Dubai Press Club hosts seventh Emirati Media Forum
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Media Council, the Dubai Press Club hosted the seventh Emirati Media Forum.
The Media Forum brought together various stakeholders in the UAE media sector to hold a dialogue on the key drivers of local media development and explore ways to navigate the massive political, economic, cultural and technological transformations taking place across the globe.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the UAE media has created a unique content model that has enabled its audience and readers to stay abreast of vital issues and keep abreast of changes and new developments taking place in the UAE and around the world.
His Excellency Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, addressed the opening of the Media Forum to an audience that included media industry leaders, newspaper editors-in-chief, television and radio executives, influential media personalities and prominent academics, writers and opinion leaders in the UAE.
In his remarks, Dr Gargash highlighted the UAE’s effective growth model, saying the country’s outstanding achievements represented the success of an Arab, Islamic nation that put development before politics. “The UAE leadership has put development of the country and its vital sectors such as education, health and infrastructure at the top of its priorities and I believe that the region should also prioritise development over politics in the next phase. The need to create platforms for dialogue in the Arab world is another important aspect to be addressed in the next phase. In addition, the region needs to strengthen economic and investment cooperation, which will contribute to prosperity and stability,” he added.
He stressed the need for a more specialized media that can support the economic growth of the country and help achieve key objectives such as strengthening food security and tackling climate change. He said local media should facilitate a robust discussion on climate change as the UAE prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023.
Referring to the challenges facing print media today due to the digital revolution, he said that providing high-quality content that attracts readers is of paramount importance. Stressing on the need to utilise new communication technologies and tools, he noted that many prominent media outlets have moved to a paid subscription model. According to him, for the media to successfully move to such a revenue model, the quality of content provided to the audience needs to be improved.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Gargash noted the need for government agencies to have open channels of communication with the media to enable them to keep up to date, improve the quality of content and develop their storytelling capabilities.
In the second session of the Emirati Media Forum, leading media personalities stressed the importance of supporting and empowering local media talent to maximise their potential by training them to deliver quality content that can drive positive social change.
The forum also discussed the importance of using social media platforms to create engaging stories that highlight the UAE’s rich culture and heritage, and training social media influencers to communicate the UAE’s vision and aspirations to a wide regional and global audience. Speakers at the Forum said the next 50 years will provide unique opportunities for media professionals and industry players to transform themselves by adopting global best practices and innovative strategies.
Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, expressed her appreciation to His Excellency Dr Anwar Gargash for the insight and perspective he shared at the Media Forum.
Held for the first time in 2013, the Media Forum provides an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the media industry and serves as a communication bridge between local media organisations, journalists, experts and specialists in various media fields. The Media Forum also helps local media gain new insights and knowledge about leadership development and the opportunities needed to accelerate their growth in a rapidly changing environment.
I attended the 7th edition of the Emirati Media Forum, organised by @DubaiPressClub, where key media figures from the UAE meet to discuss the future of media, the challenges it faces, and the development of national media. pic.twitter.com/W3Nzoy5m0j
— Ahmed bin Mohammed (@AhmedMohammed) April 18, 2022
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