The First International Media Conference, held under the theme “The Future of Press Publishing,” concluded in Riyadh today with its participants stressing both the importance of the press and the social responsibility that its practitioners bear.

The conference began on Sunday with a speech from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, delivered on his behalf by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khojah, urging the media to embrace honesty, transparency and cultural respect. The King praised the performance of the Kingdom’s media outlets, especially in light of the challenges posed by the information technology revolution.

In a separate statement, Dr. Khojah stressed that the conference aims to build bridges between media organizations in the Middle East, allowing for the exchange of experience and technology. The three-day conference featured a series of lectures, workshops and public discussions on topics related to press publishing and electronic media.