Participants in a discussion session held on September 18, facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), agreed that the press plays a vital role in the political process — including educating the public, providing a platform for constructive dialogue, exposing corruption, and holding leaders accountable. According to Mahmoud Shammam, head of the Al-Wasat Media Group, “Media failure is part of society’s failure.”
Shammam participated alongside Ibrahim Hadiya, Director General of the Libyan News Agency (LANA), and Zainab Tarbah, an independent journalist and founder of the “Towards a Media Solution” initiative, in the online discussion session organized as part of the *Basira* program for media professionals. The session was moderated by Mohamed El-Assadi, the spokesperson for the UN mission, and addressed challenges related to neutrality, combating hate speech, and countering misinformation.
Thirty-nine members of the media community from across Libya attended the discussion, including representatives from Ajwa Media, the Libyan Organization for Independent Media, and Radio Libya FM.
Ibrahim Hadiya described the role of the press in the political process as “a bridge between the citizen and the authorities,” adding, “A journalist is not merely a transmitter of news, but a guide who helps the public understand what is happening.”
Participants noted that electoral laws and constitutional disputes are among the main issues hindering the progress of elections, yet many Libyans do not understand them. Among the attendees, Yassin Al-Hassouni asked: “What is a civil state? What is a voter? What is a constitution? For 42 years, these concepts have been absent from the public’s understanding. The role of the media is to educate and raise awareness among citizens.”
The main points discussed by the participants and attendees included the need to strengthen research methods and maintain neutrality in a highly polarized environment. Shammam stated, “A journalist must stand firm so as not to adopt a particular political narrative,” adding that “politics influences everything — from access to basic services, to hospitals, to schools, to jobs.”
Hadiya emphasized the importance of verifying information: “It requires double the effort — you have to contact one source, then a second, and a third.”