Dubai: The Emirates Journalists Association (EJA) organized a consultative dialogue session chaired by Fadila Al-Muaini, with the participation of a group of journalists and media professionals who are members of the association, to discuss the visions and objectives related to the "Pioneers of Journalism" initiative, which was launched by the association in conjunction with its celebration of its 26th anniversary last January.

The session, which was held at the Society's headquarters in Dubai, aims to benefit from the media experiences of pioneers, transfer knowledge to new generations, and preserve the Emirati journalist's legacy and document his career.

During the session, it was agreed to establish the "Pioneers Committee" within the qualitative committees in the Association, which is concerned with benefiting from the experiences of senior journalists and media professionals, enhancing their role in supporting and rehabilitating new generations, and preserving the memory of the Emirati press, through cultural, professional and documentary programs that contribute to consolidating the national identity of the Emirati media, and strengthening professional and social relations between members of the journalistic family.

This initiative also comes within the framework of the association's directions aimed at supporting professional development, enhancing the cultural and societal role of the national media, and benefiting from the accumulated experiences of pioneers in serving the media sector.

During the session, the participants stressed that the committee represents a qualitative addition to the Emirati media scene, as it provides a space to gather journalistic and media expertise, and activates the role of pioneers as advisors and mentors to the younger generations, in a way that contributes to strengthening the national identity of the Emirati media, and preserving the memory and professional history of the local press.

The session witnessed the presentation of a number of proposed initiatives and programs, most notably the organization of "Monthly Media Councils", which host media and national figures to discuss current professional issues, such as digital media, professional ethics, artificial intelligence, national media, and issues of freedom of expression and social responsibility.

The attendees also discussed the "Memory of the Emirati Press" initiative, which aims to document the experiences of pioneers through video interviews, archiving photos and press documents, and the publication of an annual book documenting the journey of the Emirati media, in addition to producing a specialized podcast that reviews the development of journalism over the decades.

The proposals included the launch of the "Journalist Mentor" program, which allows young journalists to benefit from the experiences of pioneers through career mentorship sessions and practical development in the fields of editing and investigative journalism.

The idea of the "Annual Pioneers Forum" received the attention of the participants, as it is a cultural and honorary event that includes honoring influential media figures, organizing an exhibition of the Emirati Press Archive, screening documentary films, in addition to introducing the title of "Media Personality of the Year".

The session also addressed the importance of organizing cultural and media visits and trips to Arab media institutions, museums, exhibitions and festivals, with the aim of enhancing cultural and professional communication among members, in addition to launching the "Expert Writer" initiative to publish articles, studies and memoirs of pioneers through the Society's platforms and specialized publications.

In the training and qualification axis, the participants discussed ways to benefit from the experiences of pioneering journalists and media professionals in providing specialized training programs, each in his field of expertise, through the Smart Training Center at the Association, in a way that contributes to developing the skills of young media cadres and transferring the accumulated professional experiences to the new generations.

The attendees stressed the importance of the committee's societal role, through the contribution of pioneers in media awareness campaigns, enhancing communication with schools and universities, in addition to providing social and health initiatives that serve the children of journalists, and benefiting from free medical services.

Her Excellency Fadhila Al Muaini, Chairperson of the Society, stressed the importance of consolidating the Emirati media identity by benefiting from the experiences of the pioneering generation of journalists and media professionals, and working to transfer these experiences and knowledge to the younger generations, in a way that contributes to strengthening the national identity and consolidating the professional values of the Emirati media.

She stressed that the "Pioneers of Journalism Committee" constitutes an important step towards preserving the Emirati media heritage, benefiting from the experiences of pioneers, and enhancing professional and social communication between different generations of journalists.