President’s Office Launches Weekly Press Briefings to Increase Government Transparency

Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef has launched a new weekly media engagement initiative titled “Presser with the Spox,” aimed at strengthening the flow of information between the administration and the public. During the inaugural session held on Thursday, Shareef committed to meeting with journalists every week while in Malé. The programme is designed to provide consistent updates on government activities and offer a direct channel for the media to request specific information, statistics, or official perspectives on breaking stories. “Whether you need the government’s perspective, specific information, statistics, or a soundbite from me for the stories you are filing, I hope these meetings will facilitate your work,” Shareef stated, emphasizing the goal of streamlining the journalistic process. Each session is scheduled to last approximately 55 minutes, with the Spokesperson intending to address as many queries as possible within the timeframe. Shareef noted that for complex inquiries, additional detailed information would be provided following the briefing. To ensure these updates reach a wider audience beyond traditional news outlets, the President's Office is leveraging social media. Audio and video highlights from the briefings, along with progress reports on various government projects, will be shared via Instagram and TikTok. To centralize this digital outreach, the government has introduced official accounts under the handle “thefeed.mv,” marking a shift toward more modern, accessible communication strategies for the Maldivian public.