ABWA Official Website – On Saturday, December 24, 2022, a meeting of ABNA News Agency staff with the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly was held in the meeting hall of the Assembly headquarters in Qom.
In this meeting, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani stated, “Lady Zahra (a.s.) is a role model for today’s girls, women, and mothers. Also, in scientific and practical conduct, her character is a role model and example for humans.
“For management and the new world order, some people are looking for globalization and propose the global village. Globalization means American hegemony over the whole world, which is an unattainable dream today. Global pluralism and the emergence of new powers will give another form to globalization. In this new space, the winner is the side that can show the rationality of its narrative, and the very issue shows the importance of publishing news and information. Therefore, we should not lag behind in news and information, media and cyber,” he continued.
“The current situation is suitable for propagating the AhlulBayt (a.s.) culture,” Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “The conditions that have been prepared today is unprecedented in the history, and according to the situation in the West and East, the conditions are ready for the explanation of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) teachings.”
“Today, the media empire and dictatorship of the world has multiple and totally biased behavior. For this reason, they boycott the glorious Arbaeen Walk and do not cover religious news and developments,” he continued.
“In the media war, media outlets should be strengthened. With new technologies and in new platforms, people hear a lot of news. Therefore, it is necessary to be ready for new conditions,” he added.
“AhlulBayt (a.s.) International University, Al-Thaqalayn TV, Ashura International Foundation and ABNA News Agency have been the necessities that were established during the term of Ayatollah Akhtari as the Secretary General, and he was very diligent and hardworking. Considering the needs of the day as well as the pathology of the organization, appropriate transformational plans and measures are followed up and implemented,” he said about the activities of the Assembly.
Further in his speech, while expressing gratitude for the efforts of Hojat al-Islam Hosseini Aref, the former CEO of ABNA, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Sometimes new needs and changes in institutions require that new people with high motivation, will and effort continue the path seriously.”
“ABNA News Agency should reach the position of religious authority for other media outlets,” Ayatollah Ramazani added, “ABNA’s movement should be in a way that considered as a reference for other media. To achieve this goal, we should seek to produce content in different languages for newspapers and news agencies.”
“Regarding the performance of the ABNA News Agency, it is necessary to have an evaluation and pathology in terms of content, technical, graphic, management, etc. On the other hand, refining and arranging the News Agency’s languages is a necessity, and it is also crucial to activate some inactive languages,” he added.
“Attracting new and elite audience is one of the necessities. At the 7th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution stated, “You must convey the greatness of Shia to the elites of human society.” To achieve this goal, ABNA can hold many webinars with new software,” said Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
“We have always emphasized that the Assembly is the link between Marjaiat and the followers of AhlulBayt (a.s.),” he added, “ABNA News Agency should be the eloquent voice of Marjaiat and convey their demands to the Shiites of the world.”
Addressing the staff of ABNA News Agency, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “You should look for prioritizing and determining the news line, and in this regard, according to the priorities, produce special letters for the news line.”
“Strengthening the ABNA policy making council is very important. The statement of the second phase of the Islamic Revolution should be considered as the content for the ABNA News Agency. Because thousands of hours have been worked on it, and its various aspects must be analyzed in a detailed, comprehensive and deep way,” he said.
“ABNA’s view should be in line with approximation, dialogue and based on pooling capacities. ABNA News Agency should make the AhlulBayt (a.s.) followers look at the AhlulBayt (a.s.) teachings rationally, spiritually and justice oriented. This approach should be the basis of the strategies of this international News Agency. Of course, it has had success in this matter so far, but it should be improved,” added the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
Among recommendations of the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly to the staff of the ABNA News Agency were differentiation between the CEO and the chief editor activation of domestic and foreign branches and representatives with the lowest cost, interaction with other affiliated organizations of the Assembly, study about the media council of the Assembly, continuous participation at festivals, new and different activities in the multimedia section, making documentaries and using honorary journalists, training media staff in different parts of the world, neat writing, professional design for the appearance of the website, expanding the activities, training news and report writing.
Pointing to change as one of the requirements of the ABNA, Ayatollah Ramazani continued, “The Supreme Leader of the Revolution demanded transformation in his appointment decree of the secretary general of the Assembly. Therefore, transformation must be made in all sectors.”
In the end, while describing Mr. Sadraei Aref as having the experience and expertise to manage ABNA News Agency, he continued, “We must observe organizational agility, solidity, seriousness, strength, and determination in ABNA’s staff and achieve transformation. In this regard, cooperation, empathy, and recognition of capacities are very important. Therefore, by knowing each other, understanding, interaction and synergy, transformation will be realized.” /345/