RIYADH — In view of the increasing number of terrorist activities in the Arab world, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) began a three-day international conference on the role of Arab media in facing terrorism here on Tuesday. The conference is being organized by the university's Center for Research Studies. NAUSS has played an active academic role in raising awareness on terrorism. In its endeavor to remain up to date with modern issues, NAUSS has also updated its Media Security master's degree program and organized the conference. Attendees from various media organizations, ministries, security authorities, broadcasting channels and regional and international anti-terrorism organizations find the conference's scheduling timely in light of increasing terrorism cases in the region. The Arab world has never witnessed terrorist activities so wide in range, high in rate, and varied in goals and incentives than those of today. Terrorists today are using social media and mass communication methods to rile up Arab youth and disturb the security and serenity of Arab nations. However, just as terrorists used modern communication methods to spread terror, counter-terrorism strategies also rely on using modern communication methods to combat terrorism and raise awareness among the youth on extremism. The conference is being organized as per the recommendations of Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad Bin Naif and in cooperation with the Council of Arab Media Ministers. It is aimed at presenting a panel of academics and experts on terrorism and the media and decision-makers from the political and security fields. The conference's focus is on the current status of the Arab media in the face of terrorism, how modern media is used by terrorists and effective methods that can be used to tackle terrorism via modern media.
