Youth Take the Stage, a student competition to participate in the 2012 Arab Media Forum

Sunday, 08 January 2012

Dubai Press Club today announced a first-of-its-kind youth initiative to discover and invest in local rising stars in the media industry. Called Youth Take the Stage, the competition allows media students to participate in shaping the 11th annual Arab Media Forum, to be held in May 2012 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The Youth Take the Stage competition allows media and communications students studying in UAE universities the opportunity to develop content and themes for a workshop during the Arab Media Forum. The best submission will be chosen to be presented during the workshop with the winning student seated side-by-side with media professionals and experts participating in the forum.

“By using the latest media tools available, Arab youth were able to play a major role in changing perceptions and increasing urgency for change in the region,” said Maryam bin Fahad, Executive Director of the Dubai Press Club. “We’re looking to nurture young talent by giving them a platform to tell the media industry how we can better serve the issues they care about. We also hope to give young people the chance to access to the industry’s thought leaders and experts for a real exchange of ideas.”

Bin Fahad added: “After 10 successful years for the Arab Media Forum, Youth Take the Stage will build on the accomplishments of the Arab Press Award program in discovering new talent. As of now there are no targeted programs encouraging media students to be creative or allowing them access to the professional media world.”

The Dubai Press Club will cooperate with the country’s universities and colleges to spread word about the competition. Students have played a key role in the Forum since its inception in 2001, serving as volunteers during the event. 

“We have moved to another level now,” said bin Fahad. “We want them to participate in shaping the content and the themes of the Forum.”

Submissions may now be made at www.arabmediaforumn.ae. The deadline for receiving submissions is February 8, 2012. Other terms and conditions may be found on the website. Students from all academic disciplines are invited to apply, and applicants may submit entries as individuals or as a team. The winners will be honored at several events throughout the Forum.

The 10th annual Forum was held in Dubai last May, attracting more than 2,800 decision makers, media professionals, academics and students from 40 countries. 23,000 people tuned in to the Forum via an online livestream.

Last year’s Forum, entitled Arab Media and the Winds of Change, received global coverage through livestreaming over the Internet and to smartphones. The main workshops of the Forum were also aired on 10 television stations. 

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