During this event, the Director of Communication and Cooperation of the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Rachid Tijani, made a presentation on the evolution recorded by MAP during the last decade, especially in terms of diversification of its media products, marked by the launch of radio services (RIM Radio), the television channel (M24), as well as other media products and services.
On this occasion, participants praised these developments, welcoming also the organization by Morocco of the 7th News Agencies World Congress scheduled for 2023.
They then approved the recommendations of the first meeting of the General Secretariat, held in Cairo last September 2 and the training plan for the next three years 2022-2025.
The conference discussed, among other things, the role of news agencies in the success of training programs and qualification of employees, the FANA award to improve the quality of work in member agencies, the recommendations of the commission on financial resources to develop the work in the Federation, as well as the launch of the new version of its website during this month.
The meeting, which coincides with the holding of the World Media Congress in Abu Dhabi, also addressed the relations between Arab and European news agencies and the signing of agreements with regional and sub-regional news agencies organizations.
The conference also discussed the holding of the 6th General Assembly of the Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) in Rabat on October 6 and 7, in addition to the 4th Symposium of Arab Women Journalists to be held in Rabat next December.
The 49th FANA conference, which was attended by observer members representing the Bulgarian (BTA), Russian (TASS), German (DPA) news agencies, the grouping of Gulf news agencies and the representative of European news agencies, highlighted the cooperation between the General Secretariat of FANA and the League of Arab States, the organization of a conference on the future of Arab news agencies, as well as participation in meetings of the World News Agencies Council.
On the other hand, the conference delegates discussed the renewal of cooperation between FANA and the British foundation Thomson Reuters for the training of news agencies employees, the organization of a training workshop on time management and media efficiency during crises, the 18th conference of the Asia-Pacific Organization and the suspension of the membership of the Russian agency TASS, by the European Alliance of News Agencies.
On the financial side, the conference delegates discussed the report of the government-authorized auditors, the financial and accounting data on the Federation’s budget for the year 2022 and its approval, as well as the implementation of the financial decisions taken at the previous General Assembly conferences regarding the news agencies that have not paid their contributions to the FANA budget for two years or more.
At the end, the conference delegates discussed and approved the budget of the Federation of Arab News Agencies for the year 2023.
