By Hanan Alnufaie
RIYADH — The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Monday evening organized a workshop here for local journalists entitled “Building stronger local media knowledge about UNDP sustainable soals.”
The workshop was intended to provide thorough information about the mission of the UNDP in the Kingdom and the UNDP's sustainable goals to help journalists reach a better understanding of the UNDP tasks in the Kingdom.
Additionally, it was also meant to enhance media relations with UNDP.
During the workshop, Yassin Yassin, senior program associate, stressed on the powerful role of the media saying: “Media has a powerful developmental role in increasing public awareness about the UNDP sustainable development goals and the possible ways to reach the expected outcomes.
“Here, I would like to highlight that we want media to deliver our messages, works, and achievements not to promote good publicity for the UNDP. Media also has a strategic role in enhancing accountability and pushing the world to take developmental actions to make this world a better place.”
When asked about why local readers do not show any interest in the annual solid reports full of detailed statistics and find them unnecessary, Noeman Al Sayyad, regional communications advisor, replied: “We believe that it’s our role to provide the media with those solid reports and statistics. However, it is the role of the journalists to see the best way of delivering these facts.”
There was also a discussion on the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and best way to integrate Saudi Arabia's agenda with the UNDP.
