الذيابي: الإعلام والقطاعات الأمنية طرفان أساسيان في منظومة حماية المجتمع وتعزيز استقراره

The Editor-in-Chief of "Okaz" and General Supervisor of Saudi Gazette, Jamil Al-Dhiabi, emphasized during his speech at one of the sessions of the "Security and History Dialogue 2026" conference that media and security sectors represent two essential parties in the system of community protection, enhancing its stability and awareness. He stressed the importance of building a sustainable professional and institutional partnership between the two sides, based on trust, effective communication, and shared responsibility.

Building Community Awareness and Enhancing Trust

Al-Dhiabi explained that the rapid development in media and social media platforms has led to a significant speed in the dissemination of news and information, coinciding with the increasing challenges of rumors and misleading information, especially during crises and security events. This makes the relationship between media and security sectors one of the important axes in building community awareness and enhancing trust between institutions and the public.

He pointed out that the media is a partner in enhancing community security by spreading awareness, correcting misconceptions, confronting rumors, and supporting awareness campaigns, at a time when media institutions need reliable and responsive official sources to help them provide accurate information to the public.

He indicated that the current phase requires a partnership that goes beyond communication related to events, to become a sustainable institutional relationship, affirming that "neither can do without the other," in light of the need for continuous coordination between the two sides.

Balancing Speed of Publication and Confidentiality of Information

Al-Dhiabi highlighted that one of the most important issues worth discussing is the balance between the speed of information and the requirements of security work, explaining that the media operates in an environment characterized by speed and competition, while security sectors deal with information that may be sensitive or related to investigations and procedures that do not allow for immediate or complete publication.

He confirmed that the challenge lies in finding mechanisms that achieve a balance between the community's right to know while maintaining the integrity of security procedures.

Official Information.. A Tool to Reassure the Community

Al-Dhiabi stressed the importance of coordination between media and security sectors during crises and emergencies, where public demand for information increases and the likelihood of spreading inaccurate news rises.

He said: "The speed, clarity, and accuracy of official information become, under such circumstances, one of the most important tools for managing the media scene and reassuring the community, along with the important role played by the official spokesperson and official digital channels in providing continuous updates that reduce speculation and limit the spread of rumors."

"Proactive Communication" to Counter Misinformation

Al-Dhiabi addressed the challenges posed by social media platforms, noting that anyone can now publish a photo, video, or information within moments, and an inaccurate narrative can reach the public before an official clarification is issued.

He emphasized that dealing with rumors after they spread is no longer sufficient, calling for the development of "proactive communication" that provides reliable information, alongside enhancing cooperation between security agencies and media in verifying content and countering misinformation.

The Media's Responsibility in Security Coverage

Al-Dhiabi affirmed that media outlets bear a significant professional responsibility in covering security issues, especially regarding protecting the privacy of victims, not influencing investigations, verifying information before publication, and avoiding the dissemination of clips or images that may cause social or security harm.

He pointed out that this responsibility requires media outlets to assess what should be published and what should be withheld, balancing the public's right to know with professional and security considerations.

From Event-Driven Communication to Pre-Event Partnership

He called for developing the relationship between media and security sectors, transitioning from event-driven communication to a permanent institutional partnership, which includes holding regular meetings, organizing joint training programs, establishing direct communication channels, and preparing professional guidelines for security coverage, in addition to developing clear communication plans for crisis management.

Mutual Trust as the Foundation of the Relationship

He affirmed that building an effective partnership between media and security sectors cannot be achieved without mutual trust, which is built through a commitment to accuracy, clarity, responsiveness, and respect for media independence, while also respecting security and professional considerations.

He pointed out the importance of moving beyond the traditional relationship based on the concept of "source" and "intermediary" to a broader concept based on dialogue, training, and cooperation, through regular meetings between official spokespersons and journalists, and joint workshops on crisis management, publishing ethics in security issues, and mechanisms for verifying information circulated on digital platforms.

Al-Dhiabi posed a set of questions that he described as essential to enhancing this relationship, including: How can trust between media and security sectors be strengthened? How can a balance be achieved between the speed of publication, the accuracy of information, and its confidentiality? What are the best mechanisms to counter rumors and misleading information? How can we transition from temporary communication to sustainable partnership?

He concluded by emphasizing that the success of the relationship between media and security sectors is not measured solely by the quantity of exchanged information, but by its ability to build trust, achieve the public interest, and reach a model based on rapid and reliable communication, continuous coordination, and partnership before, during, and after events, contributing to enhancing awareness and community security.