A major Emiratisation initiative is being launched to boost the number of nationals in the media.
The aim is to boost the level from its current rate of 25 per cent, while ensuring the quality of the workforce is not affected, reported the state news agency Wam.
“We are undertaking a major initiative to boost Emiratisation in the media sector, including holding open days for recruitment by major media organisations with the support of the journalists associations, where students could interact with the recruiters and understand their requirements,” said Ibrahim Al Abed, the director general of the National Media Council.
Mr Al Abded was speaking at the first Emirati Media Forum at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai’s Festival City on Wednesday.
“As part of the initiatives, we are also planning to send journalism graduates for higher studies abroad who could then enrich the local media industry with international expertise.
“Additionally, we will launch incentive programmes to attract Emirati talent to the media industry with the help of the government bodies and the media institutions.”
Mr Al Abed said he did not think the media sector was “unattractive” for graduates.
He said talk of implementing the initiatives was easy, but actually doing so was more challenging.
“We need to coordinate with relevant government bodies to undertake these incentives to Emiratis to attract them to the media sector,” he said.
“We need the government departments, policymakers to work together to come up with incentive programmes.”
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, the Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, said: “The level of Emiratisation in the media sector is just 25 per cent, which is very low.
“Although Emiratisation in the SMC is about 50 per cent and within the Sharjah Media Centre exceeds 70 per cent, we should not favour Emiratis over qualified foreign journalists.”
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