Arab Media Forum unveils its 14th edition programme

The Organising Committee of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) has announced the initial programme details for the 14th edition of the region’s most prominent media event. The event is 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, at Madinat Jumeira, Dubai on May 12 and 13, 2015, under the theme “New Perspectives" and is expected to attract local, Arab and international media elites, journalists, intellectuals and academia.

The AMF Organizsing Committee asserted that this year’s event, throughout its diversified discussion panels and activities, presents a new scope for Arab media and brings Arab media stakeholders face-to-face with their responsibilities toward their communities by attracting attention to inspirational models and positive interactions that also motivate and stir Arab media workers and boost innovation and creativity.

The forum also encourages participants to adopt positive attitudes towards the important issues related to Arab media and anticipate challenges with sound strategic plans.

The forum this year hosts a number of prominent political figures to shed light on important topics that affect and get affected by media, especially considering that media has proved to be a strong player in regional politics over the past five years and has influenced the changing political scene.

Among the prominent speakers, the AMF is hosting  the Secretary-General of the Arab League Dr. Nabil Al Araby, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Iyad Madani, Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Humoud Al Sabah, UAE Minister of State for Foreign and Federal National Council Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Former Secretary-General of the Arab League Amre Moussa and the General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi.

New Perspectives

Commenting on the content and the theme of this year’s program, Mona Ghanim Al Marri, Chairperson of the AMF Organizing Committee said: “Over the past years, developing the Arab Media Forum has always been our main concern. This responsibility kept growing bigger and bigger as the event kept maturing year after year”.

Al Marri added: “We are keen on presenting a highly professional event that goes beyond the obvious and anticipates the future of media in our region though an analytical approach and in collaboration with qualified politicians, journalists and intellectuals. We strive to make the forum a springboard for our Arab media to recognize its mission and stand up to public’s expectations”. 

The Chairperson of the AMF Organizing Committee affirmed that this year’s edition is different and unique. She indicated that the changes in the forum are significant and not limited to the program. She explained that the changes aim to enrich the dialogue and provide wider space for discussions and public interaction. Al Marri further asserted that the side activities constitute a platform to exchange ideas and views about AMF’s topics and other media related issues and concerns.

Main discussions

Aiming to keep pace with the latest developments in the Arab World, AMF 2015 program introduces a variety of specialized discussion sessions that describe different aspects of the Arab World’s present and future prospects in politics, media, technology and others. The forum will also explore the latest trends in media.

The Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al Araby will speak in a session titled “The Arab Image”. The session discusses the Arab-international relations and the major socio-political changes taking place in the Arab World over the past few years and have affected the image of Arabs in the world.

In his session “Stereotyping: Islam and Muslims”, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Iyad Madani elaborates on the current escalating issue of stereotyping Islam and Muslims, especially that Islam and Muslims have been subject to methodological vandalizing, and the unacceptable aggression and terroristic practices of some minority groups played significant roles in this regard. Dr. Madani will highlight what is required to rebut this allegation and restore the actual image of Islam and Muslims worldwide.

The Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Humoud Al Sabah, will speak in a session titled “Arab Media 2015: GCC Perspective”, which addresses promoting the role of Arab media and increasing its influence and effect considering the variations in point of views about the events in the Arab World. The session explores Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) perspective on regional events.

“Bright Future” by Dr. Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign and Federal National Council Affairs, will anticipate the promising future of Arab societies despite the challenges and the state of turbulence storming the Middle East, as Arab countries are quite capable of keeping up with the global civilization and playing a significant role in scientific advancements.

The former Secretary General of the Arab League, Amre Moussa will speak in a session titled "Regional political shifts". He will give his view on the current state of affairs in the Arab World and the new winds that are overwhelming the region.

20 Minutes talks

For the first time in its history, the Arab Media Forum introduces 20 minutes talks, as a new approach of discussion and dialogue. Handpicked prominent and inspirational figures will have 20 minutes to speak about specialized topics in media, politics, innovationa and technology.

The 20 minutes talks include a session by the Group CEO TECOM Investments, Dr. Amina Al Rustamani who will speak about UAE’s clear vision and comprehensive strategic plan to promote innovation in all sectors, which is supported by  UAE’s strategic position as an international home for innovation. The session also illustrates the role of media in supporting innovation complexes, business incubators and creativity labs.

Did we lose the Palestinian cause on Media?

In another 20 minutes talk, the General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi tackles the Palestinian cause which is a core Arab issue. Until recently, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was at the forefront of the  Arab media scene, but with the latest developments, situations and matters overwhelming the region, most Arab countries became occupied with their domestic matters, as the Arab media became more focused on those changes. The session will discuss ways to revive the Palestinian cause in media  and the role of social networks and e-platforms in this regard.

