Dubai Press Club today announced the onset of fast evolving technologies that are impacting various media formats, as well as the hopes and prospects of Arab media in developing local content will be the focus of two main sessions during the 9th edition of the Arab Media Forum.
To be 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, the Arab Media Forum 2010 themed ‘Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content…Expanding Reach’ and the Arab Journalism Awards will be held from 12-13 May at The Atlantis-Palm.
More than 800 media personalities and specialists from Arab countries and across the world will participate in the event that will witness over 70 speakers debating and discussing key industry topics that impact today’s media world.
Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director, Dubai Press Club, said: “This edition of the forum is appropriately themed ‘Shifting Mediascape: Inspiring Content… Expanding Reach’, reflecting the key transformation stages the industry is going through. Complementing the theme, we have included ‘Local Content in Arab Media…Its Hopes and Prospects’ as part of the forum agenda to discuss the defining role of content, especially locally-generated content.
“Our programme will also include another session on ‘Media’s New Forms and Patterns’ to focus on the major changes across all media platforms including newspapers, TV, radio and the Internet. The two sessions will witness eminent professionals discussing diverse aspects of these far-reaching changes and we believe the discussions will assist in further developing the media sector’s growth.”
The session on new formats of the media will also explore the evolving roles in the field of journalism as well as the Arab media’s ability to cope with technical advancements while seeking to chart the path the industry may have to take to meet its financial requirements. International case studies will be presented while speakers will also discuss whether the Arabic media is mature enough to be emulated by others.
The session will be moderated by Ali Jaber, Dean of Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Communications – American University of Dubai, and include key speakers such as Hakam Kanafani, Chief Business Development and Synergy Officer, Oger Telecom, Dr. Sami Abdel Aziz, Chief Board of Director- TBWA/Egypt, Sam Barnett, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer - MBC Group, and Yousef Mugharbil, President of Rotana Digital Media.
The session‘Local Content in Arab Media…Its Hopes and Prospects’ aims to look at the future of Arabic content in Arab media, especially in television and broadcasting. Speakers will focus on programmes developed in Arab countries and the international templates altered to fit with the local market as well as international programmes that companies buy with copyright, or get them translated or dubbed into Arabic.
Bin Fahad added: “The inclusion of this session is the outcome of the studies and analyses included in the third edition Arab Media Outlook released by Dubai Press Club. The report titled ‘A Close Look At Arab Media 2009-2013’ shows extremely divergent quality and quantity of Arabic content, and demonstrates that high quality Arabic content would have a positive impact on revenue. We are confident eminent panellists at this session will provide us their insight on this vital subject.”
The session will focus on Arabising and dubbing of movies and TV serials, that have been widely accepted in the Arab world, the strength of local content to stand up to competition, and explore ways to benefit from some of Arab countries’ successful experiences in developing unique local content that fulfils domestic demand while remains appealing to the wider Arab region. Influence of media content on the community and whether it reflects Arab values will also be discussed by experts during the session.
To be moderated by Joumana Bou Eid, News Cheif Editor, Rotana Media Group, the session will include speakers such as Usama Al Sheikh, Head of Egyptian Radio and Television Union, Adib Khair, General Manager/Owner, Sama Art Production, His Highness Prince Saif Al Eslam Bin Sauod Bin Abdulaziz, Media Writer and Researcher, Mohammad Al Sobky, Chairman of Al Sobky Cinema Production Company, and the UAE artist Mohammed Harib, creator of the Middle East’s widely acclaimed Freej cartoon animation series, and Founder and Producer of Lammtara Pictures company.
Further details on the workshops and speakers at the Arab Media Forum 2010 will be uploaded on www.arabmediaforum.ae and disseminated across local newspapers, news portal and agencies.
