Over 26,000 Media Enthusiasts Follow Two-day Proceedings of Arab Media Forum 2011
Monday, 30 May 2011
The tenth edition of the Arab Media Forum exceeded 2,800 visitors, pegging an increase of 17 per cent from last year. The participants included overseas guests from nearly 40 nationalities, announced organisers Dubai Press Club (DPC) today.
Themed ‘Arab Media: Riding out Storms of Change’, the forum additionally drew more than 23,000 online viewers who followed the live streaming of the proceedings on www.arabmediaforum.ae and through mobile phones. Direct broadcast of the event on 10 television channels also drew in a significant audience base.
More than 50 UAE national volunteers, ranging from university students and from faculties of media, supported the DPC team in deploying on-ground tasks. The participants played an active role in receiving guests from the local and international front. Additionally, they oversaw the logistical requirements for the forum’s information desk.
Organised 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 forum examined the changes in the media landscape that have resulted from the recent political and social transformations in the Arab world. It also highlighted the impact of the changing environment on the future of the media industry and aimed to determine a guideline for the industry’s future.
The forum gathered over 60 speakers comprising key decision-makers and prominent figures from a spectrum of media channels, including George Kordahi, MBC Anchor, Nabil Al Khatib, Editor-in-Chief of Al Arabiya News Channel, Mona Al Shazly, Dream TV Anchor, Sultan Al Qassemi, writer for The National newspaper, and Mohamed Krichen, Anchor for Al Jazeera News. The thought-leaders contributed a wealth of knowledge over a range of sessions and workshops, achieving a holistic analysis of the status of the media in the Arab world and the appropriate action to encourage growth.
The forum concluded on 18 May at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai with the Arab Journalism Awards 2011, the region’s most coveted distinction for journalistic excellence. The awards which were extended to online media last year honoured outstanding work in 12 categories.
During the award ceremony, a special award was presented to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in appreciation and gratitude for his visionary direction and support to the Arab media, as well as his patronage to the Arab Journalism Awards and the Arab Media Forum over the past 10 years.
The Dubai Press Club and Arab Journalism Awards were established in 1999 under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed with the objective of encouraging creativity and journalistic excellence in the Arab world. Since then, a total of 136 journalists have been honoured as winners by the awards.
Over the decade, the Arab Media Forum has evolved into the largest media event in the Arab world. Thousands of participants comprising influential decision-makers from the visual, print, audio and online media segments have participated in the event enhancing its status since its inception. The gathering of intellectual thought leaders, researchers, academics and the media students that it has brought together has helped explore a roadmap for the industry’s future.
Dubai Media City, twofour54, Arabian Radio Network (ARN), and APCO-Jiwin were the gold sponsors of the event. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) was the platinum sponsor while Emirates airline served as the official carrier for the event. Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) was the strategic partner for the forum.
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