Arab Media Forum opens today

UPADTE: The 15th edition of two-day Arab Media Forum will open today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Forum is organised by the Dubai Press Club under the theme of “Media for Good”, and is set to attract prominent Arab and international media elites, journalists and intellectuals to discuss some of the most vital issues facing the region’s media sector.

International speakers at the Forum include editors of global media and top management executives of news and social media groups. The speakers will join their Arab counterparts in discussing issues ranging from the future of News to the dialogue of civilisations.

Held annually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Arab Media Forum will take place this year at the Dubai World Trade Centre on May 10 and 11, 2016. Organised by Dubai Press Club (DPC), the event provides a platform for exchanging perspectives on the key opportunities and challenges facing the region’s media industry. 

Mona Ghanim Al Marri, Chairperson of the AMF Organising Committee and President of Dubai Press Club (DPC), said: “The participation of leading international media thought leaders will support AMF’s objective of fostering a deeper understanding of issues impacting Arab media and gaining greater insights into how industry players can work together to build a better future for our region. AMF platforms have played vital roles in expanding interaction between Arab media professionals and their global peers and this year we look forward to building new bridges of constructive dialogue and between the two.” 

Under the theme of ‘Media for good’, AMF 2016 will discuss a wide gamut of social, political, economic and technology developments driving media growth in the region.

On the opening day, Ian Phillips, Middle East News Director for The Associated Press (AP) will share his views on the forces shaping the evolution of journalism in the region. Along with prominent journalists from the Arab World, he will explore how the sheer volume of media content produced by eyewitnesses has the potential to bypass traditional outlets. The panel will take an in-depth look at whether these changes will reduce traditional media’s role to that of verification. Philips and his co-panelists will also look into the crystal ball to identify potential news themes in the region in 2026.

Ian Phillips

Later in the day, three top global industry leaders will participate in a debate on the future of News consumption. The high-powered panel featuring Amanda Wills, former Deputy Executive Editor at Mashable; David Weiner, Editor at large, Digg.com; and Rishi Jaitly, VP Asia Pacific and Middle East, Twitter will examine how the proliferation of social media platforms and online media is changing the ‘media message’. The discussion, moderated by prominent UAE social media commentator Sultan Al Qassemi, will explore how news and newsworthiness are being redefined in today’s multi-platform world.

Amanda Wills

The three panelists will bring to the discussion insights garnered from their leadership roles in global digital media giants. Amanda Wills led the news function in Mashable during a time when it grew rapidly to become one of the world’s most influential online media outlets. Weiner, before his current role in Digg, helped shape the blog side of Huffington Post and was the Chief Creative Officer of Digg while Jaitly is currently driving the aggressive growth of Twitter across the Asia Pacific and Middle East.

Mark Toner

On the second day, Nart Bouran, CEO of SkyNews Arabia will engage in a conversation with Mark Toner, Deputy Spokesman, US State Department on future directions for US-Arab diplomacy. The session will assess the possible impact of different outcomes of the US elections on this historic relationship. Toner will also address how recent events in the region have influenced the dialogue between the two.

Shobhana Bhartia

In another key panel discussion, Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson of Hindustan Times Group, one of India’s largest media organisations, will participate in a discussion on the ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’. The panel, moderated by Mohammed Al Otaiba, Editor in Chief, The National Newspaper, will discuss whether the media can drive a positive dialogue of civilizations as opposed to a clash. It will take a deeper look at how international media are interpreting and reporting changes in the Arab World. Bhartia, who was named by Forbes as one of Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen, is credited with transforming one of India’s old-world newspaper companies into a modern media powerhouse.

Rishi Jaitly

Over the years, the AMF has acquired a global profile and become a celebrated platform for insightful debates on some of the most pressing issues facing Arab media.  The rich discussions it has hosted have stimulated new thinking on the prospects for Arab media.

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