Damascus, Aug 20. (SANA) Following the fall of the ousted regime, Syria has witnessed swift transformations towards modernization in a number of sectors to heal the wounds of the Syrian people after more than a decade of atrocities at the hands of that regime.
The Syrian Arab News Agency was one example of that transformations in dealing with the accelerating events surrounding the region.
“I seek to make SANA an agency that competes with international agencies,” said SANA’s Director General, Ziad al-Mahamid, summarizing the features of the new phase SANA is entering.
This phase is not limited to developing tools and work methods, but it extends to reshaping editorial performance, expanding coverage, and enhancing its presence in regional and international affairs.
In a world where the news industry is rapidly evolving and the tools for producing knowledge are constantly changing, the survival of media institutions is no longer solely dependent on their history, but also on their ability to develop, innovate, and keep pace with rapid transformations.
From that perspective, SANA is embarking on a comprehensive modernization phase based on a new vision aimed at building a more competitive Syrian news agency in the global media landscape.
Since the launch of this new phase, the agency has implemented a plan to rebuild its news services, focusing on developing content, increasing production, and expanding local and international coverage.
This will solidify its position as an agency that publishes news “with accuracy and responsibility,” the motto it has adopted for this new phase.
A Legacy of Isolation and the Challenges of Transformation
SANA entered a new phase after years of isolation that impacted its external presence and its professional and technical capabilities. This necessitated a comprehensive rebuilding process encompassing infrastructure, the work environment, and editorial production methods, all in line with the demands of the global media sector.
British newspaper “The Guardian” noted in a report last year that the agency faced significant challenges at the outset of its transformation. These included outdated equipment, the need to retrain staff, and the development of the work environment, all part of the transition to a more professional media model capable of keeping pace with international news organizations.
SANA Director General explains that the most prominent challenges the agency faced during the initial phase were the dilapidated and weak logistical and technical infrastructure, including communication and internet networks, computers, media equipment, and software, in addition to obstacles related to the work environment and media production mechanisms.
Al-Mahamid affirms that the agency managed to overcome a significant portion of those difficulties last year, in addition to bolstering its staff with personnel capable of handling work demands and unforeseen technical challenges.
That contributed to setting SANA on a new path in media production, increasing the volume of news and photo services provided, and expanding the range of content it produces.
The effects of the previous era, under the deposed regime, were not limited to the technical aspects alone, but extended to the nature of media discourse and news production mechanisms. This made rebuilding trust and developing professional performance among the top priorities of the new phase.
Redefining the Media’s Role
Al-Mahamid adds that SANA has positioned itself at the beginning of its journey toward becoming a professional regional and international news agency.
He stresses that what has been achieved in the first year represents approximately 30 to 35 percent of the development plan, with subsequent phases to be completed in the coming years.
SANA director reaffirms that the goal is to complete the development of SANA as a news service geared toward the public and media outlets, based on delivering news according to standards of accuracy and responsibility, and boosting its presence as a reliable source of information.
Al-Mahamid indicated that the next phase will focus on developing content, expanding international relations, and opening regional offices in several Arab, European, and Asian capitals. This will enhance the agency’s presence at international forums and enable it to convey an accurate image of Syria to the world.
International Coverage: Broader Range of Issues and Evolving Approaches
The restructuring of SANA has not been limited to upgrading its technical tools, but it has extended to rebuilding its presence on the international arena. This has been achieved by expanding its coverage to include a wide range of international issues and adopting a more open and balanced editorial policy in dealing with global events.
During this new phase, the agency’s international department has witnessed a significant expansion in the nature of the issues it covers, whether political and diplomatic issues or security, military, economic, and humanitarian crises.
The focus has been on presenting events from multiple perspectives, moving beyond simply reporting positions and statements to producing high-quality reports that examine the background of issues and their repercussions.
“The agency has succeeded in transforming the work of its foreign departments from merely receiving news to engaging in international coverage and producing original content on global issues,” al-Mahamid says.
He adds that the coverage of the US-Israeli-Iranian war marked a new turning point for the agency, through its extensive news coverage and comprehensive reports addressing its regional and international ramifications, exploring its various political, security, and economic dimensions.
The list of issues covered by the international department has also expanded to include the most prominent current global issues, such as Gulf security and maritime navigation, the Red Sea, the South China Sea, US-Russian-Chinese relations, NATO, the Iranian nuclear program, the Palestinian issue, and the African Coast, in addition to the activities of the United Nations, international organizations, and global economic blocs such as the G7, G20, and BRICS.
This coverage is accompanied by the translation and editing of several articles into English, French, Turkish, Spanish, and Kurdish languages, which enhances the dissemination of Syrian content and its engagement to a wider international audience.
Al-Mahamid revealed the agency’s intention to strengthen its international presence by opening regional media offices in several European, Arab, and Asian capitals, which will contribute to expanding its international coverage network and conveying the image of Syria abroad.
The agency’s vision for international coverage is not limited to following global events, but also includes strengthening communication with Syrians abroad and linking them to the homeland, by conveying news of Syrian communities in countries of expatriation, and highlighting their successes, issues and needs, in a way that enhances the presence of Syrians abroad within the national media landscape.
Figures Reflecting a Shift in International Presence
The expansion of the international section’s activity is evident in the volume of news production during this new phase. The number of international news items published between August 20 and September 20 of last year, coinciding with SANA’s relaunch, reached approximately 456. This number rose to 1,342 in last July alone, an increase of about 886 compared to the initial launching period.
Those figures not only reflect the increased production volume, but also indicate a development in the nature of editorial work. This includes adopting a more open approach to covering global events, expanding the range of sources and topics covered, and producing high-quality reports and in-depth analyses that address international issues with more comprehensive perspectives.
This development has been reflected in the audience’s engagement with the agency’s international content. The international news section now ranks among the top most viewed on SANA’s website, reflecting increased interest in this type of content and growing confidence in the new approach to international affairs.
From Transformation to Empowerment
The transformation underway at SANA is part of a broader process of rebuilding media institutions and transitioning from a traditional journalistic approach to a model based on technological and professional development and openness to international best practices.
Plans for the next phase include introducing new production lines in media work, such as developing digital content, enhancing investigative journalism, establishing specialized programs to combat disinformation and rumors, and employing artificial intelligence technologies to support journalistic production processes.
The agency is also working to complete the development of its technical and logistical infrastructure and strengthen its network of correspondents inside and outside Syria, thereby increasing its ability to keep pace with the rapid developments in the media industry and provide more diverse and comprehensive news services.
The progress of the first year of operation confirms that the agency has embarked on a long journey toward building a more prominent and influential news institution, striving to approach the standards of regional and international news agencies and deliver news in an accurate and responsible manner.
Mazen
