Ace investigative journalist Seymour Hersh to deliver keynote speech at Arab Media Forum

Hersh, whose work over four decades has made him one of the world's most respected journalists, will address the audience at the Forum on the role of investigative journalism in society with special reference to his own experiences in the Middle East.. Najla Al Awadhi, Deputy CEO, Dubai Media Incorporated, will moderate the session.

The presentation by Hersh will be followed by an open interaction with the audience, which will consist of more than 600 top media personalities from the Arab world and beyond.

Hersh's breakthrough stories include the1968 My Lai massacre and its cover up during the Vietnam war, Nixon's secret bombing of Cambodia, the illegal CIA surveillance of antiwar critics inside america, and the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at abu ghraib prison by American soldiers.

Sometimes described as 'the last American reporter' in view of declining rigor in journalism in the country, Hersh has won most of the major journalism prizes in america, including the Pulitzer for international reporting in 1970 and a record five george polk awards. his work symbolizes the idea of journalism as a passionate espousal of the greater common good, as most of his stories resulted in gross abuse of state power being put to an end. Hersh currently writes for the New Yorker.

The talk by Hersh at the Forum will touch upon, among other things, the fundamentals of doing investigative journalism, his own experiences in the Middle East chasing stories, the current political situation in the region following the Obama presidency and recent international developments. He will also illustrate how the boogeyman of national security is put to good use by governments to curtail civil liberties.

Arab Media Forum, the largest media gathering in the Arab world, is held this year on the slogan 'Arab Media: Weathering a Period of Change and Crisis' and the various sessions and workshops are expected to cover the main issues that confront the media industry, especially in the context of the global financial crisis and other developments.