Arab Media Forum to explore the status of Arab media in the current socio-political scenario

The agenda of the Forum will include main sessions and focus group sessions to discuss many important issues related to the media in the Arab countries and the status of Arab journalists.

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club said, "Although this year we are organizing only a one-day event but it encompasses a comprehensive programme. The Forum will concentrate on Arab media and will include 13 specialized sessions and two general sessions to discuss different issues under the Forum theme and the latest developments that the Arab media organizations have gone through over the last period. It will also shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of the Arab media in order to come up with measures to support Arab Media and overcome shortcomings."

She added,

"The process of developing Arab Media is one of the main strategies of Dubai Press Club and the main objective of Arab Media Forum and this year's agenda is aimed at catalyzing this trend in line with the media developments around the world."

Al Marri pointed out that in order to support this objective, the Forum Organising Committee was keen to attract leading Arab media personalities to discuss various issues and to provide transparent and accurate overview about the Arab media covering both negative and positive aspects. This will be an important step towards making a difference to the status of Arab Media.

Al Marri added that although the speakers for the sessions will be Arab in line with the theme of the Forum, the non - Arabic speaking media is welcome to participate and cover the event. There will be simultaneous English translation available for the non - Arabic speaking attendees.

The programme will begin with six morning workshops that will review media in different Arab countries. Workshop one will discuss Media in Lebanon and cover topics such as is media becoming the victim of politics; domination of entertainment programmes in Lebanese TV channels and impact of narrowing the focus on local affairs in Lebanese Media. The workshop will be moderated by George Samaan, Chief Editor, Al Hayat LBC and the speakers will include Dr. Mai Al Abdullah Sinno, Media Professor, Lebanese University; Sameer Atalah, Columnist, Al Sharq Al Awsat and Tahseen Khayat, Head of Board of Directors, New TV.

The second workshop will review media in Egypt and discuss topics such as domination of Governmental Media in Egypt; non-Governmental media sector growth and horizons, immigration of talented media skills and its effect on the media sector, and media changes in Egypt. The moderator for the workshop will be Adel Mahmood, Writer, The Arab Republic of Egypt and speakers will include Osama Saraya, Editor-in-Chief, Al Ahram Newspaper; Jameel Matar, Manager, Arabian Center for Development Research and Future and Mohammad Barakat, Editor-in-Chief, Al Akhbar Newspaper.

The third workshop will focus on the media in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and review reverse immigration of Saudi talented Media practitioners, the growing role of Saudi women in Saudi Media, Saudi investment in satellite media and freedom of expression in Saudi media. The moderator for the workshop will be Turki Al Dakheel, Media Specialist, Al Arabiya TV Channel and the speakers will include Turki Al Sdeeri, Head of Arab Journalists Authority, Editor-in-Chief, Al Riyad Newspaper; Mohamed Al Tunisi, CEO, Al Ekhbariyah TV; Matar Al Ahmadi, Editor-in-Chief, Laha Magazine and Dr. Khaled Al Dkhail, Writer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The fourth morning workshop will review media of North Africa and cover issues such as Arab Journalism in North Africa, the active media movement in North Africa and media challenges in North Africa. The moderator will be Etedal Mujbery, Communication and Media Specialist, Arab Women Center for Research and Training and the speakers will include Abdulilah Balqaziz, Media Specialist, Morocco and lhasan Abdul Khaleq, Moroccan Parliament Member, Editor-in-Chief, Al Alam Newspaper.

The fifth workshop will review media in Iraq and topics of discussion will include the sudden transition of Iraqi media from a single party media to multiple and independent, the launch of tens of newspapers and TV Channels and the difficult conditions that Iraqi media specialists work under. It will discuss how Iraqi Journalists work in such conditions? What are the main directions in Iraqi Journalism? What are the conditions of Iraqi journalists working in foreign establishments compared to their colleagues? How do the establishments protect their journalists? It will also focus on Iraqi satellite channels and its audience. The workshop will be moderated by Jasim Al Azawi, TV Anchor, Abu Dhabi TV and the speakers will include Faisal Al Yasari, Founder and Manager, Al Diyar TV Channel; Ismael Zayer, Editor-in-Chief, Al Sabah Al Jadeed Newspaper and Adnan Husien, Writer, Al Sharq Al Awsat.

The sixth workshop will discuss media in Palestine and discuss topics such as the increase in publications since the formation of the National Authority; what are the conditions that the Journalists work under and what are the main challenges they face? The moderator will be Nabeel Al Khateeb, Media Specialist, Al Arabiya TV and the speakers will include Hafeth Al Bargoudhi, Editor-in-Chief, Al Hayat Al Jadeedah; Ali Al Khalili, Writer, Palestine and Jivara Al Budairi, Correspondent, Al Jazeera TV Channel.

The workshops will be followed by First General Session which will focus on 'Credibility of Arab Media'. The Arab Media is accused with untruthfulness and not covering the major topics of public concern, in addition to absence of coverage of hot topics. Even when available, the coverage is incomplete and shallow. To what extent are these accusations accurate? If they are true, what are the reasons behind it? These and other related issues will be discussed during the session. Hamdi Qandeel, Media Specialist, Dubai TV will moderate the session and the speakers will include Talal Salman, Publisher, Al Safeer Newspaper; Mohammad Jasem Al Saqr, Al Qabas Newspaper; Abdel Rahman Al Rashid, Manager, Al Arabiya TV and Wadah Khanfar, General Manager, Al Jazeera TV.

