation skills, to help them contribute to drafting policies and strategic decisions pertaining to national issues.

“We are happy to collaborate with NDC which we believe will help achieve the programme’s objective,” Al Marri said.

She also praised the high scientific level and quality of NDC’s graduates, which was a key reason behind joining hands with it, as this programme will help provide the media sector with highly qualified professionals able to lead and take decisions wisely.

Strategic Thinking

Dr John Ballard, Dean of NDC, praised the idea of the programme and its strategic objectives to further cement the capabilities of the UAE’s national media in providing high quality performance based on strategic awareness of major ongoing developments and the related challenges.

“As a part of its mission to help prepare future leaders, the National Defense College is pleased to partner with other national entities, including the National Media Council and the Dubai Press Club, to conduct this foundational program on strategic security issues and the media. We expect that this programme will both inform and empower media officials from across the UAE to help them better analyse the risks and opportunities of the global landscape and provide enhanced journalism products for the residents of the UAE.”

“We hope this programme will enhance attendees’ knowledge, mainly in terms of sharpening their ability to develop a clear picture of ongoing global developments, and understand how to cover subjects related to such developments in the best possible way,” Dr Ballard said.

Meanwhile, Abdulla Al Mansouri, Acting Director of DPC, said: “The Club is proud of this collaboration, as it aims to develop local media’s abilities and enhance its competitiveness on the global level, as the next phase requires highly qualified media professionals of the second and the third leadership range, who are able to execute their duties in the best possible way.”

The three month programme will start in September 2016, when NDC’s professors will cover topics such as: national identity and sovereignty, the elements that affect their security, the importance of political stability in building people’s abilities, strategic thinking and how to define objectives and means of achieving national interests, information as a key element of national sovereignty, and developing strategic thinking skills for the construction of the media messages, among many other topics.