SMC Chairman Affirms Significance of Accurate Dissemination of Information

Sharjah-UAE: 8 Mar, 2014
In response to a corrective article recently published by The National to clarify that the air in Sharjah is of high quality, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), emphasised the important role of the media in delivering accurate information to all members of the society. This importance, according to the Chairman of SMC, requires media professionals to approach the main source of the information and handle it with accuracy and credibility.
 
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi thanked all media institutions in the UAE, expressing his appreciation for their efforts to serve the society and reflect the right image that helps crystallise the country's developmental purposes.
 
He also expressed his appreciation for The National, which responded to a request by SMC and corrected an article it had published about air quality in Sharjah. The English-language newspaper ran the corrective article on its front page on Thursday under the title: "Air quality high in ‘environmentally aware’ Sharjah".
 
It said: "In our Page 1 headline Air pollution in Sharjah ‘as toxic as Beijing’ (March 3), we inadvertently gave the impression that pollution levels in Sharjah are consistently as high as those in Beijing. We would like to clarify that this is not the case. The air quality in Sharjah is generally of a very high standard."
 
It added: "As we pointed out in the article and would like to stress again, the causes of the pollution are largely beyond the control of the authorities in Sharjah."
 
Clarifying that many of the pollutants monitored were thought to have originated well beyond the borders of both Sharjah and the UAE, the newspaper confirmed: "Sharjah is recognised as a highly environmentally aware emirate and is actively engaged in promoting the most sustainable living and working conditions for its residents and visitors."
 
The National pointed to the "ambitious goals" of the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority in relation to creating wildlife reserves – marine and terrestrial – and raising awareness of environmental issues.
 
It also pointed to clean-up campaigns in Sharjah, citing the one that had recently been organised at Kalba Port by Sharjah Maritime Museum, Sharjah Aquarium and Bait Sheikh Saeed bin Hamad Al Qasimi, resulting in the removal of nearly five tons of rubbish.
 
Meanwhile, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi extended his thanks to the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) for its constant endeavour to activate the relationship between media institutions and both the public and private sectors, stressing the importance of the NMC's role in promoting the performance of the media in the country.
 
He also affirmed the significant role of SMC, which adopts a responsible strategy inspired by the visions of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in developing strategies to enhance the performance of media institutions in Sharjah. He said: "SMC actively seeks to consolidate Sharjah's position in the local, regional and international media landscape. It coordinates between government entities in the emirate and communicates with federal authorities and relevant institutions for the exchange of knowledge and expertise. It also cooperates with international authorities to provide excellent media services that are in harmony with international best practices."
 
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi indicated that SMC today represents a meeting point for media professionals that allows them to communicate with decision-makers in Sharjah and exchange ideas and points of view with them.