The second General Session will focus on 'Arab Media - Between two trends? - Conservatives vs. Avant-Gardes. What is the effect of both trends on the public opinion? And to what extent do both trends represent the Arab political, economic and social elite? These and other relevant topics will be discussed during the session. The session will be moderated by Dawood Al Sherian, TV Anchor, Dubai TV and the speakers will include Sami Al Nosf, Media Specialist, Kuwait; Khairi Mansoor, Writer, Jordan; Mamoon Fandi, Writer and Academic, Egypt and Fahmi Howaidi, Writer, Egypt.

The General Sessions will be followed by seven specialized workshops in the afternoon.

The workshop seven will focus on 'Media Training in the Arab World'. Do Media establishments train their employees on protecting themselves during hot zone coverage and do they provide them with the necessary tools? Do the Media establishments have ongoing training programmes that help in developing the skills, knowledge and capabilities of their employees? Is practical training and basic knowledge enough for Media students to enter the Media field? How do the trainers feel about the training programmes? The workshop will focus on these and other related issues. The speakers for this workshop will include Ahmad Zaki Badr, Dean, Akhbar Alyoum Academy; Mahmood Abdul Hadi, Al Jazeera Training & Development Center; Dr. Mai Al Khaja, Media Professor, UAE University and Tarek Al Momani, Jordanian Journalists Association.

Workshop eight will deal with 'Bloggers Phenomena in the Arab World'. The workshop will address issues such as the Arab bloggers identity; the bloggers' effect on public opinion and other media channels? The bloggers' effect on freedom of expression and publishing policies in Arab countries and woman blogger: existence and activeness. The workshop will be moderated by Anisa Al Sharif, Blogger, United Arab Emirates and the speakers will include Dr. Imad Basheir, the first branch Manager of Media & Documentation College, Lebanon; Mahmood Al Yousef, Blogger, Kingdom of Bahrain and Dr. Omaimah Ahmad, Journalist/Blogger Al Hayat Mawqef, Algeria.

Workshop nine will deal with the topic of 'Arab Media Specialists'. Arab media specialists complain about the hard working conditions they operate under, the low income, lack of development and progress, social and security pressures, being a target in red zones and disappearance of some of them in mysterious conditions. What are the real reasons behind such situations and what is the role of Journalists Associations and civil society authorities in protecting and guaranteeing the rights of Journalists? These and related issues will be discussed during the workshop. The speakers for this workshop will include Mai Chediac, LBC; Gizel Khouri, Media Specialist, Al Arabiya TV; Jawad Kadhem, Reporter, Al Arabiya TV and Salah El Dien Hafez, Secretary General, Arab Journalists Union.

The workshop ten will deal with 'Reality TV'. Arab TV channels are going in for copycat Western reality TV channels based on a study that points to the yearly high growth of reality programs in the West. Will the Arabic Reality Programmes see similar growth? Does it really reflect the real Arab situation or are these just another entertainment programme? The workshop will focus on these issues. The workshop will be moderated by Mohammad Al Sanousi, Media Specialist, Al Rai TV and the speakers will include Hussien Lootah, Executive Director, Dubai Media Establishment; Shiekh Pierre Al Daher, General Manager, LBC, Lebanon; Nadeem Al Manla, Future TV, Lebanon and Ali Al Hudaithi, General Manager, MBC.

The topic for workshop eleven is 'Arab Women Success Stories in Media'. The workshop will be moderated by Meera Al Muhairi, Akhbar Al Emarat, Dubai TV and the speakers will include Hala Sarhan, Manager, Rotana Regional, Egypt; Thuraya Al Shehri, Writer, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Saudi Arabia; Eman Mohammad, Chief Editor, Al Rajol Alyoum, United Arab Emirates and Diana Muqalad, Media Specialist, Future TV.

Workshop twelve will focus on 'Tabloids in the Arab World' and cover topics such as what is the concept of tabloids in the Arab World and what differentiates tabloids from other daily newspapers? The moderator for the workshop will be Hani Naqshbandi, Media Specialist, Saudi Arabia and the speakers will include Sami Al Reyami, Editor-in-Chief, Al Emarat Alyoum; Dr. Mohammad Ghabash, Chief Editor, 7days, United Arab Emirates; Betal Al Qaws, Former Editor-in-Chief, Shams Newspaper, Saudi Arabia and Bshara Sherbel, Editor-in-Chief, Al Balad, Lebanon.

Workshop thirteen will deal with 'Governmental Media'. Will the private Media grow stronger in the Arab World? Will this growth affect the governmental Media? Will private Media survive by relying on its resources? Will private Media compete with governmental Media, which is breaking out of its traditional routine and developing rapidly relying on governmental support? Will private funding force private Media to give up its principals and objectives? Privatization of governmental Media, or private management? How independent is the private Media? These and related topics will be covered during this workshop. Majed Mohsen, News Anchor, Dubai TV will moderate the workshop and the speakers will include Ali Al Ahmad, CEO, Abu Dhabi TV, United Arab Emirates; Hussien Al Awdat, Writer/Media Specialist, Syria; Saad Al Ajami, Former Kuwaiti Minister and Osama Al Ghazali Harb, Chief Editor, Al Siyasah Al Dawliyah Magazine, Egypt.