Shabwah: Journalist Bloc Urges Authority to Establish Partnership Without Exclusion or Marginalization

The Bloc of Journalists, Media Professionals, and Activists of the Eastern Governorates in Shabwah province has called on the local authority's leadership to give the press and media component the necessary attention, involve its representatives in upcoming meetings and consultations, and open continuous communication channels with press and media frameworks, thereby enhancing true partnership and establishing the principle of participation without exclusion or marginalization.

In a statement issued Sunday, the bloc said it had followed the expanded meeting chaired by the governor, Awadh Mohammed Ibn al-Wazir, with the participation of leaders and representatives of political parties and components, civil society organizations, and youth, women's, and academic sectors, to discuss the latest developments and promote dialogue, partnership, and support for the development process in the governorate.

The bloc expressed its surprise at the absence of the press and media component from this meeting, and the non-attendance or representation of journalists and media professionals among the participating parties, despite the important role that the media plays in this exceptional phase that the governorate and the nation are going through.

It emphasized that journalists and media professionals are not merely reporters of events or followers of meeting outcomes, but are essential partners in community dialogue, shaping awareness, conveying citizens' concerns, and supporting security, stability, and development efforts, in addition to their role in promoting understanding and rapprochement among various components.

It added: It would have been more appropriate for the bloc, as a union and professional framework that includes journalists, media professionals, and activists from the governorate, to have the opportunity to attend and participate, contributing to enriching the discussions and presenting visions and proposals related to the media aspect, in line with the meeting's objectives and its direction towards expanding the base of participation and partnership.

It continued: Talk of unifying ranks and enhancing community partnership requires that participation be inclusive of all parties and sectors, and that no active component be overlooked, foremost among them the press and media family, which bears a great national and professional responsibility at this stage.