Doha hosts panel discussion on media's role in Gulf crisis

DOHA, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies announced a panel discussion entitled ''gulf crisis, regional and international dynamics and the role of media,'' Qatar local media reported Sunday.

The panel discussion, which is taking place on December 2-4, was held as part of the ongoing fourth annual Gulf Studies Forum in Doha.

A number of gulf studies experts and officials of Qatari media participated in the three-day meeting.

The meeting discussed how the media dealt with the crisis.

''The media in Qatar should take advantage of the contradictions seen in the coverage by foreign media on Qatar since the start of the blockade,'' Director of News at Al Jazeera English, Salah Negm said.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Al Jazeera TV Channel Network Yasser Abu Hilala explained how the network treated news while strictly maintaining adequate media professionalism.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, along with its Arab allies including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen, severed diplomatic ties with Qatar as well as all air, land and sea links to the Arab Gulf state, a move that has sent shock waves across the Middle East and beyond.

The Saudi-led boycotting countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorist, extremist and sectarian organizations, which Doha has repeatedly denied. Enditem