Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the International Islamic Media Conference in Jakarta, Abdul Rahman Al-Hazza said the proposed seminar in Jeddah was still in the planning stage. “We need to get the approval of higher authorities and make proper preparations. We will invite experts from the Islamic world and prepare a good agenda for discussions,” he said.

Al-Hazza said he was happy to participate in the Jakarta conference. “It gave us an idea about how our Islamic media are functioning now and what are the areas that need improvement. We are under attack from the Western media and unless we cooperate and make a good plan we cannot succeed,” he pointed out.

“From what we heard in the conference, the future is promising, but from our side we need to be well trained. We should concentrate on the content, develop our media tools and enhance the skills of our people to perform well, fight back and present the teachings of Islam in a nice and convincing manner to all,” he said.

Al-Hazza said his ministry would follow the conference’s recommendations. “Our newspapers, television channels and the new media should practice these recommendations to help them improve their performance,” he said.

The spokesman urged participants to give more consideration to the new media such as Facebook and Twitter, considering their growing influence, especially on the youth. “Unless we know how to use these social media networks as useful tools to defend Islam and present its teachings, we are not going to succeed,” he added.

Al-Hazza urged Muslim media organizations to prepare an action plan on the basis of the conference’s recommendations. “Each organization has to prepare its own plan to implement them. Muslims are well aware of the present situation and I am sure they would practice what has been discussed in this conference to improve their media and compete with others,” he said.