Doha: The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr Hamad Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, has said new age social media and evolving smartphone applications will not diminish newspapers’ traditional role of disseminating news.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Qatar News Agency’s (QNA) social news network site Maydan Qatar, at Sharq Village and Spa Hotel on Wednesday night, Dr Al Kuwari said, “Growth of Internet and satellite network-based social and news media sites will not diminish the role of traditional print media and newspapers.”
The Internet is a wonderful tool for exchanging information and spreading knowledge, and it may affect the circulation of newspapers in some countries, but it will not dilute the importance of the print media and its traditional role of disseminating news in the community, he said.
The minister reiterated the importance of media in spurring a knowledge-based economy where there is free flow of information exchange through new media.
“Maydan Qatar site will help publicise Qatari media like newspapers, radio, and television, and disseminate news from all fields like economy, science, technology, culture, social and sports. It will certainly not diminish the role of traditional media like newspapers, reading which is a habit for many people all over the world.”
QNA anticipates Maydan Qatar to evolve into the country’s largest hub to disseminate information, news and audio and visual content.
It endeavours to build an all-sector information and knowledge hub that will provide access to all agencies and individuals. An interactive platform, it will give users the opportunity to edit content and add their own news and information about the economy, politics, science, technology, culture and sports.
Maydan Qatar will use NewsPad technology to build knowledge-based societies in consonance with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
The application will be available for iOS and Android-backed devices as well as other operation systems of smartphones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers in Arabic and English languages.
The new site, www.maydan.qa, has tie-ups with global news agencies like Dow Jones Newswires and Geopolitical Information Service.
QNA
