Media Forum to debate Arabic versions of foreign channels and work environs for international correspondents

Announcing the two sessions and their details, Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director, Dubai Press Club said that both the issues were of paramount importance for the media scene in the region.

Bin Fahad wondered:

"The mushrooming of Arabic versions of foreign television channels raise a number of pertinent questions about their true objectives as well as the way the outside is looking at the Arab world. Of equal importance is the issue of the working environment for foreign news agencies and their correspondents in our countries. Are the Arabic versions of foreign channels and the correspondents of foreign news agencies in the region working at cross purposes or seeking to achieve the same objectives?"

The session titled "The Arabic Versions of Foreign TV Channels: What Objectives and What Messages?" will analyze one of the most recent phenomena in the media landscape in the region. During the past few years, a number of foreign countries have launched Arabic language television channels. After the arrival of the American Al Hurra, BBC and the German DTC FILI, Russian and French channels also made their appearance, indicating the faith of these countries in the importance of the media in serving their interests. In this context, the session will try to debate the media messages of these organizations and their editorial policy.

Moderated by Diana Mukallad, Media person, Future TV, the session will feature Hussein Jradi, Media person, Al Hurra TV, Nahida Nakad, Deputy Editor, France 24 TV, Dr. Khalid Al Dakhil, Saudi writer and Associate Professor of Political Sociology, King Saud University, Mohammed Al Sanousi, Former Minister of Information, Kuwait and Husam al Sukari, Chairman, BBC Arabic and Aydar Aganin, Head of Arabic broadcasting , Rusiya al-Yaum TV.

The other session, titled: "Correspondents of Foreign News Agencies: Work Environment in the Arab Region," will look at the increased media attention from the world on the Arab countries in recent times. The Arab region is drawing increased attention from the Western media on account of its strategic importance and the nature of its issues, ranging from the Arab -Israeli conflict and the Palestinian issue to energy issues, 'war on terrorism,' and the Iranian nuclear issue and these have placed the Arab region at the heart of politics and international rivalries. The result is the proliferation of representatives from international media organizations who come to cover events and developments in the region. The concerns of these media organizations have grown wider and include most of the cultural and social situations with a special focus on women, general freedoms and human rights. The session seeks to debate the cultural politics of the coverage of the region by foreign correspondents as well as the working environment for these journalists, particularly in view of the charges of lack of transparency, hardships in obtaining information and discrimination.

Moderated by Eman Ayad of Al Jazeerah, the session will be addressed, among others, by Donna Abu Nasr, Riyadh Bureau Chief, Associated Press, Jihad Al Khazen, Columnist, Al Hayat and Lorenzo Trombetta, Head of Middle East Regional Office, Ansa News Agency, Italy.

Arab Media Forum, held under the slogan "Arab Media: Weathering a Period of Change and Crisis" will be attended by well over 600 top media persons from all across the Arab world and beyond, making the largest and most significant media gathering in the Middle East.