Arab Media Forum begins at Atlantis today

Media personalities and industry professionals have begun to arrive in Dubai to participate in the Arab Media Forum 2010 that begins today at The Atlantis-Palm.

Organisers of the forum, the Dubai Press Club, is expecting more than 2,000 media and academic personalities who have registered online to attend the ninth edition of the two-day event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. They are expected to analyse key industry issues of specific relevance to the Arab World.

With 70 speakers and around 350 guests from 25 countries, the forum is one of the most influential platforms for media. Its annual theme, 'Shifting mediascape: Inspiring content… expanding reach', will highlight the instrumental role of enriching content and its implications on the fast-evolving sector.

Elaborating on this year's forum and its objectives, Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director, Dubai Press Club, said: "The increasing numbers of registrations seeking participation at the forum validates its status in the media industry as a must-attend annual calendar event. We are extremely encouraged by this response and are relentlessly working towards delivering a results-oriented event that will offer solutions for taking the industry forward in the Arab World."

Approximately 30 per cent of the participants registered for AMF 2010 are from newspapers, 25 per cent students from universities, and about 15 per cent from the broadcast sector. More than 10 per cent will represent online and print periodicals; eight per cent will comprise media photographers, technicians and producers; seven per cent from news wires and five per cent from different institutions and media authorities and interested audience.

Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) will be its strategic partner. DMI will provide live coverage of the forum, including most of the individual workshops and specialised discussions on its wide spectrum of broadcast and print media platforms that includes Dubai TV, Al Bayan, Sama Dubai, Dubai One, Dubai Sports, Dubai Racing, Noor Dubai Radio and TV, Emarat Al Youm, Emirates Business and Masar Printing Press.

The other sponsors include Arab Media Group (AMG), Nakheel, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Emirates airline. Adel Ibrahim, Senior Manager-Operations, Dubai Press Club, said: "As the region's most awaited event in the media industry, the Arab Media Forum evinces profound interest among leading corporations. We welcome the commitment of these organisations in coming forward to contribute to the growth of media through collaborations and strategic partnerships.

"We believe the sponsors will ensure adequate media coverage of the constructive discussions among the experts during the individual workshops and sessions."

Sport, this year takes the centrestage as two sessions at the Forum include Sports Satellite Channels. To be moderated by Battal Al Goos, presenter of Fel Marma, Al Arabiya News Channel, the session will include key speakers such as Rashid Amiri, General Manager of Dubai Sports Channel; Mohammed Najeeb, Head of Abu Dhabi Sports Channels; Mustafa Hussein, Head of Nile Sports Channel; and Mohammed Jameel Abdel Qader, Chairman, Arab Sports Press Association.

The session 'Sport journalism…pressure of globalisation and the sport economy' will explore the influence of sport and its economy, and the extent of local presence in sport journalism, particularly on TV.

The Forum has also organised a session on the findings of a book titled Don't Interrupt Me. The session with the same title will be hosted by Kuwaiti writer and researcher Mohammed Al Nughaimeesh. Panelists will debate on how to host successful discussions on TV.

Award ceremonies

The two-day meet will include a glittering ceremony for the Sheikh Majid Media Awards on the first day.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Arab Journalism Awards, the region's most coveted recognition for journalistic excellence, will be honoured on the second day, marking the conclusion of AMF 2010.

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