JEDDAH: Media outlets and strategic planning have critical roles in ensuring that women are successful members of the Saudi society, two experts said Monday at the last session of a women's business forum. Dr. Thuraya Al-Urayed, a consultant at Aramco, the former chief of the Planning and Statistics Department at the Ministry of Education in Bahrain; and Barea? Alamelddin, a prize-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East, said there is a lot to be done, but it can and must be done. “This is a very valuable opportunity to participate in the world media,” said Dr. Al-Urayed, who is also a poet and member of several international and local associations. “There are lots of things and changes that can be done. In the last 30 years we have discussed the role of women and their participation in the society and today we achieved a lot. The media plays a very important role in our lives and society and we want a society where Saudi women work from a guard to minister level. We should take on the issue and solve it at the ground level with strategic planning.” Strategic planning, the determination of all relevant details, cultural issues and a framework to move forward, should be conducted in a step-by-step process, she said. “Stage one should be done and then followed up to the last level and all the private and government departments should participate,” she said. We should not put the responsibilities only on the decision-makers; it is on everyone. This is the time for us to change our course to reach our goal. We should work toward strategic planning step-by-step and we will not get the golden ball unless we will learn the proper ways.” She emphasized a need for training girls throughout the Kingdom, especially in remote areas, so they can enter the labor market. Alamelddin, editor for Media Services and Foreign Affairs at Al-Hayat daily newspaper, discussed writers' important roles in highlighting the importance of women's roles in building society. The media should raise the status of women by shedding light on their diverse contributions and successes and changing misconceptions that have had a negative impact on the role of women in the Arab world, she said. “The media's role is well-known and it can bring changes,” she said. “We have all types of media working around us and they all have their impacts on life. “The media can create an unrealistic image that women in Saudi Arabia are backwards. We want to change the picture shown by the Western media, The media is working 24 hours a day in your homes and in your minds as it enters your bloodstream without letting you know. We need to talk with the media and give specific messages to the rest of the world. This is the only way we can enter the Western media.” Alamelddin also said all ministries and government departments should be part of the overall strategy. “Short messages are very important,” she said. “Arabs like to talk, but they should talk very carefully to give their messages to the media. We should make the changes first in ourselves and then society. We have responsibilities to our children and we want the best for them. I always believed that I will bring the change in myself and change will start with me.” According to an opinion poll, almost 37 percent of people in Saudi Arabia think the media has fallen short in shedding light on Saudi women and 42 percent think that media is not doing their best to highlight the participation of Saudi women in the world affairs, she noted. Dr. Al-Urayed said there is a need to change the society and to change motivation, self-perception because there is no focus on the fact that women used to work more. “In our villages, there are mothers and grandmothers who used to work, but today people think that a wife doesn't need to do work and foreign labor, which is cheap, can do their work,” she said. “The Arab world is aware of the importance of the media and we have to send the message to change the thinking of the society because women have a special place in it.” Every media outlet plays an important role, Alamelddin said “I believe we should know the real use of media,” she said. “Many of us don't know about the use and power of radio.” It is important to focus on specific and broader goals, Barea? said. “We should know what we want and be certain about our goals,” she said. “Women should have the right to drive, but this is not the only thing and priority for Saudi women. There are many other important things to do in the life of a Saudi woman.”
