Damascus, August 20 (QNA) - The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) has launched its new mission under the slogan "SANA... A Turning Point," as part of a comprehensive government plan to develop national media and enhance its presence in Syria's new era.

In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director General of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) Ziad Al Mahameed, said that SANA has launched with a new identity at the visual and editorial levels, which features changes in editorial policies and media discourse, in addition to launching an attractive visual identity that keeps pace with digital development.

He noted that this visual identity will be introduced to social media platforms in various forms, including modern formats for images, videos, and other interactive services.

He said the agency's investment in training and developing its human resources according to new professional standards.

More than 200 journalists have been trained over the past two months, and four courses are currently underway as part of a comprehensive and extensive training program.

He added that artificial intelligence has been introduced to SANA in a new way at the editorial and digital media levels, not as a substitute for journalists, but rather as a tool to help save time and effort.

Al Mahameed also revealed the creation of two new directorates within the agency: the first for digital media, which deals with social media and modern media, and the second for correspondents, which includes 166 domestic correspondents distributed across various governorates, and 24 external correspondents in several countries.

He emphasized SANA's commitment to openness and cooperation with all Arab and international news agencies, having already sent memoranda of cooperation to several agencies, including QNA.

For his part, Syrian Minister of Information Dr. Hamza Al Mustafa, emphasized in a speech during the agency's new launch ceremony that SANA is now returning to its natural role as a professional national platform, after its name was previously associated with the era of the former regime, when it was transformed into a propaganda tool that distorted facts.

He considered that the agency's new phase represents a step towards strengthening public confidence in a reliable and transparent official source, a mirror of society and a reliable window that conveys Syria's image domestically and internationally. (QNA)