Professional media needs to adapt to new information world order, say experts at Arab Media Forum 2008

Dr. Knight's statement came during the first day's session at the Arab Media Forum (AMF) 2008, taking place from 23 to 24 April at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai.

Titled "The Big Picture: Impact of New Technologies on the Media Scene", the session addressed recent technological advancements that have impacted the media industry, highlighting how the advent of technology is drastically transforming the Arab media landscape.

The workshop also explored measures for the industry to cope with the corresponding dynamic changes.

Moderating the session, Zaven Kouyoumdjian, Anchor, Future TV, set the tone with his observation that the Arab world missed the industrial revolution but will win the current information revolution.

Dr. Knight was joined by Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO, Arab Media Group; Dr. Azzam Al Dokkail, CEO and Board Member, Saudi Research and Marketing Group; and Eason Jordan, Founder and CEO, Praedict.

To underscore the magnitude of technology's impact, Dr. Knight stated there were 33. 50 million Internet users in the Middle East in 2007, a penetration rate of 17.4% of the population, and 920.2% growth since 2000.

Regionally, the UAE has the highest penetration rate of 38.4%, followed by Kuwait with 32.6% and Qatar with 32%, against a world average of 20.1%, the United States 90%, Australia 75.9%, and Malaysia with 60 per cent.

Azzam Al Dokkail said:

"There are opportunities presented by the onslaught of new media technology, especially when you take into account that the region's population is on an average younger than any other part of the world. However, there are challenges precipitated by the high level of illiteracy - higher than any other region - which prevents a significant segment of the population from joining the print readership".

On the question of content, Al Dokkail concluded with the statement: "Content is the master of the situation - technology serves it. To get ahead, we must focus on the development of content".

The speakers concurred that the quality of content is directly linked to the quality of education, and pointed out education is not enough, and needs training and practical experience to help modernize the Arab world.

Al Sayegh said: "With the advent of new technologies, we need to not only educate people - their education must be accompanied by training focusing primarily on the development of content. And, only with strong content can we begin to export to the West, rather than importing from it".

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, is built around the theme of 'Bridging Arab Media through Technology'.

In its seventh edition, the AMF brings together over 500 top-tier regional and international media professionals and intellectuals to hold in-depth discussions on how the transformation of technology has impacted the local, regional and international media.