Social Isolation!

In 20 minutes as well, the professor of Journalism and New Media at Kuwait University, Dr. Fatima Al Salem will discuss the findings of a study that found a form of correlation between a new type of social isolation and the overuse of social media.

“How can we achieve innovation through language?”

The US Linguistics Specialist Dr. Sohair Al Soukkary will shed light on the close linguistic relationship between language and innovation and how learning accurate Arabic language skills in the early childhood has direct correlation with creative thinking and the development of linguistic intelligence. In her 20 minutes session, Dr Al Soukkary will tackle the future of Arab Media in light of the new linguistic skills that are drifting away from classical Arabic and their long-term impact.

International Media Participation

Being an important annual event that showcases successful professional stories to benefit from, the Arab Media Forum (AMF) organizing committee made available leading media figures and international influencers who would share in their expertise. Among those present at the AMF are prominent international speakers such as Op-Ed columnist for the International New York Times Roger Cohen, AFP news director Michele Leridon, Editor of Le Monde Diplomatique Alain Gresh and the deputy managing editor at the Associated Press Tom Kent.
YouTube sensation “Zach King and 12 million viewers

The 14th edition of the Arab Media Forum will feature the YouTube sensation Zack King, known by his YouTube and Instagram alias: "FinalCutKing” and also as the Vine illusionist. Zach’s awe-inspiring videos that defy the laws of physics on social media platforms have garnered over 12 million views. In a 20-Minute Session, Zach is to reveal how one can gain followers and viewers on social media platforms as well as his experience in producing short videos. He will also reveal the main characteristics of story-telling  on social media platforms as well as ways to develop these platforms.

Founder of Drone Journalism Lab

The world’s interest in drones and their potential usage in journalism is increasing rapidly, most particularly the potential of using drones in news making and high quality photos and videos. Keeping abreast of this new trend, the AMF is hosting Professor Matt Waite, Founder of Drone Journalism Lab, in a 20-Minutes session to shed light on a new journalistic tool and a technological evolution which is going to change the content of traditional journalism and take the industry to another level. 

Documentaries with a new dimension to Arab Media work

Documentaries are known as powerful visual tools for objective journalistic presentations; a method opted by many earnest journalists to convey social agonies that would be lost in the wave of news.  In a 20 minutes session dedicated to highlight this new journalistic direction, the AMF will show, for the first time, clips from the BBC Arabic’s documentary “Slaves of the Caliphate” by journalist Nareen Shammo, who will talk about her experience of visiting and interviewing some women who had survived the tragedy of captivation, as she even tried to free some of the women in and around Mount Sinjar in Northern Iraq.

Moreover, AMF will host the Saudi author Ayman Jamal produced the 3D animation epic “Bilal” that narrates the life of Bilal ibn Rabah.
Influence on social media

Scientist at Lithium Technologies Dr. Michael Wu will offer a new perspective on the Physics of Social Media Influence”. He will talk about what is influence, who are the influencers and what does influence mean in social media.

Specialized Workshops by Arab and International institutions

Participants and guests at the 14th Arab Media Forum will have the opportunity to attend specialized workshops conducted by leading Arab and International media institutions, namely Facebook, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Sky New Arabia.

Rich content in new context

On her part, Director of the Arab Media Forum and Dubai Press Club, Muna Bu Samra said: “In its 14th edition, the Arab Media Forum has cemented its position as a dynamic platform to discuss the present and future of the Media Industry. Hence, the topics for this year’s edition were carefully chosen to address regional and international status quo and changes in a manner that matches the rapidly evolving media industry and its future trends”. 

Bu Samra went on to explain that the AMF sessions will tackle a range of topics that will allow for rich discussions and collaborative thinking between media experts of varied backgrounds. She also affirmed that the AMF offers an environment conducive to constructive dialogue. This is evident in the AMF’s program which is prepared while taking into account the media audience desires and expectations, noting that subject matter experts in the media industry partook in the preparation of the program to ensure an agenda as holistic and comprehensive as possible.

Bu Samra also stated that this year’s edition of AMF will demonstrate the level of the forum’s progress in both content and context.  Further, a series of accompanying events will run alongside the two-day forum. These interactive events will be revealed at a later time.

Media professionals wishing to attend the Arab Media Forum on 12th and 13th May at Madinat Jumeira, may register online via: www.arabmediaforum.com.
 

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