The Syrian Future Movement’s media office welcomes the launch of the newly revamped Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), under the slogan “SANA… A Turning Point,” as announced on August 20, 2025, at the National Center for Visual Arts in Damascus. We consider this step a qualitative shift in the official media landscape, and we are hopeful and optimistic that SANA will transcend its traditional role as a government publication to a multi-media platform committed to global standards of professionalism and editorial credibility.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that among the notable positive aspects of this launch is the commitment to restructuring human resources and developing the technical infrastructure, including the creation of specialized directorates for digital and visual media, and the adoption of artificial intelligence tools to enhance accuracy and speed in news reporting. We also commend the expansion of geographic coverage to a network of local and international correspondents, and the addition of five major languages (English, French, Spanish, Turkish, and Kurdish) in addition to Arabic. This will enhance cross-border cultural and media communication and open the door to restoring international confidence in Syrian media.
According to our monitoring, these developments have led to a significant increase in online visits by more than 600%, and a 400% growth in social media following. This reflects a positive public response and confirms SANA’s role as a national media engine in supporting reconciliation and reconstruction.
The Syrian Future Movement warns of some potential negative aspects, based on the historical context and concerns raised in public discussions. SANA’s name was previously associated with the former regime’s propaganda phase, when it became a tool to justify repression and distort facts. This requires intensive efforts to ensure its complete independence from any political or factional influences. It also raises questions about the fate of the vast archive containing historical media materials, including photos, videos, and documents that may be crucial to transitional justice and collective memory, for fear of their destruction or theft, as happened with previous security archives. We believe these concerns could hinder the building of sustainable trust if they are not addressed through strict transparency policies and independent oversight mechanisms.
We, in the Syrian Future Movement, affirm that the success of the new SANA depends on transforming it into a true mirror of the aspirations of the Syrian people, free from polarization. We call for strengthening national media partnerships to support the process of democracy and transparency.
