The Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) held its 50th General Assembly (GA) in Abu Dhabi on November 15, with the participation of the Maghreb Arab News Agency (MAP).

At this meeting, at which MAP was represented by its Director General, Fouad Arif, the Director General of the United Arab Emirates News Agency (WAM), Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, was elected President of FANA, the Director General of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Fatma Al-Salem, First Vice-President, and Arif Second Vice-President.

During the General Assembly, held on the sidelines of the 2nd Global Media Congress, FANA Secretary General Farid Ayar presented the Federation’s activities and financial report.

He also presented a recommendation, which was approved by the participants, for the establishment of a Youth Council in charge of training and involving young people in decision-making mechanisms and finding solutions to the challenges facing FANA.

The Assembly was also an opportunity to explore ways of developing action in areas relating to the challenges facing news agencies.

FANA’s 50th General Assembly, held under the theme “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Work of News Agencies”, was marked by the presentation of the Federation’s awards to the winning news agencies for the year 2023.

The Assembly’s proceedings were preceded by a round table, organized as part of the 2nd Global Media Congress, on cooperation between news agencies, with the participation of MAP Director General. Focus was on the challenges facing news agencies, in addition to ways to better adapt to new technologies, notably artificial intelligence.

Participants at the meeting, including managing directors of Arab and foreign news agencies, focused on strategies to preserve the credibility of news agencies and protect copyright and intellectual property.