Mogadishu, Tuesday, 14 August, 2018: in partnership with IMS/FOJO, The Somali Media Association (SOMA) has organized and commenced today the first day of two-day General Assembly meeting at Makka Almukarama Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia.
This meeting which is the 5th gathering for the member media houses of the Somali Media Association (SOMA) opened up in Mogadishu; and has been participated by more than 40 member media centers of the association.
The main participants of the General Assembly meeting were mainly media owners and directors of SOMA Media houses operational in Mogadishu and other regional areas including Abudwaq, Adado, Dolow, Bardhere, Baidoa, Afgoye, Kismayo, Guriel, Dhuusamareeb, Galkacyo, Bosaso, Garowe , Beleteweyne , Jowhar and Balad of Somalia.
The SOMA General Assembly meeting was aimed to share information on the main achievements and challenges since the last meeting of the association and discuss the following main agenda including: presentation and signing the Media Safety Protocol, discussion and approval of SOMA regulation, approval of the revised SOMA constitution, deciding on the media members that are off air and approval of new members.
The other key agenda include reviewing the content sharing program and the way forward to restart the program.
In his opening remarks, Mohamed Osman Makaran, the Acting Chairman of SOMA pointed out the GA meeting will focus of our past achievements and how we could jointly cooperate in addressing the challenges the media houses and journalists are experiencing.
“Today we are here to jointly approve important issues relating with SOMA Constitution and Regulation and approval of new media members such as TVs and Newspapers members.” The Acting Chairman said.
Furthermore, Mohamed Abdiwahab Abdullahi, Deputy Chairman/Acting Secretary General of SOMA mentioned the 2- day SOMA General Assembly meeting will elect new team members that will manage the Somali Media Association (SOMA).
The SOMA General Assembly Meeting held today has reached key decisions relating with endorsing the media Safety protocol, the SOMA Constitution and SOMA Regulation.
On the other hand, Mr. Muhyadin Rooble from Radio Ergo attending the SOMA GA meeting of today has highlighted the significance of the Content Sharing Program for the Somali Media Association (SOMA) and the networking for its member media houses.
Thereafter, the GA Meeting has welcomed the initiative of restarting the Content Sharing Program, the first group of 12 media houses participating in preparing and airing the first phase of the content sharing program for the next six months was approved and the necessary commitment forms was signed accordingly.
The SOMA GA meeting which will be concluded by tomorrow on August 15, 2018 is intending to conduct official launching of the media safety protocol, approval of draft financial policy and procedure manual, presentation of the last two years financial statement and election of new SOMA management team.
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