Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Jameel Altheyabi, editor-in-chief of Okaz, highlighted that precedence, credibility, and reliability form the cornerstone of professional media.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Tahhar Initiative by Lumina Spire in Riyadh on Wednesday, Altheyabi stressed that Saudi media remains committed to professional standards.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring that content intended for public dissemination is accurate, credible, and upholds societal interests and safety.

“At Okaz, we are dedicated to applying professional standards across all media production and digital platforms. This commitment was reinforced in 2015 with the issuance of the Professional Code of Honor, which has since become a guiding framework that defines the newspaper’s leadership, reliability, and credibility,” Altheyabi said.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamoud, associate professor of media at Imam Mohammed bin Saud University and head of the Maysab Center for Studies, who's also the founder of the Tahhar Initiative, spoke about the need to enhance the professional competence of the media industry in maintaining societal interests.

In an interview with Okaz, Al-Hamoud noted that media plays a key role in societal tasks and responsibilities. Through partnerships and initiatives like Tahhar, the goal is to strengthen media credibility and professionalism. "We’ve conducted specialized studies on the risks posed by cross-border media and how to combat these challenges. Recent research shows that 86% of the world is exposed to fake news, and 62% of online content may be misleading, underscoring the need for concerted efforts from all media outlets to reduce this," he added.

Lumina Spire's Tahhar Initiative aims to enhance the reliability of both traditional and digital media, while combatting rumors and fake news. It also seeks to align media practices with national and societal interests, ensuring the delivery of truthful messages to the public.