Riyadh, February 21, 2025 — In a pivotal moment for the media community in the Asia-Pacific region, the General Assembly of the Federation of Asia Pacific Journalists (FAPaJ) convened in Riyadh today, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to strengthen the professional network of journalists across West Asia. During the meeting, Adhwan Al-Ahmari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Journalists Association, was elected as the new president of the federation.
Al-Ahmari’s election to this prestigious role is seen as a major step in the federation's development, reflecting a strong commitment to enhancing the collaboration between journalists from diverse backgrounds and fostering an environment that supports free and independent journalism. The Saudi journalist, who has been a staunch advocate for media freedom and professional integrity, expressed his deep gratitude to the assembly members for placing their trust in him.
In his remarks following his election, Chairman Al-Ahmari emphasized his determination to fulfill the high hopes and expectations set for the newly formed federation. He highlighted the importance of unity within the journalistic community, underlining that the FAPaJ’s efforts will focus on establishing robust frameworks that ensure the promotion of journalistic values and rights, particularly in the rapidly evolving media landscape of the Asia-Pacific region.
"I am honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me, and I look forward to working closely with all members of the Federation to achieve the objectives that we have collectively set forth," said Al-Ahmari. He further assured the assembly that the FAPaJ administration will soon convene a series of meetings aimed at activating the federation's policies and procedures. These measures will be designed to support the needs of member journalists, address critical challenges in the field, and build a sustainable future for journalism in the region.
The meeting also saw discussions about the next steps in the federation's strategic development, including efforts to ensure the fair representation of diverse journalistic voices, the safeguarding of media freedoms, and the creation of professional development programs for journalists across the member nations.
As the newly elected president of FAPaJ, Al-Ahmari's leadership is expected to be instrumental in realizing the federation’s ambitious goals, contributing to the advancement of press freedom and the growth of a unified, dynamic journalism community in the Asia-Pacific region.
