Following the success of Azdwan Al-Ahmari, President of the Saudi Journalists Association, in the elections held during the International Press Congress in Paris, Saudi Arabia has, for the first time, secured a seat on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
According to Arab News, this achievement could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s presence in international media institutions and pave the way for a broader role for the country in global journalism.
Azdwan Al-Ahmari described this result as a sign of trust from international unions and professional organizations in the Saudi Journalists Association and emphasized that this success is the outcome of the joint efforts of the board members and the association’s secretariat.
The Saudi Journalists Association was established in 2003 and, in recent years, has sought a more active presence in regional and global media organizations.
The President of the Saudi Journalists Association also noted that the association had previously established its international standing through its leadership of the West Asia Journalists’ Executive Office and is now expanding that presence further.
He stressed that the Saudi Journalists Association will continue its efforts to enhance Saudi Arabia’s presence in global media circles.
This development comes as Saudi Arabia has, in recent years, sought to play a more prominent role in international institutions, especially in the field of media and communications.
In the recent elections, representatives from more than 148 countries participated, and only 16 candidates succeeded in securing membership on the federation’s executive committee.
With this success, Saudi Arabia will be able to influence the policies and directions of the International Federation of Journalists over the next four years, strengthening its presence in global journalism forums.
The International Federation of Journalists, founded in 1926, is considered the largest organization of journalists worldwide, representing around 600,000 media professionals from 187 unions and associations in more than 140 countries.
The federation’s executive committee plays a key role in setting priorities and determining how to respond to issues concerning journalists worldwide, and Saudi Arabia’s first presence in this body is considered a significant development in the country’s media diplomacy.
The Saudi delegation at the International Press Congress in Paris was led by Azdwan Al-Ahmari, with Lami Al-Shathri, Mai Al-Sharif, and Hamed Al-Shahri, members of the board of directors of the Saudi Journalists Association, also participating.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
