- Unified Crisis Communication: Experts called for coordinated communication among government institutions to deliver accurate, consistent information and strengthen public confidence during crises.
- Countering Rumors and Protecting National Security: Responsible journalism, careful handling of sensitive information and timely official updates are essential to preventing misinformation and safeguarding national security.
- Media Must Explain, Not Just Report: Saleh Al-Mutairi stressed that media organizations must provide context and help citizens and residents understand unfolding events, rather than simply publish breaking news.
- Establish a Joint Operations Room: Adnan Al-Rashed proposed an operations room bringing together military, security, firefighting, health and environmental authorities to ensure coordinated responses and reliable public information.
- Strengthen Research and Evidence-Based Decisions: Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandari emphasized the need for research centers to play a stronger role in policymaking, crisis preparedness and Kuwait’s socioeconomic development.
Kuwait’s media and security experts, during a seminar, have called for a unified crisis communication strategy, warning that accurate information, coordinated official messaging and responsible journalism are critical to countering rumors, safeguarding national security and strengthening public confidence during times of crisis.
The seminar, titled “The Importance of Media and Strategic Security,” was organized by the Journalists Association and the Retired Officers Association on Tuesday evening. Discussions focused on the relationship between media and security, crisis management, countering rumors and the role of research centers in supporting decision-making.
Retired Major General Faisal Al-Jazaf, chairman of the Retired Officers Association, said public awareness was no longer a luxury but a fundamental requirement. Responsible handling of information, he stressed, was essential to protecting society, helping people understand changing circumstances and enabling them to deal with emerging challenges.
Al-Jazaf noted that the media and information environment had undergone rapid transformations, making news, opinions and information powerful tools that could either build or undermine public trust. He said the seminar sought to encourage responsible dialogue on the relationship between media and strategic security, while reinforcing awareness, credibility and national responsibility.
Political researcher Dr. Ayed Al-Manna stressed that security was indispensable to stability, development and normal daily life. He highlighted the responsibility of individuals to seek reliable information, while emphasizing that official institutions had an equally significant duty to provide the media with accurate information to the greatest extent possible.
Al-Manna also underscored the importance of security-focused media coverage amid regional conflict. Referring to developments since February 28, he said Iran’s response to the regional war had been unexpected and praised the performance of Kuwait’s armed forces, including the army, National Guard and security forces. He called for caution when publishing information related to national security.
Saleh Al-Mutairi, director of the Media Studies Center, said the media’s role during crises extended beyond reporting developments. Although official bodies might need discretion when releasing sensitive information, he noted that the instantaneous circulation of information through digital devices and platforms had fundamentally changed the media landscape.
Al-Mutairi said the emergence of artificial intelligence and the expansion of digital platforms had made it increasingly important for traditional media institutions to strengthen their digital capabilities. Speed of publication alone was insufficient, he said, with verification, credibility, transparency and national responsibility remaining essential.
He added that media institutions must help audiences understand events rather than merely transmit news. During periods of anxiety, particularly wars, citizens and residents need credible platforms that explain developments and provide context, enabling them to understand the situation rather than simply offering reassurance.
Al-Mutairi also described modern warfare as a battle of narratives and images, in which the ability to shape public perception could influence how events were understood. He said responsible media coverage had helped maintain discipline and public solidarity with Kuwait’s leadership and security institutions, adding that many media platforms had resisted the spread of rumorz
Adnan Al-Rashed, head of the Journalists Association, highlighted the challenges Kuwait had faced during periods of conflict, referring to the Iraqi invasion and occupation of 1990 and subsequent regional security threats, including Iranian attacks. He cited the effects of sirens, armed attacks, shelling, missiles, drones and the spread of rumors, while commending the Ministry of Interior and its specialized agencies for their national role.
Al-Rashed called for establishing an operations room bringing together military, security, firefighting, health and environmental authorities to provide the public with accurate, coordinated information. In the absence of reliable updates, he warned, even people acting with good intentions could contribute to the circulation of false information.
The seminar also highlighted the need to strengthen the contribution of research institutions to public policy and national preparedness. Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandari, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies at Kuwait University, said meaningful socioeconomic development required research centers to play a fundamental role in decision-making.
Al-Kandari noted that developed countries relied on research institutions within government bodies as well as independent centers to produce studies and evidence supporting policy decisions. He said his center had sought to translate research and conference discussions into working papers and submit them to relevant authorities, although he was uncertain whether the recommendations were being considered.
He further expressed concern that research and studies centers in Kuwait were not fulfilling the role expected of them. Despite individual efforts by researchers inside and outside universities, he said, significant gaps remained, stressing that political and social development required the contributions of thinkers, scholars, researchers and specialists.
The participants agreed that strategic security depended not only on the capabilities of military and security agencies but also on informed public awareness, reliable official communication, professional journalism and stronger institutional cooperation. They emphasized that coordinated information-sharing and evidence-based decision-making were vital to countering rumors, sustaining public confidence and helping society navigate crises.
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