Dubai: Mediapersons covering refugee crises anywhere in the world have a dual role to play — humanitarian and professional, according to Hussain Kneiber, Paris Bureau Chief of Al Arabiya News Channel.
Talking on the topic ‘Towards Good Media Coverage’, on the second and concluding day of Arab Media Forum 2016 in Dubai, Hussain said the humanitarian role is to highlight the sufferings of the refugees and the professional role is to remain unbiased.
Reporters should not mislead their viewers or readers, he added.
Hussain, who has extensively covered refugee crises in Syria, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Spain and Serbia, said good media coverage means telling the real story and at the same time helping the refugees mitigate their sufferings and cope with the new situation.
“When you give the exact information, when you are not biased, and not misleading your viewers or the readers, that is ‘good coverage’,” he told the audience.
“From my experience, I can say that our coverage has changed the situation of refugees for the better,” he said, showing some touching video footage.
“Having accepted the reality of the unfortunate situation, the refugees should be guided to cope with the environment and adjust their lives accordingly,” he said and added that media should also highlight how the refugees are coping with the new situation.
