KSA 'fighting off' attacks on integrity

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: The Kingdom's government has launched several efforts to counter attacks on its integrity recently according to the Interior Ministry.
However Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki spokesman of the ministry said there should be greater steps taken to dispel rumors including for government ministries to work closely with the media.
He was speaking at the sixth Public Relations Forum organized by BAE Systems in Riyadh on Monday entitled 'Rumors Methods of Confrontation' according to a report in a local publication.
Munthir Mahmood Tayeb BAE Systems head of communications said that the forum has over the past five years highlighted the importance of public relations as a profession among several other achievements.
Tayeb said public relations was not only about organizing social events conferences and receptions but to ensure that the messages of companies are effective and ultimately improve profits.
The conference discussions focused on the effects of rumors during crises with participants including Yousef Al-Abadan director general of King Fahd International Airport Hind Al-Fahd head of public relations at Hail University and Rania Al-Sharief from the university's media department.
Another issue discussed was confronting rumors by Mohammad Al-Heizan board chairman of the Saudi Society for Public Relations and Advertising and Amjad Shaker head of media relations at Etisalat Company.
Adviser to the Minister of Telecommunications Sultan Al-Malek talked at length about rumor-mongering. Abdullah Al-Otaibi public relations supervisor at the ministry said it was important to combat rumors.
BAE Systems and the Saudi Society for Public Relations and Advertising signed a memorandum of understanding at the conference.