Beirut: Minister of Information, Dr. Paul Morcos, inaugurated on Saturday a workshop organized by the Lebanese Order of Physicians under his patronage at Beit Al-Tabib in Beirut, entitled "Professionalism Has No Offline Mode." In his address at the opening session, Minister Morcos highlighted the shared ethical mission of the medical and media professions, emphasizing that while physicians safeguard people's health, journalists protect their right to accurate information.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Morcos noted that both professions carry significant ethical responsibilities, as words, like medicine, can heal or cause harm if misused. Highlighting the impact of the digital era, Morcos said the media has become a key partner in public health awareness and in combating the rapid spread of medical misinformation across digital platforms and social media. He called for stronger cooperation between healthcare professionals and the media, based on responsibility, transparency, and scientific accuracy, to ensure the public has access to reliable health information while preserving the dignity and ethics of the medical profession.
Morcos described medicine and journalism as complementary fields serving the public, with physicians treating through medicine and journalists through information. He stressed that accurate information is the foundation of both professions, adding that while medicine protects physical health, responsible journalism also contributes to mental well-being by countering hatred, misinformation, and negative narratives.
Addressing the workshop's theme, the minister underlined the importance of maintaining professional and ethical standards in health reporting amid rapid digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence, considering that public trust depends on using these technologies responsibly.
As a practical step toward closer collaboration, Morcos announced that the Ministry of Information's platforms-including the newly revamped National News Agency, Radio Lebanon, the Directorate of Studies and Publications, and T©l© Liban-would be made available to the Lebanese Order of Physicians for public awareness campaigns and the dissemination of reliable medical information. He also noted that the ministry had previously launched a series of anti-disinformation awareness videos in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNESCO, UNIFIL, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and production companies.
In conclusion, Minister Morcos expressed hope that medicine would continue to serve as a path to healing and that the media would remain "the voice of humanity," documenting events responsibly in pursuit of a better future.