Prominent among those who attended the event at Sofitel Alkhobar were Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Abdullah Al-Jasser, the Culture Ministry’s director in the Eastern Province Abdul Rahman Al-Mulhim, editors in chief and general managers of local newspapers, public relations officers associated with government departments and universities, businessmen and academics.

“Sixty percent of those working in the Saudi media are under the age of 25,” said Al-Jasser. “The ministry will support and recognize the good and positive efforts of young Saudi journalists.”

Stating that the Kingdom is experiencing an extraordinary development in the field of information dissemination, Al-Jasser said journalists should never lose sight of the time-tested principles of journalism.

“A good journalist should always rely on a trusted source and check his information with multiple sources,” he said. “A journalist’s job should be to report the truth and nothing but the truth.”

In a question-and-answer session, well-known journalist Qenan Al-Ghamdi explained the importance of the media and narrated in detail some aspects of his extraordinary journalistic journey since 1986.

“I believe young Saudis, both men and women, should be given good chances to demonstrate their abilities and journalistic skills,” he said. “Our young people are becoming increasingly reliable and effective.”