A draft government system issued by the Legislation and Opinion Bureau outlines new rules for media spokespeople in ministries, institutions, and government departments for 2025. The draft emphasizes periodic professional evaluations and links the continuation of a spokesperson’s appointment to performance outcomes, while granting the Ministry of Government Communication the authority to recommend transfers or dismissal if evaluations indicate poor performance.
اضافة اعلان
Key Provisions:
Each entity must appoint a qualified media spokesperson, approved by the Ministry of Government Communication, responsible for all communication and media relations.
The spokesperson is administratively linked to the minister and technically supervised by both the minister and the Ministry of Government Communication.
Annual and semi-annual technical evaluations will determine whether the spokesperson continues in the role. Poor performance may lead to reassignment, dismissal, or specialized training.
The “Nateq” electronic platform is a mandatory tool for all spokespeople. They must respond to all media issues related to their entity and continuously update data and reports. Failure to do so constitutes a professional violation, with reports escalated to the minister and the Ministry of Government Communication.
The draft mandates development of media plans (weekly, monthly, annual), monitoring media coverage, issuing statements, supervising digital content, coordinating media events, handling crises, combating misinformation, and contributing to public awareness campaigns.
Spokespersons are required to participate in institutional committees, follow Ministry-issued guidelines, and attend mandatory training courses on effective communication, digital media, and crisis management.
Enforcement:
Any breach of the system is considered a legal and administrative violation, subjecting the spokesperson to accountability.
In cases not explicitly addressed in the draft, decisions are referred to the Minister of Government Communication and the Minister of State for Public Sector Development.
This system aims to professionalize and standardize government media relations, ensuring accountability, responsiveness, and alignment with official communication policies.
