The National News Agency will facilitate the production of content and hasten the development of media in the Maldives, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts Ibrahim Waheed has said.
Speaking after signing the agreement to establish the National News Agency to provide content to the media through the state-owned Public Service Media (PSM), Minister Ibrahim Waheed pointed out the several obstacles faced by a start-up media in the Maldives which includes producing quality content with limited resources. The National News Agency, according to the Minister, can bridge that gap to assist new media outlets with producing quality content with fewer employees and limited resources.
"With the news agency, a lot of content will be available for free. I also hope that foreign media outlets will also be able to access Maldivian content through the news agency," he said.
PSM Managing Director Ibrahim Nasreen said the company's management is committed to utilising its wide array of resources to develop the media in the Maldives. He expressed commitment to make the National News Agency a sustainable platform for providing content that can be shared with the local media. PSM is also engaged in discussions to make content from various international media agencies available to the Maldivian media through the platform, he added.
"Everyone working together is the vision of PSM. PSM should not be seen as a competitor of private media. The current goal and vision is to use PSM's resources to develop local media," he said.
The National News Agency is designed to provide a one-stop platform for news and information. Under the agreement, the agency will establish, operate and maintain the portal and content monitoring in collaboration with PSM and the Ministry. The design and other work of the platform has been completed and is currently in the testing phase.