Algiers – A virtual conference was held on Tuesday focusing on the standards of Arabic language use in the news agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, highlighting the importance of developing unified linguistic criteria to enhance media practices and improve the quality of journalism.
The event was organized by the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), in cooperation with the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language in Saudi Arabia, as part of efforts to “build linguistic standards” and “regulate language use in key communication fields.”
Organizers explained that the goal was to strengthen media performance by adopting precise scientific and professional standards, establish unified linguistic norms for Arabic in media, and address growing challenges facing OIC news agencies in their media language practices.
The webinar opened with remarks from Mahmoud Al-Mahmoud, Head of the Planning and Language Policy Department at the Saudi academy, who described the initiative as a contribution to “upgrading Arabic media content” and reaffirming the language’s role in shaping credible and professional media discourse. He stressed that, amid a rapidly shifting media environment, there is an urgent need for precise Arabic language standards, especially for official institutions that represent states before the international community.
Ashraf Al-Qaidari, Director of International Relations and Communication at UNA, delivered the second opening statement on behalf of Union President Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al-Yami. He acknowledged that regulating Arabic language use in OIC news agencies is a complex issue, citing challenges such as differing editorial policies and weak coordination among member states.
The conference featured two expert sessions. The first examined “Challenges in Regulating Arabic Media Language Use in OIC News Agencies,” while the second focused on “Linguistic Standards for Media Discourse and Their Impact on Enhancing Journalism Practices.”
The webinar concluded with several recommendations, including the call to strengthen Arabic content production in OIC news agencies, promote the exchange of Arabic reports between member states, collaborate on drafting a unified linguistic guide, and develop a concise specialized glossary of media and political terminology through a shared database to be regularly updated and accessible to all agencies.
This initiative reflects the broader vision of strengthening Arab-Islamic media presence globally, reinforcing linguistic unity, and ensuring that the Arabic voice remains authoritative and credible in international discourse.